It is with sadness that we have learnt that John Sinclair passed away on 16th November after a short illness at the age of 87. He was an active member at Bass for many years as a sailor, on council, and regularly at the helm of the safety boat.
His funeral was at Carlisle crematorium on Friday 23rd November, at 14.20hr.
Despite early rain, the morning started with glorious sunshine and a light breeze. Alan was out early to tune his GP to ensure he maintained his lead in the private competition with Alistair – a ‘gottle of geer’ riding on the day’s racing, and a bottle of champagne on the series! Perhaps it was this competition that led to small mistakes by both parties – Alistair briefly capsizing, and Alan hitting a mark and doing a penalty turn.
Thirteen boats took to the water and enjoyed some good racing in varying wind conditions. Joe sailed well in his RS300, staying ahead of Scumper for most of the race, though on handicap he slipped back to 4th. Less than a minute separated the first three places, with Scumper winning ahead of Steve/Ruth and Joan/Jack. Paul/Emily took the honours on personal handicap in their Graduate.
The sun was well gone by the time afternoon racing started, but the wind held long enough to get the race in. Mik had arrived ready for action in the afternoon race, and was pleased that racing hadn’t started without him for a change! Steve/Ruth won finishing marginally ahead of Joan/Jack on handicap. Steve currently leads the series albeit on equal points with Joan.
Steve won the race on a personal handicap basis as well, with just over a minute separating the next five places! Paul/Emily lead the personal handicap series, three points ahead of Alan.
The annual prize giving dinner dance is being held at The Castle Inn on 1st December. The closing date is imminent so please contact Andrea by 17 November to book your places.
A glorious morning of sunshine but mirror like conditions was not what the sailors expected to find when they arrived, and it was not as the forecast. Flurries of air passed over the lake from time to time, but it started to come in with more gusto just after 11.30 enabling racing to get underway by 12.15. With Herb keen to get away to Underscar for an evening of doms, his survey of sailors before the start more comprised ‘we’re going to sail the races back to back’ which, as it turned out, was totally the right solution as the wind faded at the end of the 2nd race and and the lake was mirror like again before everyone had finished their late lunch.
As for the racing, there was a reasonable turnout of 12 boats. An undercharged battery reulsted in the first sound signal being something of a damp squib which is, perhaps, why Alan/Sue asked when their start was as they sailed through the start line 15 secs before their start! Steve/Ruth took an early lead, and although they beat Mike/Kayla on handicap they were pipped at the post (on handicap) by Joan/Jack. Alistair was trialling a Vareo, and was pleased to beat Peter on his first attempt! Paul/Vicki held off Val/Ken finishing 3rd overall. On personal handicap, Paul Clark won sailing his laser, with Paul/Vicki 2nd and Joan/Jack 3rd.
By the start of the 2nd race the wind had eased. This time Joan/Jack took the lead, Steve having started at the wrong end of the line. Several others were caught out by the changing winds as well, as this time Val/Ken managed to keep Paul/Vicki at bay, and Peter beat Alistair. The winds did freshen nicely during the race to help keep the sailors warm in the airs which were noticeably cool as the sun went behind Sale Fell. Although there was a close finish on the water, and Joan/Jack had to return to the finish having unwittingly been squeezed the wrong side of the Y limit mark by Mike, Joan took another win on handicap with Val 2nd and Mike 3rd. On personal handicap the honours went to Alistair, with Paul C 2nd and Alan 3rd.
With 4 out of the 7 scheduled races sailed, Joan leads on fleet handicap and Paul C on personal handicap.
Cool but otherwise perfect conditions set the scene for the start of the Winter Series. The fleet of thirteen boats set off in a good breeze to keep the sailors active and warm in the cool airs. The asymmetrics even managed to plane for a while on the main reach.
First time back into his Merlin after a couple of months, Steve/Ruth showed a clean pair of heels up the first beat, but Mike/Kayla were close on their tail as they rounded the windward mark. As the race went on some gaps opened up, but the wind eased as well such that by the end it was drifting conditions for the final half of the fleet.
Unusually there was four Toppers racing, and Ethan was able to demonstrate his mastery of the boat by leading with an ever increasing margin as the race went on.
The failing wind on the final lap did the tail enders no favours in terms of handicap positions. Steve took the honours from Mike on fleet handicap, and Richard Broughton won the personal handicap from Ethan.
With the wind failing to return over lunch, the OD (or was it his assistant?) called it a day and went to watch the footie!
For those of you that were unable to get to see the initial runs of�Emma’s play ‘True’ or her film ‘One last walk’ they could be coming to a village�near you very soon.
Both the play and film will be at these venues on the following�dates
7.30pm 8th November – Florence Mine, Egremont
7.30pm 9th November – Torpenhow Village Hall
7.30pm 10th November – Gosforth Public Hall
7.30pm 15th November – Beggars Theatre, Millom
7.30pm 17th November – Thursby Village Hall
With October almost over this weekend concluded the remaining series for this year’s prize giving. Don’t forget to book your tickets with Andrea!
