UK-Cherub Forum
Cherub Chat => Calendar Events => Topic started by: andy_peters on May 27, 2015, 01:19:12 AM
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Something a little different from your normal open to liven the calendar up a bit and spread the Cherub love Northwards
One of the top 10 'must do' events in Y&Y and a personal favorite of mine. An absolute magic event if the weather co-operates. One long race per day up and down the length of Ullswater. If the gradient wind is vaguely aligned with the lake it funnels to make a 7-8 mile windward/leeward with plenty of gusts, holes and variation to keep you interested. If that isn't enough the scenery is stunning and there are lively parties on Fri/Sat night with cheap beer (well for those coming from the south it is)
I advise pre-entry as there is a limit and they generally get very close to it. Advance entry is via Sailracer which is linked from the Birkett home page
http://www.ullswateryachtclub.org/Default.aspx?tabid=227 (http://www.ullswateryachtclub.org/Default.aspx?tabid=227)
or direct
http://events.sailracer.org/eventsites/new.asp?eventid=199738 (http://events.sailracer.org/eventsites/new.asp?eventid=199738)
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Ronin is intending on going if there is going to be others??
any takers???
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The shiny beast wants to go, just waiting for a yes from the crew.
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As long as some wind is forecast we will be there
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Looking forward to this. Hope the wind is slightly off to one side of the lake = no tacks and a couple of gybes and some very big grins
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Banshee ambulance will be there :D
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Forecast for The Birkett is currently looking peachy. 3 cherubs already entered, we will make a 4th. Anyone else up for a trip to the 'Garda of the North'?
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Lord Birkett 2015.
On Friday night before racing, the mosquitoes sent the 5 Cherub crews who had made the pilgrimage north a clear message about the racing to follow for the next two days. Sadly none of the assembled fleet can read braille and there was no connection to the web to seek at translation. Now we are home I can confirm it was along the lines of "this is going to be a little epic".
Saturday dawned with no wind, even more mosquitoes messages and a forecast of a bucket of wind to come. The wind filled and the start was only delayed for 30 minutes, during which time a glassy lake turned into a healthy force 3/4. The 230+ boat mass start created some rather interesting outcomes, the least pleasant of which was for Poppy who was rammed by a cruiser on port and holed. During the predictable recall the cherubs all got a little swallowed and the wind built. Start 2 saw everyone away and Andy and Gill sneaking off into a healthy lead battling Shiny up the shore lifts. Poppy, Ronin and Banshee loosing contact a little. The wind built. By half way up the lake Poppy started to death roll in tacks from the quantity of water in her so I'm not really sure what happened to the rest of the fleet. It got windier and by the top mark (an island) Poppy and Shiny were within swimming distance - this was a mandated procedure as the force 5 was enabling boats to tack without changing direction. Shiny got up and away first, whilst Poppy floundered and then noddied on behind. Ronin and Banshee took a slightly different route home, retiring before getting to the last valley - probably a sensible idea. Usagi broke a tiller extension and had to retire on before the end of course dog leg. Shiny took the Cherub line honours and Poppy rocked home about 30 minutes later. Hero of the day Jay Williamson refusing to let a boat full of water inhibit race finishing.
Beer, sun, some pig, two fairly good bands and some more mosquitoes. The latter forcing most of the fleet into any place with netting and an early night.
Day 2 was a repeat course, but without the wind. Shiny got away from everyone and should have picked up a convincing win. Usagi and Poppy were close at the island, with Ronin and Banshee not far behind. However, on the way back down the lake Shiny overtook the wind and parked - allowing everyone to catch back up. Usagi blipped them when the wind filled back in, Poppy chased an imaginary gust and watched Banshee and Ronin sail through.
A fantastic event at a lovely club. The wind certainly favoured local knowledge and the people at the front of the fleet for both races. Next time we do this there should be a provision for heading up a day or two early to enjoy the venue a bit more.
Add results here, but I'm guessing a very well deserved win for Shiny
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Results:
http://www.ullswateryachtclub.org/Portals/0/RacingResults/2015/LBMT%202015.html
i am waiting on the photographer to upload the photos, but the ones he showed me on his phone looked good (taken with a camera put on phone i hope)
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It seems roland trim won a prize!
'Tortoise Trophy (Lowest placed boat sailing both races): Roland Trim, Osprey, Thornbury-on-Chew'
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/184043/Lord-Birkett-Memorial-Trophy
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Shamefully Poppy also picked up second Cherub at the same time (if we extract form the main results in order - or third based on Cherub positions in each race).
I'm seriously impressed with J. Sailing a Cherub that is full of water is not an art I wish to practice again. The memories of being catapulted off the back from the death rolls in the gusts still makes me smile. I frown a bit when I remember him shivering in the middle of the boat whilst we goose winged it through the seriously nasty shifty bit at the top of the lake (10-12 knots + surfing directly downwind), but that clears when I remember the bit we then sent it when we finally had an angle to hoist...
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Photos are here:
http://paulhargreavesphotography.zenfolio.com/p21950461
And
https://m.flickr.com/photos/48594582@N05/sets/72157655481241176/
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It seems roland trim won a prize!
'Tortoise Trophy (Lowest placed boat sailing both races): Roland Trim, Osprey, Thornbury-on-Chew'
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/184043/Lord-Birkett-Memorial-Trophy
I'll extract the results based on Cherub v cherub ignoring everyone else. Hopefully these results will get reported back to the RYA for inclusion in our 2016 PY ;D
Certainly second Rolands opinion of make it a few days break. The race is so random and the surrounding so beautiful that it is a long way to go for us southerners for the sailing alone.
It could also do with better trained race crew on the pin end. Bellowing out recall, recall at the start and sending a rib round the front of the fleet for an individual recall is confusing - certainly confused us we thought it was another general and sat patiently by the pin end boat (still bellowing recall) waiting for everyone to turn around. After a couple of minutes we realised they were not coming back. Doh!
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And you still won it!