For anyone that didn’t get a chance to purchase photos from the onsite photographer, use the following links to view available photos and then contact Ian Hughes to purchase

Sat 2nd Race 1
Sat 2nd Race 2
Fri 8th Race 1
Fri 8th Race 2
Sat 9th Race 1
Sat 9th Race 2
Sat 9th Race 3

£10 for a mounted 12x 8 with discounts if you order more than one.

Don’t forget to complete our questionnaire so we can work to improve our popular regatta, and make all the efforts of the vice commodore and his team worthwhile. Regular visitor Paul Allen recognised VC Mark Somerville’s effort by successfully nominating him as Y&Y Sailor of the Month

Showers at the start of Saturday were unexpected and unwelcome, but they passed through by mid morning and the wind continued to freshen from the west (though there were some mega shifts for sailors to contend with)

Gusts made sailing lively and hard work, especially as there were three races scheduled! Numbers did diminish through the day following capsizes, and exhaustion (perhaps an exaggeration). The sun came out again and there was another lovely evening, but rain is forecast for the final day…

The final fling disco will help sailors burn up any spare energy they still possess. It seems that some had enough energy to keep going till 4 am!

Sunday’s forecast was initially for lots of wind and rain. Fortunately the rain appeared as drizzly showers, whilst the wind was from the south east, and freshening – ideal conditions for racing around the lake (again). Sally’s reaction on seeing the course is not repeatable! Not long into the start sequence the wind began to ease rather than increase, and the wind in the bay just about disappeared altogether (not good when the course had two marks almost 4 miles apart!). Although most of the fleet made it back within 90 mins, some Lasers, Toppers and Teras took over 2 hours and were towed back on a mirrored lake.

The final prize giving of the week followed at which Commodore Andy Smith thanked the large range of people that had worked so hard to prepare and deliver another successful Bass Week.

At the end of the prize giving some special perpetual trophies were awarded.

The early morning breeze has swung to the south and is freshening. Perhaps there’ll be the opportunity for another round the lake race. You just can’t beat it!

Indeed the race did take the fleets around the lake, but not before an unexpecting open water swimmer was informed of the mass of boats that were at risk of sailing over him, and exited the lake.

The afternoon race is the Ladies, under 18s and over 60s – would it blow up as has happened so often in the past? Not a chance – the morning breeze faded, the rain and thunder moved in, and proceedings were delayed for over an hour. The race did get underway but in light winds.

After the third prize giving of the week, the members and visitors provided the entertainment for the evening in the form of Bass has got Talent. A range of 10 acts performed in front of a panel if judges before Asbo were proclaimed winners. Karaoke followed…

The wind and shone stayed with us all day. There were shifts, but you couldn’t expect anything else on Bass), but there was some great racing too.

The afternoon RNLI pursuit race was won by Ben Pickering in a Blaze, breaking a run of 5 wins by Mirrors in Bass Week pursuits.

Another clear, sunny evening meant the barbecues were out again in force.

Despite heavy overnight rain Tog will be pleased no campers had to decamp into the clubhouse! The early morning started with another good southerly but it didn’t last, disappeared, swung round, and round, then finally settled from the west.

A delayed start meant the race was sailed in a swinging but decent breeze which continued, and strengthened, throughout the afternoon.

The windier conditions led to some interesting events on the start line. A RS300’s mast broke just after starting but, with the 2 min starting sequence, was unable to be cleared from the line before the F15 start, so it was postponed at the last moment. Other boats capsized in the area, causing some confusion amongst starting boats of other fleets. The delayed starting sequence meant that the lead fast handicap boats were coming through the course adjacent to the starting line, but through the boats still mingling to start.

There were numerous capsizes, gear failures, and retirements throughout the race but all enjoyed some great sailing.

The second prize giving of the week was held after racing, with 5 races/series to award over 11 fleets it was going to take some time! After evening barbecues, there was a disco waiting for all to dance off any excess energy they may have!

A glorious sunny morning, with a southerly breeze – what more could we ask for?

The OD took advantage of the wind conditions and again sent the fleets round the lake for a ‘proper’ race with the lead fast handicap boat returning in less than an hour.

Conditions remained good for the afternoon pursuit race in which the Commodore, sailing a Mirror with daughter Lily, soon passed the Teras and maintained the lead for the remainder of the 100 min race, beating Tom Stewart in his N12 by a couple of boat lengths.

The weather for the inaugural evening race was not very inviting, with the rain killing the wind in the bay. However, 36 boats turned out, the wind settled down and the rain cleared, providing the ideal conditions for an evening race that prompted the event. Vice Commodore Mark Somerville led the fleet in his RS400, and won on handicap just 1 sec ahead of Alex Leonard in a RS200.

