Would the Bass microclimate do its bit to beat the dire forecast today as the day started with a mirror like lake. Although ripples appeared on the water before the scheduled start time, the OD opted to wait for it to be a bit more full bodied before starting racing. The wind did settle down to the forecast NNE(ish) direction but there wasn’t any planing conditions to be had. As ever, there was shifts to challenge everyone, including a 180^O shift to throw the cat amongst the pigeons in the Flying 15 fleet in the morning race!

After lunch there was the pursuit race; this time the wind shifted more to the east for a while resulting in the beat turning almost into a fetch. This, of course, aided those boats on that leg at the time, but the beat did return, together with a stronger breeze and a heavy downpour for a short while. Paul Allen was had built up a big lead in the Mirrors, but son Reuben was getting cold after the rain so he opted to forego the chance of winning the pursuit and retired whilst in the lead. There was to be a close finish with Bass’ Paul Bowmer and Dave Lawson in a GP chasing Chris Parker with a newbie crew in a Graduate, but the Graduate held the lead to win the Nairn pursuit.

There should be more wind tomorrow…

While some sailors have gone back to work for a rest after a blustery weekend’s sailing, some new sailors will be turning up for the midweek racing, so it will be a leisurely start with just one race in the afternoon.

The spare morning was used to offer some sail training to a group of youngsters, and the conditions were suitably light.

The overnight rain had passed through and cleared leaving blue skies. Would the OD opt to send the fleet around the lake as often happens for the Monday race? With a good wind from the SW, it seemed wrong to waste the chance of some great racing in the bay, so that’s where the course was set. With the RS400s back in the fast handicap fleet, their start was a bit busier to the extent that they had a general recall so it was to the back of the queue they went to calm down.

Graham and Alan in the Flying 15 found sticking to the course challenging, and lost ground retracing their steps when they headed for the wrong mark (again)!  Helms, and crews , had to keep their wits about them as fleets crossed on different legs of the course, but they were able to relax with a cooling drink in the sunshine afterwards.

It’s pie night in the galley followed by a magician. Will he be able to conjure up some good winds for Tuesday as the forecast is a bit light…

The forecast isn’t looking good with the threat of rain increasing with gust strength as the day goes on. Better make the most of what we have while it lasts…

The morning stayed dry and bright with another good wind picking up from the SSW which meant that Sale Fell was to have its influence on proceedings. Not only were conditions gusty again, there were some big shifts and down-draughts to contend with resulting in a spinnaker reach from N0S to 8 turned into a beat for some.

The rain moved in over lunch and the wind shifted more to the South so that the OD opted to use the southern end of the lake for racing. Despite having checked the wind down the lake, when the lead boats reached the far end, the wind had shifted, and there were more down-draughts and numerous holes in the wind – just what you need when the rain has settled in!

At the first prize giving of the week, the multitude of prizes were provided by our lead sponsor, The Lakes Distillery. Jo Van Lachterop, one of our newest members to sailing was delighted to win her first sailing prize for coming 2nd overall crewing for her instructor Ant Woodyer in the slow handicap fleet.

Quiz night was as popular as ever with the early evening kids version, followed by one for adults. It was the Bass Cocktail Queens that took the honours, with a half point lead, and a pure coincidence that there were some close links with guest quiz master Jon Denwood, comprising his wife, daughter and sister, together with his start boat team for his forthcoming OD duty!

Loading...

With many people arriving on Friday and setting up camp, they were able to enjoy a leisurely start today and be ready for the afternoon racing, or so you would think. Rear commodore Mark Somerville and Sailing Sec Joe Roberts were sailing in a RS400 for which an additional start had been created. So starting first with clear winds would be ideal apart from the fact that, as the starting signal was sounded, Mark hiked out, and kept on going, only holding on to his tiller extension, as his toe straps had given way! The tiller extension gave way very quickly after. So after hauling himself back into the boat, he made some running repairs up the beat, and were pleased to note that some of the leading boats had missed out a mark, putting them in the lead! Top that sequence of events if you can.

Despite a brief attempt at raining, the weather was dry and the winds were, well, Bass – great breeze, somewhat blustery, and very shifty. There were a few capsizes, and numerous retirements, but generally great racing. Only two general recalls, to date, by the Solos and the Flying 15s.

A barbeque by the caterers may have seemed optimistic earlier in the day, but the weather stayed dry, and it will be followed by the Commodore’s reception.

Our gates are officially open, so you are welcome to come in, join us, and prepare for the 2017 ONE Bassenthwaite Lake Sailing Week.

The Cumbrian summer weather has left a little to be desired recently but you're sure to have a great week with plenty of good company, entertainment, and racing of course!

This year chandlery services will be split through the week

• Trident will be providing a chandlery service Saturday-Wednesday.   Click for more info  
• Rope for boats will be providing a fittings and rope service Thursday – Sunday.

