Over 150 crews took to the water at the weekend for the first weekend’s four race series in the nine day Bassenthwaite Lake Regatta sponsored by the Lakes Distillery.

The wind on both days was strong and shifty inviting the many capsizes and subsequent retirements which took place.

The boats were divided into 10 separate fleets starting at two minute intervals with the fastest fleets starting first.

It was drama for local favourites in the RS400 class as Mark Somerville (Carlisle) had his toe strap break and he fell overboard taking the rudder’s steering arm with him.

He was soon back aboard the boat he shared with Joe Roberts (Carlisle) and was delighted when the leaders went to the wrong mark and he found himself in the lead.

However, they didn’t fare as well in the following races and were placed third overall behind two visitors at the Sunday prizegiving.

In the Flying Fifteen fleet Neil Currie (Cockermouth)/Rory Yardley (Raughton Head) was first in two of the races on his way to an overall class win.

Phil Smith (ex Harrington)/Izzie Hunter (Cockermouth) won three races for victory in the RS 200 Class while Robin Dawson and daughter Erin won the fourth race and took second overall.

The GP14 fleet was dominated by local crews, David and Lynn Lawson (Silloth) winning the Class from Mike Fairlamb (Deanscales)/Eric Smith (Dalston).

In the Enterprise class Mark Ninnim (Newcastle)/Emma Smith (Brigham) tied for the lead but were classified second under the scoring system.

Anthony Woodyear (Braithwaite)/Jo Van Lachterop (Keswick) took second in the Slow Handicap Fleet and Jonathan and Henry Bullen (Workington) took fleet victory in their Mirror.

During the coming week a further nine races will be held with a further four race series concluding competition next weekend.