Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club

Saltonstall shares his wisdom on this northern racing water

Derwent has hosted many top dinghy and small keelboat events over the years. Recently it was nominated to receive Lottery money as a National Sailing Institute, this will enable the club to expand and improve its facilities for the racing public both ashore and afloat.

Over the years we have had some excellent events there, hosted by really great people, whose approach to the sport has been highly professional, and all in a very friendly atmosphere. Hospitality at the club is great, with plenty of emphasis placed upon everyone having a great time socially, as well as on the water. The club is geared up for running open meetings, national championships and training camps.

The sailing club is situated to the west of Consett, off the A68. After you pass through Caterway Heads, fork left towards Barley Hill, at the T junction turn left, then take the first left, follow your nose down to the water and the entrance to the club is on your left on the north side of the reservoir.

Accommodation in the area is well spread amongst hotels and Bed and Breakfasts within a ten mile radius of the club. There are also many camp sites and caravan parks in the area, so check with the club for details. Restaurants and pub grub are also within striking distance of the club, we've never had to travel more than ten miles to find something good.

Race Areas

There are three main race areas, which the club can use at any time; at the western end, centrally off the clubhouse, and the eastern end. The surrounding land mass is relatively high, both to the north and the south, with the clearest wind direction being from either south-west or south-east. Each of the race areas is large enough to run a large open meeting or national championship fleet, with no problem at all.

Western Area
This is the narrowest area of the three, used when the wind is from either the south-west or north-east.

Wind Direction
020-060 degrees: This is a good direction for the western end, giving a clear run down the lake. It pays to work the port side of the beat for more wind, and lifts on port tack along the northern shoreline.

060-150 degrees: The easterly wind comes off the southern shoreline, once again creating a shifty wind with more lifts on port tack up under the shore.

150-215 degrees: When the wind comes from the south it is too disturbed and shifty, and normally you would not race in the western sector, moving to the central area for better breeze.

215-250 degrees: When the wind is from around the south-west, it pays to work the port side of the course, firstly as there is more wind velocity on the port side - plus, as you go towards the shore on starboard tack, you pick up the headers on starboard tack with lifts on port tack near and along the shoreline.

250-290 degrees: When the wind goes more round towards the west, it is now coming off the north-west shoreline - shifty, with more lifts up on the northern shoreline on port tack.

290-020 degrees: The northerly wind is a problem at the western end, far too shifty. Whenever possible, racing would normally be moved to the central area, where the course is more open to the north and south.

Central Area
Directly off the clubhouse and slightly to the east is the widest part of the lake north and south. The lake now lies in a north-west to south-east direction. With the wind from the north it is, as you would expect, all about using the wind shifts. The key is knowing when the wind is max left and right, and using the lifts on the beat all the time. Do not forget that as you approach the top end of the course, that the wind is more backed overland than it is on the water, so there will be lifts on starboard tack as you approach the shore, then the header as you get close in to the north shore, with lifts on port tack if you are close into the shore to get to the mark.

It normally pays to be on the top right hand side of the course so as to pick up the lifts on starboard tack where the shoreline runs in the north-west to south-east direction. When starting the running leg, make sure that you start it in sync with the wind shifts, that is if you were on a header on starboard tack as you round the mark, bear away first, whereas if you were on a lift into the mark on starboard tack, gybe first, now we can use the wind shifts downwind and maintain apparent wind and boat speed.

Wind Direction
045-135 degrees: When the wind is from around 090, it pays to work the port side of the beat as there are headers on starboard tack as you go towards the shore, with lifts along it on port tack. When the wind goes round more to 135, it is now blowing from a clearer direction along the lake coming from the dam end, it still pays to work the port side of the beat for more wind, as well as possible headers on starboard tack near the shore, with lifts on port.

135-225 degrees: Very shifty again with the wind dropping down off the high land to the south. Eyes out of the boat, look for and use the shifts, and also expect sudden downdrafts as you would when the wind comes from the north, as the wind falls off the high land.

Eastern Area
The best wind direction when on this patch is from the north-west. This is a cooler, more blustery wind direction, so be ready to use both the gusts, as well as the shifts. With the wind in this direction, there tends to be more wind on the port side of the course because of the convergence area along the southern shore. Use the gusts and shifts left of middle. If the starting area is near the dam wall, as you look up the beat there is a headland up on the starboard layline where the wind is accelerated around it as well as lifting you on starboard tack. Before the start, check to see it the windward mark is going to be close enough to it so as to feel the effect.

Wind Direction
315-045 degrees: All over the place, up and down in velocity, as well as big shifts, so once again it is important to get your eyes out of the boat and make the most of them.

045-135 degrees: The wind is now coming over the dam wall, so it normally pays to use the shifts on the port side of the course where there is more wind velocity.

135-225 degrees: once again, it is all over the place, big shifts/gusts, eyes out of the boat using them all the time.

180-270 degrees: When the wind is coming from the south-west, it pays to go left up the beat as you will be headed as you go towards the shore on starboard tack, with lifts on port along the southern shoreline.

There's no doubt about it, Derwent is a tricky place to race, putting all your skills to the test. Only those who remain focused will do well at this venue, as it brings out all the skills required to do well in the most challenging sport in the world. Derwent is a great area to visit and race at, I hope that you enjoy it - we always do each time we have been.

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