Karen, Alan and the Rural Recipes Catering team are looking forward to welcoming you again

Email:  [email protected]       Text:  07971 870786

• Breakfast is served from 8am

Bacon/Egg/Sausage Baps; Beans on Toast; Toast with Jam/Marmalade
Full English Breakfast; Tea, Coffee

• Lunch

Daily Hot Special Meals
Pasta Dishes
Selection of Hot Snacks incl. Sausage Rolls; Pasties; Pizza Slices;
Jacket Potatoes; Chips
Sandwiches – Fresh selection daily 

• Themed Evening Menus:
Served from 5pm  to 7.30pm (or earlier if entertainment) 

Four Hot Options each evening including Vegetarian

PLEASE Pre-Order on sheets at the galley 

Food Intolerances:
Please advise if you have a specific intolerance and we will try to assist.

Junior training is back at Bass Week this year. Monday morning 10am-1pm. Beginners start to race training. Participants can use their own or club hired boats.

Book via WebCollect. Limited places available so book early to avoid disappointment.

Vice-Commodore Naomi Smith and her team look forward to welcoming you to this year’s regatta for which planning is well underway. Your chance to enter is here with best early bird discounts available until 11 June. Unless paying by direct debit or PayPal, please ensure payment is made within seven days of placing order otherwise it will be voided.

Enter now!

In addition to racing and camping entries, you can book an arrival evening meal on 4 August from our onsite caterers Rural Recipes.

Also, hoodies and T shirts in numerous sizes, colours and shapes are only available if pre-ordered. They will be available for collection on arrival

For those of you planning ahead to 2017, Bass Week will run from 5 – 13 August 2017.

See you there!

We are getting some great comments from those completing the questionnaire – Thank you!

• Mixed wind conditions, great racing and great company
• Taking our kids out racing – getting a top 10 finish in a series. Watching the kids make their bass friends…
• The people
• Bass week is special!
• The members, so helpful, I’m amazed at how much work they put in to make Bass week a great event .Enjoyed the week immensely well worth the 700 mile round trip and will be there next year, hopefully my sailing will improve by then. Safety boat crews were on the ball,very good. Kind regards, Frank
• Lovely place, people and sailing every year.
• Good wind working on wining one day love going down the lake
• All the hard work by my team!
• As usual you make us all feel very welcome, and the racing as always was professionally run.
• Fabulous water, scenery and an excuse to travel together with friends and do what we all love the most!
• Having a separate start for SOLO class!
• The racing as ever was fun and friendly . This year there were more female laser sailors which enhanced things personally for me but I appreciate that is outwith your control. Flexibility regarding boats/rigs you can race in means we can sail whatever the conditions which is great.
• Friendly Bass members and the attention to detail from the sailing aspect especially the sailing sec and his team.077
• Having the opportunity to sail with the family, on site camping and entertainment provided. It\’s a highlight of our year and we have only been twice!
• Ability to sail at such a lovely location with friends at a price that makes it accessible to all. Very friendly and extremely well organised. Thank you.
• Doing what I enjoy with people I like for a week and not having to travel far. Can’t beat it.
• Everything … racing, evening entertainment, food, drink, friends, atmosphere, hospitality, welcome … I could go on forever! Basically, I spend all year looking forward to Bass 🙂 Thank you.
• It was fantastic as usual. I can\’t thank you all enough for all the hard work you put into making it such an excellent week. The showers were fantastic this year too.
• Loved the family friendly aspect of the whole event. Great for the kids. I also thoroughly enjoyed being in amongst many like-minded people who simply love the sport of sailing. Really great stuff.
• The racing and competitiveness of the visitors
• Retro disco and old friends combined with excellent racing.
• The racing
• I only decided to attend a few days before because I was able to sort out my work commitments. Tom and I had a great time, please pass on our thanks to everyone that helped organise the Week.
• as always meeting lots of other sailors plus the scenery!
• A nice friendly atmosphere
• The racing format, the atmosphere and that it is fun. Thank you.
• The people – the place – the team – the sailing
• Everyone is always so welcoming and helpful, makes the week run so smoothly even when it’s obviously hard work for all involved. The sailing is inclusive for all levels and apart from a couple of the FF sailors barging around the lake, a good level of sportsmanship is achieved.
• There was a great atmosphere at Bass week, with lots to watch and lots of people to meet. The racing not being one series, meant we could dip in and out and just go and have fun. Watching so many boats on the water is a great sight, in spectacular surroundings.
• It’s a lovely club, great sailing area & very friendly. Already looking forward to visiting again.
• The One Gin!!!!!!!!!

https://youtu.be/Z24R4yeU0r8

Not the best GoPro footage ever filmed (Ben’s words!), but you may wish to watch it. The music was unknowingly chosen by the rowdy lot who were trying to remember the lyrics at 2:00am one morning

For lasting memories of the week, Ben Unwin’s photos can be found and purchased at http://www.benunwinphotography.co.uk/Bass-Week-2016

Similarly John Spittle has created a gallery site where you can purchase his photos: http://johnspittle.smugmug.com/

If you missed the TV coverage last week, view it here