Bassenthwaite SC, one of our favourite venues on
the circuit, will welcome us back again
over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (later in 2020 with the VE Day
anniversary.) We are there Saturday May 8th--Monday 10th for the
second 2020 TT event.
Set in the Western Lakes in Cumbria overlooked by
Skiddaw, the highest peak in England (photo below) Bass has everything: great hospitality,
brilliant sailing, and relaxation in wonderful scenery.
We
shall be sailing alongside the club fleets. There will be 6 races
with one discard being allowed provided 4 or more races have been
sailed. The schedule (based
on 2019, tbc) will be:
Sat 1430 Race 1
tba Race 2
Sun 1130 Race 3
tba Race 4 tba Race 5
Mon 1130 Race 6
The cost tbc for the weekend will be 35 per boat (including the CCA prize
levy).
Accommodation
Camping on the club grounds (from Friday to Monday afternoon) costs 7
pounds per unit for tents, caravans and motorhomes.
There is
an online advance booking system that you are well advised to use.
Not only does it save you money, but you can book a camping pitch in
advance, which would be very sensible, because the Tera fleet will
be camping on the club grounds as well.
Normally
the club asks that visitors arrive after
17.00 on the Friday afternoon, but, since we are trusted regulars
they are content for us to arrive earlier. There may be club members
present earlier on Friday afternoon. You
must depart by 17.00 on the Monday evening.
For
B&Bs, guest houses and hotels, ring Keswick Tourist Information
Centre on 0845 9010845, Keswick Tourism Association on 01768 775738,
or visit www.keswick.org.
Early booking is recommended, as the Lakes are very popular over the
Bank Holiday weekend.
Sailing at Bass
The Club is very welcoming to Catapults. Racing takes place at
the top end (north-west end) of the lake where it widens and has low hills
around, so wind from most directions is little obstructed.
Unsuprisingly, towards Scafell (pictures at top and bottom of page) and
further down the lake, the hills give deep wind-shadows. (The club runs a
yearly race down the lake where this is a major factor!)
Starts are from the Committee Boat, using 6-3-go, and using an inner distance mark as well as the outer mark
(photos at
The Start
)
The fixed marks are laid near the shore around the top end
of the lake numbered 1-9 in a simple sequence, so are
easy to follow---but the club enjoys laying complex courses
(set from the Committee boat, photo, right)
laying extra marks in the centre of the sailing area- |
 |
Having
something to note these down is very useful. (A lead rescue boat leads
the way to assist, but every year some Catapult helms go round a
mark the wrong way.)
The extensive campsite, and the club, are up from the shore, with a
slope down to the boat park, and ample grass space for rigging (more
pictures
here
and here .) The two concrete ramps
are not usually crowded, but you can also launch off the grass at the
end of the boat park, beside the rigging area---but there is deep soft mud under the surface.
Alternatively, Catapults have launched at the far end away from the
club, from a small beach there (photo below)
depending on water levels and the effects of winter storms. There is
a good flat grassy area for rigging and leaving the boats overnight.
Directions
Bassenthwaite SC is at the northern end of the lake just off the A66
Penrith-Keswick-Cockermouth road, in the village of Dubwath
(postcode CA13 9YD) Turn right off the A66 on to the
B5291 and immediately right again. The entrance to the club is 100m
on the right.
(Below: Stuart Ede eating up
the course out in front of the Bass clubhouse)
Other
attractions
Why
not stay a while longer in the magnificent Lakeland
scenery? Visit attractive towns and villages like Keswick, Ambleside, and Windermere;
stroll along the shores of the many lakes; or head for the hills where the walking is
out of this world.
The more energetic could tackle
the long but manageable climb towards or onto Skiddaw, with
stupendous
views over
the Lake and surrounding hills.The route goes up the slope in front to
what appears to be a separate peak (photo below) but is not, with a fabulous view
down the lake, and then goes in an arc from there to the summit.
On the other side of the Lake the RSPB has set up an
observation point with free use of monoculars where you can watch the
ospreys nest and
see them fly high above the Lake, or enjoy the red squirrels
performing acrobatics as they use the special feeders a few feet in front of you.
So our annual Lakeland foray could be the start of a
great holiday for you. Get your brochures and maps out and start planning!
Below: Hard racing at a
windy Bassenthwaite:
George Evans chases Paul Ellis towards Skiddaw
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