Saturday was basked in sunshine but the wind was somewhat lighter than forecast, and was variable in strength and direction . Saturday racing comprised the final two races in the October series. Mike/Kayla took an early lead in both races, and then seemed to benefit from being in the right place at the right time to substantially extend his lead, winning both races on fleet handicap and securing a 1st and 2nd on personal handicap.
Steve was back on the water in his Solo for his 1st race after a couple of months rest following surgery and was holding a strong position until it was pointed out that he had missed A out, so had to return, losing significant ground in the process. Tim/Martin in their F15 had some close racing with Ian/Lezli-Ann whom they beat in the first race but not the second.
Mik also returned to the water after several months recuperation and took a 2nd on fleet handicap and 3rd on a personal handicap.
Jim C was, unusually, crewing for Kath in a GP. His lack of practice at flying a spinnaker showed at times, but it didn’t affect Kath’s overall position.
Mike/Kayla’s strong results won them both the personal and fleet handicap series. Interestingly 2nd (Alan/Sue) and 3rd (Kath/Glynis/Jim) positions were the same in both series.
A goodly�contingent of 8 boats from Derwent Reservoir and a lone�adventurer�from�Scotland travelled to Bass SC to take part in the annual team racing event�on the weekend of 20th October. Together�the nine visiting boats�provided�three teams set to challenge the two teams from the home club. With Steve�Goacher due to arrive on the Sunday it was agreed that the team lying in�last position overnight would reap the benefit of having Steve as an�addition to their team on day two.
The overnight forecast was amended on Saturday morning to suggest that the�projected 12 mph breeze was not going to materialise – nor did it. The fleet�launched in pleasant sunshine and a gentle F2.�The conditions, however, were�not as benign as the casual observer might have been led to believe.�The�wind strength�was extremely variable over the race course, with bands of�pressure favouring some and heaping ordure�on others.
The early leaders of the first race, Neil Platt and Phil Davenport from the�home club, headed the fleet for most of the first lap, only to end up in 9th�place. Terry Crumpton and John Mathie from DRSC were consistently in the�leading vanguard and managed, eventually, to find their way to the front and�take the gun. Simon Longstaff and Jon Denwood from Bass found a few more�ladders than snakes and sailed well to finish second, with John Hardisty and�Dave Christie from DRSC�also improving through the race to finish third.
The second race was sailed in a gradually fading breeze. Terry Crumpton and�John Mathie showed great consistency in the testing conditions taking the�gun for a second time. Former FF hot shots Neil Currie and Rory Yardley, who�have recently returned to the class, recovered from their eigth place in�Race 1 to take second, with Dave Douglass and Steve Turley from DRSC�improving to third.
Terry Crumpton�and John Mathie were overnight leaders from Simon Longstaff and and Jon�Denwood with Dave Douglas and Steve Turley in third. This meant that the ‘FFlipin’�Missfits’� were the leading team overnight with ‘The Bass Tards’ in second.�’The Better guys’ were just a point behind in third.
Sunday was as perfect an Autumn day as could be wished for, with glorious�sunshine and a perfect azure sky. The wind also consented to play its part,�providing, if anything, rather more than the the forecast 3 mph southerly.�’The Good Guys’ being the last placed team overnight, were somewhat dismayed�when Steve Goacher failed to appear on Sunday morning,�to take the place of�Mr Average in their team, particularly with Mark Somerville failing to�produce the form that saw him become RS Vareo national champion recently.
The fleet started on time with Simon Longstaff and Jon Denwood showing early�pace and leading the fleet. Sadly the wind gradually evaporated and the Race�Officer had no option but to shorten the course. Simon and Jon were unable�to hold onto the lead and in the closing stages of the race, with the lake�almost mirrored, John Hardisty and Terry Crumpton� both slipped past to take�first and second respectively.
After a break�for lunch had failed to provide any improvement in the conditions racing was�abandoned for the day. The final finishing order was Terry and John first;
John and Dave second and Simon and Jon in third. The ‘FFlipin’ Missfits’ took the team prize with ‘The Better Guys’ in second place.
F15 Team
Racing Champs 2012
Team Name Sail No Boat / Helm Wtg R1 R2 R3 Tot Adj Pts Pos�
Bass'tards 3973 S. Longstaff 2 5 3 57
3770 N. Platt 9 9 13 57 3
3520 N. Currie 8 2 6 57
Fflipin' Misfits3906 J. Hardisty 3 6 1 35
3940 T. Crumpton 1 1 2 35 1
3829 D. Douglas 6 3 12 35
Super Markids 3695 D. Vasey 12 10 10 118
3685 S. Lee 14 12 14 118 6
3675 L. Sainsbury 15 15 16 118
Hot Rods 3801 R. Huddleston 10 7 11 87
3939 Athol King 11 13 9 87 4
3636 Robin Jefferson 4 17 5 87
Good Guys 3265 M. Somerville 13 11 8 115.5
3477 E Guillois 16 14 15 115.5 5
3371 Mr Average 14.5 12.5 11.5 115.5
Better Guys 3996 Mike Moore 7 4 4 52.5
3815 Ian Campbell 5 8 7 52.5 2
3905 Mr. Mean 6 6 5.5 52.5
To reinforce�the light nature of the competition in the F15 team racing, one of the key�aspects of the prize giving is the Grotty Potty, re-awarded each year by the
previous year’s winner.
