A wild and wet night, with rain, and a forecast of strong gusts, seemed to dampen enthusiasm generally. However the rain had passed through when it was time to get ready for racing, and the gusts didn’t match expectations, so about 60 boats took to the water.

There were numerous capsizes before the start as the wind tended to be very gusty, and shifty to boot. There were some good excellent planing conditions to enjoy, but even the leaders were being caught out at times, and went for a swim, however brief!

The Nairn pursuit was held after lunch, with about 40 boats. The blustery conditions continued to take out even the best sailors at gybe marks, on the reaches and even beats!

The Mirrors were one of the first fleets to start and soon took the lead with Graham Vials and Andy Smith having some close battles. With about 10 minutes to go Graham had a good lead but was caught by a gust on a run, turtled his boat, then Andy took the lead.

Too many capsizes by the faster, pursuing, boats was their downfall and they lost too much ground to catch the leaders, so Andy and Katia Smith won overall.

The day started dry and bright with light winds for the morning junior novice’s race.

By the afternoon the wind had freshened, and the OD was convinced there was an opportunity to use the southern end of the lake for racing. However, by the time racing was due to start, conditions were more suited to using the north end of the lake.

The Flying 15s were the first fleet to have a general recall, but were much more cautious 2nd time around! As the wind swung to and fro during the race, Sale Fell may have influenced some strange wind effects, or possibly downdraughts on some legs of the course.

The better wind strength led to good planing conditions, and a few capsizes.

An overcast start was slow to clear, but, as forecast, patches of blue sky started to appear. The wind was a little more reluctant, and racing was postponed until 1330 hrs at the earliest, at which stage a sea breeze seemed to be taking over from the forecast NNW direction, racing was planned for 1415.

Whilst setting the course, the wind filled back in from NNW, the start sequence was underway, only for the sea breeze to return! A postponement was raised, the line moved, and racing was started again. Fortunately, the general SW direction held, and remained for the duration of the race, which was to be the only one of the day.

The prize giving was postponed in favour of the women’s Euro final.

After a bright, mild day, on Friday for campers to set up, some rain moved in overnight, and misle lasted throughout most of the first day’s sailing. The wind was not as gusty as forecast, but there was some good opportunities to plane at times for over 110 boats.

After racing the fish and chip van was kept busy, before the Commodore’s reception, followed by a disco.

Internet problems delayed publication of the results, but they are sorted now!

After months of preparation, everything is in place for CraftInsure Bass Week 2022, and we look forward to welcoming you from 8am on Friday.

With just a week to go, here’s your guide to the week

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Entries are now open for Craftinsure Bass Week

It’s 150 days to Bassenthwaite Sailing Club’s Craftinsure Bass week, being held from 30th July to 7th August on one of Cumbria’s largest bodies of water, Bassenthwaite Lake.

The regatta will see over 300 racers from up and down the country visit the area for the 9 day regatta. Throughout the week there will be multiple events for all the family, including 9 days of competitive racing, children’s parties, nightly varied entertainment including live music, a quiz night and the all important Commodore’s reception. The club council are hopeful for a restriction free event, further information will be shared nearer the event as the Covid picture becomes clearer. Some of the positives from Bass Week 2021, including the popular coffee stall and visiting food vans, will be returning!

Entries are now open at webcollect.org.uk/bass-sc/category/bass-week Significant discounts on entry fees are available until June 3rd 2022.

Look out for our next promo ‘100 days to Craftinsure Bass Week’ where we will be catching up with some Bass Week regulars to hear their tips for both fast sailing on the water and tactical survival in the bar!

Bass Week 2022 will run from 30 July – 7 August.

Don’t forget to check out and purchase photo memories from https://www.pdmphoto.co.uk/The-One-Bassenthwaite-Week-2021

Feedback received:

I was very impressed by the organisation of the events and helpfulness of all the people we met. The clubhouse and grounds were immaculate and high praise to all the volunteer club members for their hard work.

Everyone said ‘just wait for Bass Week’ and with ominous excitement I did…
Little did I appreciate what was in store – a cocoon of adventure, buzzing with activity, full of friendly faces of all ages; laughs and fun whatever the weather, banging live tunes, delicious food, bountiful games and that’s not to mention the sailing! (How did you competitors find the time for that?!)
A festival of all the best things in life. Exceptionally organised, faultlessly inclusive and mindfully supportive. Thank you all.
Bass is clearly a very special place and I am honoured to be able to join you.
Now, to learn to sail…⛵️

Thank you to all at Bass Club for organising another excellent event. Greatly appreciated after 18 weary eventless months. Well done to all 😃

It was a fantastic week, looking forward to Bass Week 2022.

Sorry we couldn’t do the whole week, but the first half was great.

Bass Week 2021…you were awesome and my new bass family I will grow old with 🥰. Thank you to everyone who organised 🎉

A wet final evening is not unusual, but unfortunate in terms of packing away tents and awnings. At least there should be plenty of wind for the last race of the weekend series, and regatta, for those with the energy and enthusiasm for one final blast!

Even the committee boat ran out of energy just as it was laying the final start line! A reduced turnout competed for series positions before the final prize giving at which Commodore Jon Denwood thanked his team for bringing everything together for a slightly different, fresher, but excellent event.

Thunder and lightning. Flash floods. Well that’s the forecast, fortunately not particularly accurate as yet!

With a SSE F3-4, making use of the full lake was an ideal solution.

For the second race the wind eased slightly so the faster fleets just raced to mark 11. The rain moved in briefly before the final race, killed the wind a bit more, and then started to swing around Sale Fell – quite a change from the first race of the day!

Evening entertainment for those that can muster some energy is the final fling disco, Olympic theme fancy dress of course…

The rain has arrived but ousted the wind. The RNLI pursuit was held in light airs but despite their start advantage, the Mirrors could not maintain their lead, giving way to Adam Billany in an International 2.4 who led through to the finish of the 80 minute race.

After lunch the wind veered to the SW and increased for more great sailing.

One more race for junior and senior sailors, another prize giving, and then some live music to dance the night away.

All good things come to an end, and today could be the day the rain appears, however, due to the Bass microclimate, only time would tell. In the meantime sailors should be able to enjoy F3-4 south easterly – perfect for sailing down the lake perhaps? As it turned out the wind held, and with gusts hitting F6 at times, there was large waves to contend with too. Consequently the turnout was reduced but those that started, in the main, completed the course around the lake.

No gallery template found!

The wind, or gusts at least, picked up over the lunch break, and when launching for the RNLI pursuit boats were being blown off trollies which put more sailors off, and limited the number that could get launched! As a result the race was abandoned and sailors headed back to shore. As there were several sailors keen to race, a single start handicap race was held. As the rain moved in, the wind eased slightly, much to the disappointment of some.

After racing there was a childrens’ orienteering, and a car treasure hunt, so hopefully the main rain showers held off a while longer.

Another glorious sunny morning to start the day, with the wind forecast to build over throughout the day, we were in for some more fantastic sailing conditions for the three races scheduled, however, there was a slight delay waiting for the wind to settle down – but it was worth it!

The wind eventually filled in from the west, but strengthened with the sea breeze. There were some great planing conditions in the F3-4, and various capsizes. The delayed start resulted in the final race being cancelled.

The second prize giving will be held after racing, and there will be some live music later in the evening.