Author: jollysailor

A strong breeze from the southwest with gusts up to force 6 for the final round of the Gillette series last night.

9 boats made it out for the start, where the wind quickly built further. All boats were right on the line at the start, but Will S (ILCA6) & Darren (ILCA7) both suffered capsizes just after the starting gun.

Will quickly recovered, but Darren’s tiller extension broke and he was forced to retire.

A long beat up to the far end of the lake had Mike & Alé (470) in first, followed by Hugh (ILCA7) & Rhys (ILCA6).

Rhys overtook Hugh on the reach, before both of them passed Mike & Alé, who had capsized on the penultimate mark. Further back, Joel (ILCA6) & Richard W (ILCA7) were having a close battle & Paul W was braving the conditions in his Morbic.

Mike & Alé required assistance from the safety boat team to right their 470 & retired.

Ralph meanwhile had opted for the smaller rig (ILCA6) but after two capsizes also retired.

Rhys crossed the line 1st, with Hugh 2nd & Will S 3rd, having worked his way back through the fleet.

On handicap, Rhys was 1st, with Will S 2nd & Hugh 3rd.

A big thank you yo Newton & his team for running the racing and providing great safety boat cover.

After the race, there was Pasta Soffrito & Mushrooms in white wine sauce, made by Steve P.

Yesterday’s race marked the end of the Gillette series, with the overall results:

Newton 1st

Hugh 2nd

Rhys 3rd

We’re back on Sunday for the next rounds of the Cobley series, as well as the Junior Regatta.

Shifty winds for the latest rounds for the Cobley series yesterday. But blue skies and sun meant 15 boats headed out for the pursuit race.

Paul W set off first in his Morbic, with Tatiana in her Topper following shortly after.

The wind filled in for the Comets of Karen, Chris H & Sally, before a lull at the start line left the ILCA6’s & Solos struggling to get away. Karen got ahead, and kept her lead for the rest of the race. Newton (Solo), Will S (ILCA6) & Hugh (ILCA7) were having a close race to round off the podium. Meanwhile, Steve S (ILCA7), Richard G (AERO7) & Chris H had dropped further back and were having a fight of their own.

At the finish gun, Karen was first, with Newton 2nd And Hugh 3rd.

The wind filled in slightly for the handicap race. The shifts made it difficult to decide on a starting position, but Will S read it perfectly, starting at the pin end & port tacking the entire fleet. Newton was next around the windward mark, followed by Richard G who promptly capsized.

What followed was a close battle between Will & Newton, before Newton dropped back.

Meanwhile, there was a close battle between Chris H & Karen (Both in Comets) Alé (470), Richard G & Rick (ILCA7) were all having a close battle in the midflet.

Will S crossed the line 1st, with Newton 2nd & Hugh 3rd.

On Handicap, Will retained 1st, with Newton 2nd & Chris H 3rd.

Thanks to Ron & his team for running the racing yesterday.

After the race, there were bacon rolls made by Ann.

We’re back on Wednesday for the Twilight Race, which is the final Wednesday evening race of the year.

Very light winds for the annual Twilight race last night. Marking the end of the Wednesday evening racing for the year.

21 boats headed out, with their boats adorned with lights as they sailed around the course.

There was a packed start line, with a lot of boats favouring the pin end. Karen (Comet) & Emily (ILCA6) made great headway towards the windward mark. The rest of the fleet followed, with Hugh & Will (RS200) leading the best of the rest, before losing time during a futile spinnaker hoist.

Mike & Alé (470) made great gains, passing Emily, but couldn’t pass Mark B (AERO7).

Elsewhere in the race, Newton & Ellen (2000) were having a close battle with Hugh & Will & Joel (ILCA6) was having a good race with Richard G (AERO7), who had lost out in his battle with Mark around the windward mark.

The race was finished after one lap, due to the dying wind conditions.

Karen crossed the line 1st, followed by Mark B & Mike & Alé.

On handicap, Karen finished 1st, winning the Twilight Trophy, with Emily 2nd and Mark B 3rd.

Also awarded was the best decorated boat, which this year went to Hugh & Will in their 200.

Thanks to Chris H, Rick & the rest of their team for running the race last night.

After the race, there was a BBQ, which attracted the best evening meal attendance of the year. Expertly cooked by Ann & Steve M.

We’re back on Sunday for the next rounds of the Cobley Series.

Very light winds for the Barts Bash race yesterday.