The major nominations for this year’s award all went to Bass members!�Heading the list was Ian Preston for turning up totally unprepared in terms�of organising the food. However, there were several people on hand,�including visitors, to pick up the reins. On the grounds that Ian was not�actually competing, his nomination was discarded. Next in line was our own�National Champion whose lack lustre results could not even be put down to�being late for the start! The winning nomination went to Neil Platt for�leading most of the first race but only finishing 9th due to the vagaries of�the weather, and having similar unexpected results in the following races.
It is clear that Neil has already decided next year’s winner will be John�Hardisty. All he needs now is to dream up an appropriate mishap justify that�decision. John is certain to oblige!
It was a light�turnout for the final weekend series of the club championship.
With no other GPs racing on Saturday, Val/Ken raced in the handicap fleet,�won both races on Saturday, and with the last race on Sunday being cancelled�due to lack of wind, it meant they won the Comet Trophy! 2nd overall went to�Alex/Olivia in an RS200 with a 1st and 2nd to count, while John/Janis took�3rd with a 2nd and 4th.
On Saturday, in the Toppers Harry was fully aware of the time to the start,�counting down the time to his only competitor Jamie, but he was still more�than 30 secs late for the start! As Jamie was the only boat to finish in�either of the two Saturday races, and no Toppers sailed on Sunday, his�solitary 1st position �won him the series Trophy!
On Sunday there were three GPs. Paul/Vicky led the fleet, with Val/Ken 2nd.�With just one race sailed, the Stables Prize was awarded to Paul/Vicky.
In the Bass micro climate a forecast of 5-6mph breeze was somewhat ominous, but there was a light easterly across part of the lake to get the fleets started in the final rounds of the MJM/Asymmetric Cup. However, soon after the start the wind faded and it was to be a long haul around the relatively short course. The Hardies optimistically tried to fly their gennaker, but it was soon lowered again. Shortening the race after two legs, OD AJ was getting a little nervy as slight gusts bunched the fleet as they approached the finish line for an early lunch. Though the Hallidays crossed the line first, the Hardies were close enough to beat them on handicap securing another 1st in the series. Despite capsizing(!), Banter was next to finish with Peter Ballard close on his tail, taking 3rd and 4th respectively.
Joe led the MJM fleet to the finish but Jim C beat him on handicap. Brent/Neil must have taken the scenic route as they finished 25 mins after the others!
Over lunch the sun shone on a mirrored lake and the likelihood of a race was minimal. Indeed Mike/Kayla took their boat off the water and the Bates was put on its mooring. However, within minutes a steady breeze filled in from the NE and it was action stations to get a race underway. Apart from most asymmetric boats missing out YZ, the wind dying on the final leg, and a hook finish that none of the competitors noticed, everything went swimmingly!
The Hardies took another 1st and the series overall, with the Hallidays 2nd, and Banter’s 3rd securing his 2nd overall position.
In the MJM, Joe won with Jim 2nd, but the trophy was won by Mike/Kayla
Next weekend the F15 team racing takes place alongside the final championship weekend series of the season.
What would the weather hold in store for the start of the October series this weekend? Well, it turned out to be quite a mixed bag! Although sunny and calm in the morning, the westerly breeze filled in before racing started, and held for most of the first race, by the end of which it had swung to the north, and there was a small rain shower too!
Neil/Rory were getting some practice in for next week’s F15 team racing at Bass, but were slow to realise that there was only a single start, which meant they started at least 30 secs behind the leaders (You’d think they had sailed for long enough to undertand the flag signals!). Despite their ‘casual’ start, they soon took the lead from Mike/Kayla and won the race on a fleet handicap basis. Joe sailed well in his RS300 finishing 3rd behind Mike.
Perhaps Scumper’s excuse was that he didn’t expect the race to start on time, as not many do, but he too gave the fleet a head start, not that he was able to recover his position as well as Neil had, finishing 6th.
The wind faded and there was slightly better than drifting conditions for the start of the 2nd race, but it soon swung through 180 deg to the south, and freshened a little. Jim Christie made the most of the conditions winning on the water and fleet handicap with AJ 2nd.
On a personal handicap basis, Kath/Glynis took 1st and 2nd and presently lead the series, while AJ has a 1st and a 3rd, lying 2nd overall.
Ethan Dawson has just been selected as one of 13 sailors for the RYA’s West Zone Squad. The squad will receive six weekends of training throughout Winter by head coach Neil Marsden.
Well done!