Besides the main four competition sections (IOM yachts, small yachts, fast electric racing and the Scale Challenge series) we also have a large variety of other marine RC models which will often been seen on the lake from time to time. These vary from a wide range of models including tugs, ships, working boats, cruisers, patrol boats, amphibious ducks, ribbed inflatables, steam launches, landing crafts, wet bikes, submarines and on the odd occasions hovercrafts!
The club holds a few “Free Sail & Scale” meetings on Sunday mornings 9.30am to 12pm – see Calendar page for actual dates. These meeting are for members with any scale or sail (yacht) boat BUT not for any Fast Electric or speed boat. There will be no markers on the lake, no point scoring, etc, just a chance for members to float their boats on the lake along with other like-minded members. 

Sun 7th April 2024
For this year’s first free sail and scale meeting the weather was wet and windy but that didn’t stop about 15 skippers attending with a good cross section of different craft. This meeting also included a bring and buy sale plus fast electric testing from 11 o’clock. In spite of the weather a good time was had by all with the usual lakeside friendly banter.
Our next free sail and scale will be the 16th of June, and fingers crossed for better weather.
Howard.

Christmas Cracker Sunday 31st December 2023
Report by Howard Ashenden, photos by Russ Chilcott

The annual club Christmas Cracker meeting was held on the very last day of the year. It was a cold, sometimes wet and windy winter morning, so it was great to see about 20 or perhaps more skippers turn up to sail a vast cross section of craft and have a chat while having tea coffee or soup, that was provided by Russ.

I wish you all a Happy New Year, and hope for good weather on the days we are sailing our boats in 2024.
Howard

Sunday 15th of Oct – Free Sail & Scale + Fast Electric test session
This was the last Free Sail and Scale meeting before the Christmas cracker Free Sail on the 31st of December. The meeting was very well attended with in access of 15 skippers sailing a good variety of craft (one of which sank, but Russell managed to salvage it after a bit of fishing). Well done Russ.

The weather was a lovely dry sunny day with hardly any wind. At 11 o’clock the meeting changed to Fast Electric boat testing and this also looked to be well attended. I have enjoyed being involved with the Free Sail and Scale events this year and I am looking forward to next year’s meetings after the Christmas cracker.
Hope the weather is kind for the 31st Dec.
Howard.

Sun 10th Sept 2023 – Free Sail & Scale
We had rain showers, (on the heavy side at times) next to no wind for the sailboats, and the occasional rumble of thunder and lightning! In spite of this, there was 10 skippers lakeside sailing the usual cross section of craft. During one shower there was enough wind for Russ and Rick to do some one meter yacht testing , but when the rain stopped, so did the wind.
By about 11 o’clock most of us had had enough plus the sky did not look good, so it was decided to finish a bit early.

The next Free Sail and Scale is on Sun 15th October, that will also finish at 11 o’clock because Fast Electric boats are scheduled for a testing session at 11 o’clock. Fingers crossed for good condition for them and us.
Howard

Sun 30th July 2023 – Free Sail & Scale
This was the 4th Sunday Free Sail and Scale meeting this year, and although the weather could have been better, 6 of us took advantage of the event. The wind was much lighter than forecast making things nicer for sailing scale boats.

The next Sunday Free Sail and Scale is the 10th of September. All we need is a sunny warm day with a steady light to moderat breeze!
Howard.

Sun 4th June 2023 – Free Sail & Scale + vintage sail
Report & photos by Howard Ashenden
Sunday 4th of June we had a extra free sail and scale meeting because the one meter yachts were sailing at Portishead. The weather smiled on us again and 5 skippers took advantage of the opportunity to sail, this included Phil from the Shepton Mallet Drifters club.
It was all very relaxed and most enjoyable way to spend a Sunday morning.
The next Sunday free sail and scale is on 30th of July and includes Tug Towing. Fingers crossed as usual for our run of luck with the weather to continue! 

Sun 14th May 2023 – Free Sail & Scale + Wet n Dry Race
Report by Howard Ashenden, photos Howard, Russ Chilcott & Chris Warr
The 14th May was our 2nd free sail this year and the weather was kind to us once again. We had about 16 members lakeside sailing boats of all shapes and sizes including a submarine and a push tug. The sailboats could have done with a bit more wind but there was enough to keep them moving.
It was a very nice way to spend a Sunday morning and at 11 o’clock there was the Wet and Dry race which was good fun to watch. I am sure Russell will be reporting on how the race unfolded. Wet n Dry report & photos link here

Our next Free Sail and Scale is an extra one on 4th of June and includes vintage sail boats. I look forward to seeing some of you then.