12 boats took to the water despite the light winds. Aileen (Comet) was first to the windward mark before being overtaken. Newton shot into 1st, followed by Jess and Chris H. Further back, Aileen, Mark (Aero7), Karen (Comet) and Nigel (ILCA7) were having a close battle, before Aileen and Karen pulled ahead.

Newton crossed the line first in his RS200, Tatiana crewing for the first time. Followed by Jess (ILCA7) & Chris H (Comet) 3rd.

On handicap, Chris H finished 1st, with Aileen 2nd & Jess 3rd.

Donations were collected to support Barts Bash & the Andrew Simpson Foundation.

A big thank you to Darren & his team for organising the racing yesterday.

After the race, there were Bacon rolls, made by Ann, the proceeds from which also went to the Andrew Simpson Foundation.

More shifty winds from the Southeast for the penultimate round of the Gilette series last night.

15 boats took to the water, there was a significant bias as the starboard end of the line and most boats chose to start there. The wind shifted after the start and Hugh (ILCA7) & Newton (Solo) broke away from the rest of the fleet.

Nigel (ILCA6) was stuck in a lull at the port end and was last across the start line. But the wind shift worked to his advantage and he rounded the windward mark 6th. Despite starting at the pin end, Darren (ILCA7) was last to the windward mark and had his work cut out working his way back through the fleet.

Meanwhile, Will S, Rhys & Joel (All ILCA6), along with Richard W (ILCA7) & Karen (Comet) were all having a close race trying to fill out the final spot on the podium.

Further back, Mike T (Solo), Nigel, Steve S (ILCA7) & Ian (ILCA6) were all having a close battle, although Steve S edged ahead at the final lap.

Hugh crossed the line 1st, with Newton 2nd & Darren 3rd, having made a great comeback through the fleet.

On handicap, Hugh was 1st, with Newton 2nd & Karen 3rd.

A big thank you to Alé & his team for organising the racing yesterday.

After the race, there was Chicken Korma & Naan, made by Karen, who skillfully avoided a photo, so we had to find an old one on file!

Were back on Sunday for the next rounds of the Cobley Series.

A very shifty and inconsistent wind for the first races of the Cobley Series.

Typically coming from the south, the wind direction meant a short course at the far end of the lake. 17 boats made it out for the Pursuit race, which was led by Tatiana (Topper) at the start, who set off first. The rest of the fleet then set off to catch up, with a lull allowing the ILCA 7’s to catch up with the slower boats almost immediately. It was a busy first beat, with all the boats close together, vying for position.

Newton (Solo), Chris H (Comet) & Hugh (ILCA7) all made it out of the fleet, with Newton ending up far ahead. Chris & Hugh were having a close battle, which allowed Darren (ILCA7), & the ILCA6’s of Chris K, Rhys & Will S to catch up.

At the end of the race, Newton finished first, with Hugh 2nd & Chris H 3rd. The race was so close in the midfleet that the race officer had a great time tyring to work out who was closer.

Most boats stayed out for the handicap race, and there was a bust start line as most opted for a starboard end start. Darren made it out in front, with Will S & Chris H close behind. Newton, Chris K, Rhys & Hugh were all slightly further back fighting for position.

Newton managed to pass Chris H to get up to 3rd place, who dropped back behind the ILCA’s of Hugh & Chris K. Darren crossed the line 1st, with Will S 2nd & Newton 3rd. On handicap, Chris H won, with Will S 2nd & Chris K 3rd. A big thank you to Jess & her team for running the racing yesterday.

We’re back on Wednesday for the next round of the Gilette Series.

Strong winds for yesterday’s Gilette race. With a force 5/6 wind & gusts reaching 28kts.

Despite this, 17 boats headed out, with a packed start line, most boats got off to a good start. Will S (ILCA6) was over the line and had to return.

Hugh (ILCA7) was first to the windward mark, followed by Darren (ILCA7) & Mike & Alé (470)

Newton (Solo), Richard W & James P(Both ILCA6) were having a close battle in the midfleet. Meanwhile, further ahead, both Rhys (ILCA6) & Will S were having a great race with each other.

Hugh & Darren meanwhile were having a close race at the front. Darren edged ahead on the second lap.

Mike & Alé were catching up to the ILCA7’s on the beats, before falling back to the ILCA6’s on the downwind legs.

On the second lap, Darren had a Death Roll and broke his Outhaul, with Hugh inheriting the lead. Hugh then death rolled twice on the final lap, allowing most of the fleet to pass.

Mike & Alé crossed the line first, with Rhys 2nd & Will S 3rd.

On handicap, Rhys was 1st, with Will S 2nd & Newton 3rd.

