Saturday started with a warm southerly that promised some great sailing conditions. Banter was keen to start in the narrows at Scarness and race down the lake, although his wish was not granted, a course was set taking the fleets up to mark 7.
By the time the race was started (the OD was waiting for Josh and Poppy to get launched), the wind was easing a little as it swung, and then came from multiple directions (well it did where the committee boat was moored).
After a slowish 1st lap the race was curtailed with the hope of getting another race within a more settled area of wind. Banter/Rob in a RS400 finished first on the water, then cooled off by diving into the lake as they headed ashore waiting for the rest of the fleet to finish.
Eventually the wind did settle down, generally but from the north west, and most boats opted to give it a go. The first beat had the fleet opting for separate sides of the beat which led to some unexpected leaders at the windward mark! After 30 mins the wind faded for a while but came back enabling most boats to finish in a fair breeze. Who would benefit from the lulls in the wind as some boats sailed more laps than others?
Sunday started with a force 3-4 south westerly, but much more overcast and cooled than Saturday. With open meetings on elsewhere for GPs and F15s, their fleets were depleted resulting in just one handicap race of 12 boats. The gusty conditions did cause some capsizes, and a few retirements, but it was Steve/Ruth that took the fleet around one leeward mark the wrong way, and another four boats followed! Ian/Tim in their F15 was the first to round it correctly, and four boats turned to re-round it, but not all of them unwound their mistake – one notable sailor being Sailing Secretary Zefer! This led to a few more retirements. Steve’s unconvincing ‘story’ was that he had a problem with a spinnaker pole and rounded the mark wrongly by mistake, so went ashore to fix it.
Of the three finishers, Ian/Tim won ahead of Mike in his Streaker, with Banter/Rob 3rd.
The afternoon race was a in aid of the Calvert Trust, and with the SW wind it turned out to be a true penance, with the down draughts from Sale Fell causing calm patches, gusts, and shifting winds. Stave/Ruth did break away in their Merlin, only to lose ground, then regain sufficient to win on handicap from Dave/Lynn. The 90 min race in such conditions will ensure many sleep well tonight!