Sun 12th March 2023 – Free Sail & Scale + Bring & Buy
report by Howard Ashenden, photos by Russ Chilcott
This was the first Free Sail and Scale meeting this year, it also included the annual Bring and Buy. Once again, the weather was very kind to us, it stayed dry with enough wind for the sail boats but not windy enough to cause the scale boats any problems. We had about 18 skippers with a good mix of different vessels and the sailboats to scale ratio on the water was about 50/50. All in all, it was a very enjoyable morning with a nice relaxed atmosphere.

I took just 3 photos but I know Russ was taking some so hopefully he will add them to this report. The bring a buy sale looked busy and was being run by Kevin and Russell. I suspect Russ will be giving an update on how things went. The next Free Sail and Scale meeting is on May 14th, fingers and everything else crossed our run of good luck with the weather continues.
Howard

The Bring & Buy was busy from the moment the first boxes of goodies landed on the tables! It has to be said most of the items were being sold on behalf of Daron (who could not attend), in total these covered 5 large tables! Not a lot was left by the end, I think many got a real bargain.
5 models on the lake including a RC duck had been acquired by their new owners recently from the very successful online Auctions.
Russ

(Bank Holiday) Tuesday 27th December 2022
report & photos by Howard Ashenden, additional photos by Kevin Roberts

On 27th Dec we held or annual holiday meeting the “Christmas Cracker” which was the very last free sail of the year.

Firstly, I would like to thank Chris and Kevin for providing hot drinks, etc, lakeside to help keep us relatively warm. Once again we were lucky with the weather, a nice wind over the water for the yachts but not strong enough to bother the scale boats. Although the wind was cold 15 skippers attended to sail a variety of types of craft.
There was 4 yachts all different, a 6 meter class that was on it’s maiden voyage down to a micro magic. The scale boats were also all different shapes and sizes. This all looked impressive on the water. The meeting only lasted for an hour but with the cold wind that was long enough to be an enjoyable event all round.

A happy new year to you all, and fingers crossed for more good weather conditions on the free sail days next year. Howard.

Sunday 23rd Oct 2022
report by Howard Ashenden, photos by Russ Chilcott

The 23rd of October was our 5th Free Sail and Scale meeting this year. Once again the weather was very kind to us, had the heavy overnight rain arrived later it would have been a very different report from me. The wind was very light but enough to move the sailboats across the water. We had a nice selection of both sailing boats and scale boats with about 12 skippers enjoying the warm sunshine.
It was a joint event with the fast electric boats having use of the lake from 11am to 12pm to test their boats after the enforced break due to the algae outbreak in the summer. Thanks go to Russ again for his help all round in making the meeting run smoothly.
The next Free sail and Scale is on bank holiday TUESDAY 27th of December (another year gone), fingers crossed our luck with the weather continues.
Howard.
The Free Sail & Scale session

The Fast Electric session

Sunday 11th Sept 2022
report & photos by Howard Ashenden
This was an extra Free Sail meeting due to the small yachts team relay not going ahead. The weather was kind to us again with just enough wind for the sail boats. About 10 skippers attended and for an impromptu Free sail and good to see that many lakeside with a nice verity of craft. It was a very enjoyable way to spend a Sunday morning.
Our next Free Sail and Scale is on the Sunday 23rd of October, fingers crossed for good weather again. 

Sunday 31st July 2022
report by Howard Ashenden, photos by Russ Chilcott
This was our 3rd free sail this year, and included tug towing that was run by Russell and Chris. We only had 8 skippers taking advantage of the free sail. This was probably because the weather forecast predicted possible showers and it is holiday time. We only had one light short shower that did not stop anybody sailing, there was a light changeable breeze for the sailboats but once again it was not strong enough to bother the various scale boats, and although we were low on numbers it was a most enjoyable free sail.

The tug towing in the left hand corner of the lake also looked to be going well, but I expect Russell will be reporting on exactly how it went. (see Tug Towing report & photos)  

I am already thinking about and looking forward to the next free sail. Fingers crossed again for good sailing weather.
Howard.

