Early morning mirror like conditions faded quickly as the wind filled in with plenty of time before the 1pm race. There was a slight delay waiting for boats to launch but racing was soon underway for over 100 boats across 10 fleets.

One capsize was spotted but otherwise it was a pleasant start to Bass Week

The wind held, and the sun shone, for the rest of the day’s racing.

The Commodore’s reception was hosted by club officials and trustees, who welcomed patron Lord Egremont, and all visitors, with a glass of ONE spirit. The evening finished off with the first disco of the week.

Come on in, the gates are now open. Caravans, tents, and even boats are arriving.

It must be Bass Week – Have a great regatta!

The day suffered some brief showers, some travellers had a couple of holdups, but the prospect of some One G&Ts in the bar saw them through!

On behalf of the members of Bassenthwaite Sailing Club I would like to extend a warm welcome to you.  

Much of what goes on during the week will be familiar to our frequent visitors, and, in addition we have taken into account the valuable feedback provided by our guests and members following last year’s event. 

Joe Roberts, our Sailing Secretary, has organised a comprehensive racing programme which, together with the varied conditions that will no doubt prevail, will hopefully result in close and competitive racing. We will continue with the revised format for the pursuit races that have been successful for the last few years (with a moving finishing line).  

 We are delighted to have secured The Lakes Distillery as our lead sponsor again, together with a range of further sponsors throughout the week. You will find many of their flyers in the welcome pack. 

Thanks to our social secretary, Jo Van Lachterop, we have a packed entertainment programme.  Lookout for notices on the board for children’s activities and any other updates. 

I would like to draw everyone’s attention to a few things: 

Naomi Smith, our Vice Commodore, has chaired the committee responsible for arranging our regatta week this year and will be available on site throughout the week for any issues that may arise. Naomi and her family can be found in caravan position 3 on the top field.  Other members of Council will be pleased to lend assistance should Naomi not be available. 

As ever, our regatta week is organised and run by a dedicated team of members and we continue to be very grateful for anyone who is willing to give a hand with tasks such as race office or rescue duty, etc.  Please have a word at reception or with Naomi, myself or any of the committee members if you are able to lend a hand. 

Finally, Becky and I hope that you will be able to join ourselves, the Council and members of Bassenthwaite Sailing Club, at the Commodore’s reception on the evening of Saturday 4th August. 

Best wishes and please accept our thanks once again for choosing to spend your holiday time with us this year. 

Robin Dawson, Commodore. 

We look forward to seeing you in a few weeks’ time for what promises to be another excellent Bass Week.

There are just a couple of updates to bring to your attention.

Caterers

This year we have a new catering company joining the Bass Week team. Connor Graham is from a sailing background and we are very pleased to have him and his staff on board.

Alfie’s Event Catering will be providing breakfasts, lunches and evening meals with snacks available throughout the day.

They are very keen to provide a service for everyone so if you have any specific dietary requirements, please let us know prior to the event. ([email protected])

As in previous years there will be an arrival meal available on the first evening. This is a pre-bookable meal, so please order via the Bass Week website. Book via online entries and Webcollect.

Chandlery

Trident UK will be on site for the majority of the week to provide an onsite chandlery service. We are very pleased to have the support of Trident UK again for Bass Week 2018 and we hope that you will utilise their services. If you would like them to bring orders over for you, please contact them before the event.

Clothing

Can I just remind all competitors and their families that clothing is only available to pre-order again this year.So please see the website to order your garments before your arrival. There will be no clothing on sale during the event. Ordering is done via the Bass Week website. Click online entries and order Bass Week Merchandise via webcollect. Orders must be made by Friday 13th July.

Card Payments

We now have a card machine for payments at the bar!

Final Fling disco

The disco on the last evening of Bass Week 2018 (Sat 11th) will have a “Full Moon” party theme. Everyone is encouraged to wear neon/beach wear/Hawaiian clothing.

Car parking

We have once again secured the field next to the club site for car parking – this is easily accessed via the gate & path in the back camping field. Please can all competitors and visitors that are not staying on siteuse this area for daily car parking. Car passes for parking on site will be issued to those who are staying on site. Disabled parking is available onsite.

Dragon Force 65

We are running a DF65 event on the Monday morning of Bass Week 2018, so please remember to bring along your boat!

See you all in August!

Naomi Smith and the Bass Week team.

The caterers are open on the evening of Friday 3rd August. If you’ve had a long drive, and busy day setting up your camping position, and boat, why not have your meal made for you? You can dine in the clubhouse, or take it away.

Pre-booking is essential

Pie night

Welcome supper choice of homemade pies
served with choice of mash or hand cut chips, peas & red onion gravy

Adult Menu £6.95

Steak & ale (GF available)
Mince & onion
Cheese & onion (GF available)
Chicken & mushroom
Chicken or veg Balti

All pies are locally sourced

Children menu £4.25

Spaghetti bolognaise
Vegi bolognaise
Bangers & mash
Breaded Chicken chips & peas
Margarita pizza

PLEASE PREBOOK ON WEBCOLLECT

Entries are now open for The ONE Bassenthwaite Lake Sailing Week 2018.

The Bass Week team have been hard at work for many months to ensure that this years regatta will provide both members and visitors with yet another excellent event.

The racing programme will follow the usual format of 17 races – these being a mixture between small series, one off races and all fleet pursuits for dinghies with a PY in the range 847-1432.

This year also sees the introduction of “The Dragon Force Derby” for those of you with DF65 model yachts. This event should hopefully prove to be a popular addition for both the participants and spectators!

We have a full social programme planned with a very varied selection of evening events. So there should be something to suit everyone. More information will be given on arrival at Bass Week 2018 regarding the additional daytime and evening activities on offer.

