Bassenthwaite SC, which has become one of our favourite venues on the circuit,  hosted our European Championships over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday 1 May to Monday 3 May)

Set in Cumbria’s Western Lakes overlooked by England’s tallest peak, Skiddaw, it has everything: great scenery and brilliant sailing.

(Click for Reports  of the 2010 Europeans and reports of the Northern Championships in May 2009, and a highly successful National Championships in 2008)

If you class yourself as an improver, don’t be put off, because there will be some training on the Saturday morning for those that want it. Please contact Stuart Ede (stuart.ede@prosede.co.uk, 01904 738158 or 07575 059339) to book onto the session and to specify what training you would like.

 (Unfortunately capsize drill will not be on offer, because the shallowness of the lake can lead to masts becoming stuck in the mud.)

The sailing programme for the weekend looks like this:

Sat 1000         Improver training
               1430 Race 1
            tba Race 2
Sun 1130                         Race 3
             tba Race 4
              tba Race 5
Mon 1130                       Race 6

You will be allowed one discard when calculating the overall result. Unless only two races are sailed, when there will be no discard.

The cost for the weekend is expected to be £35 per boat. Social events for Saturday and Sunday evenings are being planned. More details of this will follow.

Camping on the club grounds will cost around £10 per night for tents, caravans and motorhomes (to be confirmed). The grounds will be open from the Friday evening to the Monday evening (when you must depart by 1700).Campers and caravanners can wake to one of the finest views in the UK and watch the local Ospreys fishing for their breakfast.

For B&Bs, guest houses and hotels ring Tourist Information on 01768 772645 or visit www.keswick.org. Early booking is recommended, as the Lakes are very popular over the Bank Holiday weekend

 

Directions   Bassenthwaite SC is at the northern end of the lake just off the A66 Penrith-Keswick-Cockermouth road. Turn right off the A66 on to the B5291 and immediately right again. The entrance to the club is 100m on the right.

 

Other attractions

Why not tarry a while in the magnificent Lakeland scenery? Visit attractive towns andvillages 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 among you could even tackle Skiddaw that overlooks the Lake.

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 matter of 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: Close quarters at Bassenthwaite 2008