Sunday 22nd May 2022
Report by Howard Ashenden, Photos by Howard & Russ Chilcott

This was the second Free Sail and Scale meeting of the year and also included a Bring & Buy. It is nice to report that it was all positive, the weather was great with a sunny morning that had enough wind to move the sail boats along, but not too much for the scale models. The attendance was very good with over 20 skippers lakeside sailing boats of all types shapes and sizes. There is no doubt that it looked very impressive.
Numbers were boosted by visitors from other clubs and prospective new members. It was a most enjoyable event in every way. The Bring and Buy sale went very well and added to the number of members and guests.
Fingers crossed for similar good weather for the next Free Sail and Scale meeting on the 31st July.
News update – the next meeting on 31st July will now also include an Open Tug Towing Competition

Sunday 20th March 2022
Report by Howard Ashenden, photos by Russ Chilcott
Today was the first Free Sail and Scale meeting this year. The weather could not have been better, a sunny day blue sky not too hot or cold with a light to moderate wind. I think we had about 15 members lakeside many with more than one boat. There was a good mix of scale and sails boat of all types and size’s.

The wind was good enough to keep the sail boat skippers happy but not strong enough to be a problem for the scale boat skipper’s. Seeing all the different craft on the water at the same time was quite an impressive sight.
Russ spent a lot of time talking photos that I am sure he will attach to this report, and I thank him for that.

The next Free Sail and Scale is the 22nd of May which will include a Bring & Buy (see sub-page for more details). Fingers crossed we have another good day once again.

“Christmas Cracker” Tuesday (Bank Holiday) 28th December 2022
Report & photos by Howard Ashenden

The weather for this year’s Christmas Cracker meeting was not kind to us, it was very much indoor weather not outdoor. However 7 of us did brave the elements and do a end of the year sail at Apex.
On the water we had 3 scale boats a DF65, DF95 and Steve sailed his Rubix IOM, I think it may have been it’s maiden voyage with him but am not sure.
Although we were low on number (not surprising with the weather) I think we were all glad we made the effort and enjoyed the company plus very fresh air.
A very happy new year to you all, and I hope to see some of you at next year’s free sails.
Howard.

Sunday 17th October
Report & photos by Russ Chilcott
Once again we were blessed with superb weather, you could hardly believe it was mid-Oct! For this meeting only and as a one-off we split the mornings session into two parts. The first part 9.30am to 11.30am was for any scale and/or sail boats only, from 11.30am was for the fast electric race and/or fast scale boats to have a run out. The format seemed to work very well with around 12 sailing the first session and another 5 or 6 along to run their quicker boats. In total a good 25 boats were out on the lake at some point over both session. They seemed to be greatly enjoyed by a large crowd which had gathered to watch.
Our next Free Sail & Scale is our annual gathering during the Christmas break on Bank Holiday Tuesday 28th December 10am to 11am. 

Sunday the 5th September
Report by Howard Ashenden & photos by Russ Chilcott
We had our 3rd Sunday morning free sail this year. I am pleased to report that the attendance was good with 16 club members lakeside. The majority of those there had more than one boat with them to sail, so there was in excess of 25 boats on the water during the morning! I thought it was good to see so many craft of all shapes a sizes sailing at the same time in different directions. The weather was good for the scale boats because there was very little wind although those of us that did have sailboats did manage to poodle about at a very sedate and dignified pace.

I had an enjoyable morning and got the impression that everyone else did too. The next free sail is on Sunday 17th of October 9.30 to 12.00. This will be the last one before Christmas! (Where has the year gone?)

Sunday 8th August 2021
Report by Howard Ashenden
The weather was better than expected with a 5 to 10 mph breeze and only a very light 1 minute shower that did not even wet the ground. It was generally good sailing weather for all types of boats. Unfortunately the attendance was disappointing. It was the grand total of 3, however the low attendance didn’t mean the morning was a failure. John Betty had a new set of sails on his DF and John Woodman helped him to set the sails.
John Woodman sailed his Dragon Flyte 95 and liked the way it sailed in a good wind. I got to sail the Gaff rig cutter so although we were low on numbers we were high on enjoyment.
The next free sail is on September 5th.

Sunday 11th July 2021
Report by Howard Ashenden, Photos by Russ Chilcott 
Today saw the first free sail meeting this year. I have been a little apprehensive about how many would attend and if the weather was going to be ok. It turned out to be very well attended with 16 members sailing boats of all types and sizes, and with the weather staying dry until a very light shower that was not enough to wet the ground at just before 11.30.
There was a light breeze in the middle of the lake for the sail boats and calmer water at the ramp for the scale boats, I think the general opinion was that it was a most enjoyable morning and I thought that seeing so many different types of craft just pottering around the lake in every direction was quite an impressive sight.
If you looked away from the water it was also good to see all the skippers chatting to one another sharing thoughts and ideas.
The next free sail is on the 8th of August 9.30 to 12.00. I am looking forward to it already.

Selection from past meetings;