We are very pleased to have Alfies Outside Caterers as part of the Bass Week team this year. They will be providing hot/cold meals, drinks and snacks throughout the racing days. The menus they have produced sound fantastic so they should keep us all very well fed and watered throughout the regatta. As usual there will be a welcome evening meal on Friday 3rd August which is a pre-bookable meal via your online entry.

If you have any food allergies or intolerances please could you let us know via [email protected] or comment via your online entry form, as the caterers are very keen to ensure that they can provide a service for everyone.

The Bass SC bar will be well stocked, and staffed throughout the week, and the introduction of a card payment system should make life easier when you run out of cash!

Our grounds team have worked hard throughout the winter and will continue to do so throughout the summer in the run up to Bass Week 2018. This will ensure that the club site is at its best for your arrival. We have already made several improvements to the site based on feedback from last year.

We hope to see many old friends returning for Bass Week 2018 and also many new faces. If you have any questions regarding the event or entry please contact us via [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you all in August. Happy Sailing.

Naomi Smith (Vice Commodore) and the Bass Week team.

Booking your holidays for 2018? Want to join us for another great Bass Week regatta? Don’t forget to reserve 4th-12th August 2018, entries will be open from mid April!

Bass Week fees for this year have been agreed, and the brochure is being prepared with an expectation that entries will go live week commencing 16 April.

Don’t miss out on the significant discounts available for pre-entry

Some great drone footage by caterer Alan

Did you spend your holiday with us at Bassenthwaite for our annual regatta? Hopefully you returned home safely, caught up on your washing (and sleep), and looking forward to Bass Week 2018!

The Bass team are always striving for continuous improvement and in this respect we would like your feedback on this year’s regatta.

If you have 5 minutes to spare please click on Questionnaire 2017 and let us know what was good about this year and where we can improve. For every 25th completed survey, the lucky individual will receive a £25 discount voucher off next years entry.

Congratulations to Jonathan Bullen on winning the first £25 voucher! The second voucher goes to Fiona Spence, and the third to Nick West. Who will be next?

The end is nigh. The party(ing) almost over. What decorations adorned the flag pole?

Would the wind beat the forecast for a final race? Unfortunately it did not fill in sufficiently to convince the OD it was suitable to get the final race underway, so racing was cancelled.

At the final prize giving of the week, sponsored by The Lakes Distillery, the Commodore thanked the numerous people who had made the event happen under Naomi’s co-ordination.

In addition to the series prizes, there were four special awards

Nigel O’Donnell, from Swarkestone, gave a vote of thanks to the club for all our efforts delivering another extra special event.

If you want to have some keepsake memories of the week, warts and all, go to the photo gallery at bass2017.smugmug.com

The final weekend is here. Traditionally the prizes have been whisky, for those old enough to consume it, and this year is no exception as our lead sponsor is The Lakes Distillery.

Three races to squeeze in today. The weather started damp after a wet night and the forecast gusty winds were keeping a low profile.

Some of the younger sailors even found time to rehearse for a show for family and friends.

The live band on Friday had proved to be intoxicating in more ways than one, and the rescue crews were having a lie in despite the early 10.30 start which delayed proceedings for a short while.

The winds remained lighter than forecast, and varied in strength occasionally causing a slow final lap for some. By lunchtime the clouds were clearing and the sun finally appeared. Three races were completed with mixed results for some.

The sun continued to shine for the caterers barbecue before the final evening’s entertainment which was headlined by The Exploding Buddhas by special request of Zena Martin to celebrate her wedding anniversary. Some wondered whether the bass guitarist was a cross between James May and Jeremy Clarkson!

Any late evening revellers should hope for clear skies for a chance to see a meteor shower about 11pm as we’re in an excellent location avoiding light pollution.

There wasn’t any waiting around for wind today with a good force 3 gusting 5 blowing across the lake. With a bit of rain thrown in for good measure, some sailors opted to watch the racing from the shore.

Not a true southerly so the round the lake option was canned, but there was some good spinnaker legs, and tough beats, to contend with. There were various capsizes to keep the rescue crews busy.

Conditions were similar for the afternoon race grouped into Ladies, Junior and Over 60s for which there was a good turnout.

The 3rd prize giving was held in the clubhouse to avoid rain showers.

Live music by local singer Lottie Winfindale followed by Collision

https://youtu.be/Kz4fYeBAkF0

 A misty start to the morning but hopefully there will be a light breeze to blow it away and get some racing in, but with the sun due to shine will we have to wait for a sea breeze to be the saviour today?

The OD was confident that when the wind swung to the west, it would be good for racing, and he was right! Racing was delayed slightly as a result, but got underway in good airs. In the Mirrors, our bar manager Emma Smith, and F15 world champion Graham Vials, were too far OCS for the OD, Emma’s brother in law(!), to ignore and they were both recalled. Graham did recover his position, aided by an errant fast handicap boat’s positioning, pulled through to win from Paul Allen.

The afternoon race was the much sought after RNLI Silver Salver. The varying wind strength came in at a time that suited the Solo’s start, and Commodore Robin Dawson took full advantage, soon taking the lead, and then breaking away into clear airs that he held for the final third of the race, winning by a clear margin.

In the afternoon the children were entertained by Pirate Pete (or something similar!), and there will be a film night to keep those wanting a quiet evening entertained.

It should have been a windy two race series today, but the wind was slow to build up. With the wind from the NNE it was a little cooler when the sun hid behind the clouds from time to time. Not a day for planing, but there was some good challenging racing. The wind backed more to the north after lunch so the OD set the course down to the southern end of the lake in near perfect conditions (for sailing around the lake!)

After racing was the 2nd prize giving of the week. How time flies!

Cocktail night is the order of the day for those still standing!