Former social secretary Andrea crewed for Banter in a RS400, stayed in her wetsuit still after 9pm as she downed three pints of lager. It’s not certain whether she joined the RS400 gang in the showers afterwards…

The entertainment for the evening was a real ale tasting session

The working week has begun for the rest of the world, the rain has disappeared for the time being, and the sun was shining. With a good westerly in the bay, the course took the fleet to the southern end of the lake. As soon as the leaders reached the narrows, the Sale Fell effect kicked in, and there were some big gains and losses to be had. EG Simon/Jon in their F15 had started with a flyer port on port, took an early lead, and then were stranded off Scarness point as their lead diminished, then disappeared, and they watched three F15s merrily sail by, before they opted to return to the shore.

The Commodore not only catapulted his daughter on to the fore deck when he ran aground at Scarness, but he had to jump overboard to free the centreboard from the rocks (not cool).

Paul/Jude Allen were the lead handicap boat and managed to build up a 15 min lead on the next boat! Despite the frustrations caused by the down draughts, everyone had a tale to tell after the race, and will no doubt look forward to doing it all again next year.

The sun continued into the evening for more al fresco dining before the first disco of the week.

At 10pm a minute’s silence was held in honour of the fallen of The Great War which commenced 100 years ago.

Some heavy overnight rain showers, were blown away by some stronger winds which led to some exciting sailing legs, though there were some shadows and lighter winds to contend with around the finish line.

With the heavier winds there were numerous capsizes and various minor collisions (including one between a boom and the helm’s head – ouch!). Racing was close and positions were won and lost on the finishing line.

Though the main showers were held at bay, the prize giving was held indoors ‘just in case’.

Nigel O’Donnell didn’t win the Medium Handicap series in his Wayfarer, but was keen to have his photo taken… How long will it be before he holds a trophy too?

A group of Bass juniors had successfully attained their RYA level 2 in the week to prior to Bass Week and were awarded their certificates at the end of the prize giving

The evening entertainment comprised junior and adult quizzes. After a recount (or was it a protest) the eventual winners were a Cast of Thousands proving that visitors do win (more often than people realise)

The visitors had a good day on Friday preparing their prepferred camping spot, and even got their boats prepared as well as having a barbeque after some frustrating showers!

Saturday’s forecast did not bode well, but despite a few showers from time to time the racing got underway on time, in good winds and with clean starts.

The webcam is playing up but there’s a workaround in place, so bare with us till it’s back up to speed.

Tog is pleased with the new grass (though it doesn’t stop growing). He just needs a tent now…

With Bass Week just a month away it’s time to hunt out those coveted trophies that you deservedly won last year, give them a polish, and return to the club in plenty of time for presentation to this year’s winners (hopefully you’ll be there to defend your position!)

You can bring them with you, but there’s often not enough room in the car by the time you’ve packed your kitchen sink…

Thank you in anticipation, we look forward to seeing you back again this year.

Tog’s prayers have been answered, the warm weather has been interspersed with the odd rain shower, and the grass seeds are helping turn the back field green again.
He assures us all will be ready for Bass Week

If you’ve not been to Bass Week before and you want to print out a summary of what it is about, and what will be going on, view or download our brochure.

Don’t forget that substantial early bird discounts end on 14 June, so make sure we have your completed entry and payment by then.

A female crew is available for Bass Week. Experience – sailing for about 3 years; crewed and helmed in GP’s, Enterprise, RS Vision, Flying 15 and Albacore.

A second female crew is available. Topper helm with experience crewing in Enterprises and N12s

If interested email us and we’ll put you in touch

As the recent rain takes a rest and the sun shines, the contractors returned this weekend to finish preparing the back camping field. All we need now is a little rain and and some warm weather to let nature take its course for the grass to grow in time for Bass Week!

The work to minimise the risk of flooding in the back camping field is progressing with the tidying up of the drainage ditch. There’s certainly been plenty of rain to help the grass grow again!

We have just been given a copy of an OLD Bass Week brochure. So much, yet so little has changed
[gview file=”https://www.bassweek.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Bass-Week-1969.pdf” width=600px height=500px]

With a slight break in the wet weather, work has begun on regrading the back camping field to improve run off and reduce the risk of flooding during Bass Week

We are pleased to announce that Insurance4dinghies are again supporting Bass Week as lead sponsor.

Check out our sponsors page for further information

Bass Week 2014 will run from Saturday 2 – Sunday 10 August.

Watch this space for updates.

We are pleased to be engaging the services of Red Seal Rescue to support and supplement our own rescue facilities throughout the regatta again.