For everyone who can’t wait for next year’s Bass Week, it will run from 1st to 9th August 2026, so mark it in your diary

The final day arrived, the windy weather finally abated, and the sun shone for those that had awnings and tents to pack away.

No capsizes, or hairy planing conditions, just a pleasant final race to bring the week to a close.

At the last prize giving of the regatta Commodore Joe Roberts thanked everyone for all their efforts in making Bass Week happen, and then it was over for another year.

The following sailors won special trophies for Bass members for their consistent sailing trhroughout the week.

Don’t forget to put 1st – 9th August 2026 in your diary for next year’s Bass Week!

For the early risers it was a beautiful morning with a light southerly air, however today’s forecast is for the windy weather to continue, but with a greater risk of rain. The Bass micro-climate beat the odds and despite an overcast morning with some minor drizzly showers, blue skies and sunshine reappeared early afternoon.

The final weekend’s racing sponsored by Navigators and General comprised three races on Saturday, and a final race on Sunday. The blustery winds continued on Saturday with gusts up to F5, and with numerous weary sailors opting out and pack up, fleets were depleted. The OD advised sailors racing would start on time, and it did, though one late starter was convinced it had started early only to realise their watch was 5 minutes slow…

The thrills, spills, and capsizes continued throughout the day. Would the sailors recharge their batteries in time for the festival themed final disco?

Friday’s forecast is for more of the same with the exception that there could be wall to wall sunshine all day! Unfortunately, the sun waited until the afternoon before making another grand appearance. The morning race being sponsored by Embleton Spa, and the afternoon race for Juniors and Seniors by Bassenthwaite Lake Train and Cafe.

Wind wise, the forecast was accurate, offering more spectacular reaches, and blustery gusts, one of which caused the vice commodore to be knocked out of his boat by the boom when he was about to take down his spinnaker and a sudden caused an unplanned gybe! Not surprisingly, the wind freshened during the Ladies, Junior and Seniors race, but there was only a couple of retirements!

Another prize giving after sailing caught up on three days racing, and was followed by sumo wrestling, and live music to finish the day.

More overnight rain passed though, paving the way for another bright, sunny, day with morning racing sponsored by Underscar Vinery, and the afternoon RNLI pursuit by Ginger Boats.

With the base wind forecast of F3-4 coming to fruition, there was some champagne sailing conditions for those that still had the energy. The breezy conditions put off several from venturing out, and others retired after the gusts were just too much. The rescue crews were kept busy, and the sailors all enjoyed exciting planing conditions at times.

In the RNLI pursuit, two world class Mirror helms with their young daughters crewing mastered the blustery conditions through the 90 minute race to pull through to the lead, then stay ahead to the finish with Phil and Lucy Smith winning the coveted RNLI silver salver, while Andy and Isabelle Tunnicliffe were 2nd. Again, handicapping proved to be realistic with eight fleets finishing in the top 11 positions.

More photos have been added to the gallery.

With sunshine and lighter winds, many sailors took to the water for a three race series sponsored by Ginger Boats.

Border TV returned to capture some sailing and recorded a 4 minute article to promote the very nature of Bass Week – good sailing, fun on and off the water, and long lasting friendships.

Another visit from Heavenly Fish and Chips helped recharge low energy levels of many competitors before a disco into the early hours.

Storm Floris has passed through but with the winds still gusting F5, many sailors opted to sit back on shore and watch the action.

The morning race being sponsored by Shake, Waffle and Roll, and the afternoon Nairn Pursuit sponsored by Ginger Boats. Both races had some strong gusts to speed boats along, challenge their helms, and cause various capsizes. The conditions in the afternoon must have suited overall handicaps as until the final five minutes of the 90 minute race a Tera Sport helmed by James Reekie had led the fleet only to be passed by eleven boats, and resulting in eight different fleets in the top eleven finishers. Simon Weatherspoon in an ILCA 7 won the Nairm Pursuit trophy.

Racing was followed by the 2nd prizegiving of the regatta.

Photos from the weekend

After more overnight rain, the forecast proved to be correct for a change, and storm Floris brought high winds, with blue skies, and resulted in racing being cancelled for the day.

After a wet night for those camping, the rain passed through and the day brightened as time went on offering more blue skies.

The wind blew from the west again, slightly stronger than Saturday, so the OD devised courses offering some screaming reaches. The gybe marks proved to be a challenge for various boats, as there were several capsizes. Some busy mark roundings resulted in a few collisions and protests too!

The first prize giving of the week was held, followed by quizzes for juniors and adults.

Bass Week got underway with sunshine, and a shifty westerly breeze. Despite many regulars attending alternative championships this year, there was still an excellent turnout of 125 boats.

A few eager sailors were caught out by the one minute ’round the ends’ rule, but they all returned, and learnt by their mistakes! There were a few capsizes in the gusts as the wind freshened with the influence of a sea breeze.

The Heavenly Fish and Chips, together with Shake, Waffle and Roll, were providing onsite catering before the Commodore’s reception followed by live music from Tru Tones.

How do you sum up a 9 day regatta with 220 boats, 17 races, approx 175 starts, just one general recall, 4 prize givings, innumerous prizes, etc?

You’re best reading Paul’s review

Bass Week 2025 will run from 2nd-10th August. Note it in your diary!

Glorious morning for the final day’s racing. Great conditions for taking down tents and awnings.

Old habits die hard for the final night revellers, and campers awoke to the flagpole being adorned with a multitude of objects!

Unexpectedly the wind filled in from the south. Was it a mirage, or morning katabatic wind that would fade? It was certain to be a more gentle sail than any throughout the entire regatta, and the OD opted to let sailors enjoy possibly the best sailing conditions of any inland waterway for the final race, and sent the faster fleets on the three mile beat to the southern end of the lake. Not being as windy as previously it took some of the tail enders over 90 mins to complete the course, but in a straw poll during the final prize giving, the majority were pleased to have sailed around the lake one more time.

 

At the prize giving the commodores thanked the numerous committee chairs, and members for all their efforts in making Bass Week ‘happen’ yet again.

Several perpetual trophies were awarded to Bass members for exceptional performance over the regatta

At the end of the prize giving Nigel O’Donnell gave a vote of thanks to the club, and all members, that had delivered another exeptional regatta.

Sun filled day with WSW F4 greeted sailors for the start of the final weekend series. There was an earlier than usual start to cope with the three races planned for the day.

After a windy week, some sailors opted to sit it out, enjoy the sunny weather, and watch the rest of the fleet slog it out.

With the Phantom class having a separate start for their open meeting, some of the F15 fleet obviously weren’t aware/watching the flags to note that the Phantoms had been slotted in before them, and some set off with the Phantoms!

The blustery winds created more good planing conditions, and the rescue crews were kept very busy again.

Sunday’s forecast for the final race is for much lighter winds, but it’s Bass!

An Olympics themed disco will keep many celebrating into the early hours

The high overnight winds continued throughout the day. From the shade of the clubhouse, looking down on the wind itseemed relatively benign until the sun came out and lit up the white horses from time to time!

Numbers sailing were reduced due to the gusty conditions. The course included various long reaches for exciting planing. Many capsized at some point during the race. With afternoon racing set aside for specific age groups/genders, the OD thought one long race was appropriate. In such tough sailing conditions it’s clear that numerous sailors didn’t agree!

Having checked the wind over lunch, it was decided to cancel afternoon racing, so the prize giving was held early.