A big thank you to Adrian & his team for running the racing last night.

After the race, there was Sausages & Chilli with Jacket Potatoes, followed by Chocolate Cake, made by Mark.

We’re back on Sunday for the first rounds of the Cobley Series.

The Oppies and Youth & Juniors had their final session last night, with team games for the Oppies & a mini regatta for the Youth & Juniors.

Despite the terrible weather, everyone had a fantastic time.

After drying off, it was time for prize giving & a party tea.

Our final session of the year is also a great opportunity to thank all of the instructors & volunteers who give up their time to run the sessions for the young people.

It was also the perfect opportunity to thank Karen, who puts an enormous amount of work both behind the scenes and out on the water to make these sessions happen, without her, they simply would not take place.

Just because our training sessions have ended doesn’t mean there’s no sailing for the youngsters.

Pink Fleet, Wednesday & Sunday racing are all available, along with our upcoming Youth regatta on the 14th September.

Force 4/5 winds for the final races of the Summer Series on Sunday.

Due to the strong winds, there were plenty of sailors willing to help run the race and provide safety cover. Despite this 15 sailors made it out for the race. Paul W in his Morbic set of first, with the rest following behind.

Newton (Solo) quickly passed him and held onto his lead for the rest of the race. There was a close fight between Mike T, Hugh & Darren (ILCA7), before Darren had several dips in the water, dropping back. Meanwhile Mike & Hugh had caught up to and passed Richard G (Aero 5) but Richard was keeping close behind.

Meanwhile, James P (ILCA7) had passed Darren & Aileen. A capsize from Hugh allowed Mike T & Richard to get past again.

At the finish gun, Newton was 1st, with Mike T 2nd & Richard 3rd.

The final results for the Summer Pursuit Series were:

1st – Newton

2nd – Chris H

3rd – Aileen.

Only 10 boats remained out for the handicap race, including Rhys who had opted for a topper due to the strong winds.

The wind had built up significantly and many sailors were caught out by the gusts.

Darren took an early lead, with Mike T catching up as the race wore on.

Darren crossed the line 1st, with Mike T 2nd & Richard G in 3rd.

On handicap, Richard took the win, with Darren 2nd and Mike T 3rd.

The final results for the Summer Handicap series were:

1st – Newton

2nd – Chris H

3rd – Aileen

Out of all the racers, the only ones that remained upright were: Newton, Paul W & Mike T. Congratulations to them.

A big thank you to Steve S, Ricky, Ian & their bolstered team for running the racing and providing such excellent safety boat cover.

We’re back on Wednesday, for the next round of the Gillette series, which now starts at 6.30.

No photos of the racing this week, that’s Ann’s fault & the Jolly sailor has already had words.

Force 3 winds with some very strong gusts for the final round of the Junior Gillette on Wednesday evening. It was all to play for with just 0.4 points separating the top two.

Molly (Topper 4.2) had a great start, with Fergus (Optimist) not far behind. Ilya had a difficult first beat and was working to catch up. Alex (Optimist) meanwhile had caught up with Fergus and passed him. Molly remained in front for the rest of the race, crossing the line 1st. Ilya was unable to catch Molly & finished 2nd. Alex crossed the line 3rd.

A big well done to all the juniors who went out in the trying conditions.

On Handicap, the positions remained unchanged.

The final results for the Junior Gillette:

1st – Molly

2nd – Ilya

3rd – Fergus

A big well done to our top three finishers and all the Juniors that took part.

Thanks to Hugh & Emily for running the Junior race on Wednesday.

The wind dropped for the main Gillette race, but that didn’t stop 13 boats heading out for the race.

A wind shift right at the start led to most of the boats stopped on the line, struggling to get away. Mike T (ILCA7) sailed clear, followed by James P (ILCA7) & Newton (Solo). The wind died at the leeward mark, and 6 boats all rounded the buoy at the same time. After this, Mike, James & Newton all sailed clear of the rest of the fleet.

Richard (ILCA7) dropped back after a capsize and was having a close battle with Rick (ILCA6). Meanwhile Joel (ILCA6) & Hugh (ILCA7) were having a close fight with Aileen (Comet).

Newton crossed the line 1st, with Mike T 2nd & James P 3rd.

On Handicap, Newton was 1st, with Aileen 2nd & Mike T 3rd.

A big thank you to Mark B & his team for running the racing on Wednesday.

After the race, there was Spaghetti Bolognese & Chocolate Pear Cake, made by Chris & Carol.

We’re back on Sunday for the final race of the Summer Series.