Newsletter 11 06 25

The forecast is for warmer weather ... and thunderstorms. This last week has been dominated by breezy conditions. Good old British weather - we just have to get on with what's dished out to us. Overall the forecasts have become more accurate and by dipping in to various forecast websites we can get a fair picture on what we are in for. But last Saturday morning the weather we experienced was nothing like forecast ... fortunately !  I'll come on to that.

The Week in Review

Windy conditions have been limiting for many so it was just Liz and Andrew Potter who ventured out to race last Wednesday night. 
Thursday night wasn't quite as bad but not attractive to the GP's who decided against it only to find that the wind eased down a bit making racing possible.  It was good to see junior sailors racing 4 x Fevas and Amey Watkins (Lightning) getting some practise in.

Juniors Racing Fevas

Amey Watkins sailing her Lightning

Friday night's junior sailing was blown off as well in this weather spell.

We were expecting to be blasting up and down the lake in a strong SW on Saturday morning but 9 boats of the Introduction to Racing Group experienced light shifty westerly winds enabling 'follow my leader' and 'tacking on the whistle' exercises before two training races. Time well spent.

The Falcon fleet were busy carrying out buoyancy tests. Apart from being a requirement of the Falcon rules, it's good practise to carry out an annual check of buoyancy as well as to see if everything that you think is securely stowed, is so. When a buoyancy hatch cover floats away in a capsize it's not so easy to right the boat if at all. Loose ropes (halyards or painters) can get tangled if not secured. The Falcons have set a standard in completing the test even though some failed.... just another maintenance job !

Some boats passed the buoyancy test

Some boats failed the buoyancy test

Falcon buoyancy test 1

We had 'Low Water Racing" in the sailing programme for Sunday but this wasn't possible. The wind was up around 20 kts and only about 10 C for most of the day. Being out on the Hoyle Bank in those conditions would not have been anybody's idea of fun. Instead the dinghy sailors who accepted the challenge of three ad hoc races on the lake did have great fun. Everybody had a capsize (except maybe young Tom), some had multiple capsizes, not everybody finished all three races or finished  any races but they had a go and that was the all important take away.

Eight boats raced including junior Tom Underwood in his Laser 4.7 and not so novice sailors (but certainly not experienced in those conditions) Lightning Sailors Gill Hall and Judith Carter and Laser Sailor Jon Underwood.

For the first race the wind the was around 12 to 15 kts. Tony Clark (Laser) won this one on corrected time by 22 seconds from Liz Potter (D-Zero). A great performance by Tom Underwood (Laser 4.7) got him a third place on corrected time. Gill Hall came unstuck on the first gybe but righted after the capsize and carried on regardless. Judith Carter finished a lap of the course - no mean feet with her level of experience.

The wind speed was increasing in the second race causing capsizes on the two gybes in the course. It was Peter Jones who won this, spending less time in the capsizes than anybody else. Tony Clark second and Liz Potter third. 

For the final race the wind was consistently up at 20 knots with gusts above that. This was good spectating weather ! Liz was making no mistakes here and executed a perfect wear about to avoid the final gybe in a gust that was blowing through just at the wrong moment. This gave her a comfortable win on corrected time by 1 minute 30 seconds from Peter Jones and Tony Clark.

Who won overall this as hoc three race series? Winning on count back Liz Potter with 6 points from Tony Clark 6 points, Peter Jones 3rd on 7 points and Tom Green fourth on 13 points. All very close. There were no prizes but there was a glory in being out there and being part of it (and getting back in one piece !)  Well done to all.   

Tony Clark Laser - Sunday

Liz Potter D-Zero - Sunday

Gentle conditions returned for last night's racing (Tuesday 10/6/25). Twenty eight boats racing in total comprising Solos, Lasers and Illusions. 

Laser light dimming - Tuesday

Illusions - Tuesday

Gentle conditions for Lasers - Tuesday

Forthcoming :
Wednesday evening's handicap racing on the lake: Light winds forecast
Thursday evening GPs, Lightnings and Junior Team Racing : 11 to 20 kts forecast on XC Weather. 

Tidal sailing:
The Star Class 'Classic Boat Challenge' on Friday. This event was very successful last year - the forecast looks ok at the moment - best of luck to all concerned.

I'am told that 6x Falcons are going to compete in Royal Mersey YC's Regatta at Rock Ferry
There's a good tide on Saturday with nothing planned at WKSC HW 13:42 8.14 Mtrs. XC Weather are forecasting 9 to 12 kts 20 degrees C. Perfect.

Sunday: Normal tidal racing.

Next week sees the end of the X Series on the lake.

WKSC REGATTA 28/6/25 (Two weeks on Saturday)
You can enter online for the regatta and for food (there's a discount for entering early and it helps us to plan for the catering). To enter click here.

See below for the Regatta Posters.

LAKE LICENSES
Thank you to those of you who have made payment for the lake license. More requests for payment will be emailed out once the relevant boats have been identified. After that the results team will work with the boat yard team to identify those who have been using the lake but have not been sent the 'Request for Payment email for whatever reason. Please work with us here to ensure that we can make the necessary payment to the council.

The FALCON story  continued.....
   Harry Denis wanted 'a boat light enough for women to handle if needs be, stiff enough to prevent capsizes and yet capable of planing. It also was to be capable of lying to exposed moorings at the mouth of the mersey and dee estuaries, of drying out without blowing over or putting excessive strain on the boats and being able to sail without an acrobatic crew, a family boat.' Quoting from Heather Tennant's writings.
    Now, you may recall the mention of the Myth Class from last week's newsletter and the change of name to the 'Liverpool Bay Falcon Class'. Timing is all important in this story. Some of the early boats were named in the 'Myth' theme ... so 'no. 4 Sauceress, changed her name to Sea Eagle but Gremlin no. 5 continued with the same name. '
   I've run out of time - more next week. 

All photos Tony Marston

Tony Marston  Sailing Secretary