We’ve all finally dug ourselves out of the mud and made it back from Bass Week.
I was using the week as a bit of a holiday with some sailing thrown in. On Thursday all sailing was abandoned due to lack of wind and lots of that fine rain that soaks you through. That day I headed over to Buttermere and then up the Honister Pass and had a tour of the slate mines.
Friday again saw not much wind, not enough for a Phantom sailor to do any good so Tom and I hopped on our bikes for a bit of a ride in the hills. The copious amounts of alochol consumed during the week (Tom more than me) soon caught up with us as the downhill bits were a welcome break. Tristan had also made an appearance so in the afternoon I sailed down the lake with him and enjoyed probably some of the best wind of the week. Shame we weren’t racing as the kids, ladies and oldies were out.
Saturday started with a gale and only twenty something boats out on the water. I watched from the shore for the first one and watched many boats limping back to shore. The second race, I had a cracking start and had a battle with a Lazer Vago (they do actually go quite fast occasionally!). We rounded a mark together and found it was a dead run to the next mark. He headed off on a zig-zag with his gennaker whereas I decided to risk it and run to the mark. It was very rocky and felt like we were sailing on the sea as my boat crashed through the waves. The move paid off as I pulled miles ahead of most of the fleet, with only Andy Pilkington in his Merlin ahead. Unfortunately, I capsized spectacularly (for me anyway) while trying to gjbe and got stuck in the mud allowing the Vago and Jeff to pass me. Trying to get my boat back up I twisted my back and that was my sailing over with as I couldn’t lean out.
It was better for Jeff who on Sunday picked up the trophy for first place in the Medium Handicap weekend series, I think the Pilkingtons were second. David and Lesley were pipped to first place in the slow handicap weekend series by a GP14.
So, it’s back to work and the thought of a very dirty tent in a big pile in my garage to sort out and a lot of wet muddy clothes to wash!
Well done to the Bolton sailors who brought back trophies and other various prizes of glasses and mugs.
