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Category: iom

IOM Trophy Race, 19/10/13

A forecast of 10 or so knots with 20 knot ;gusts coming from the boathouse end, tempted us down to the lake to compete for the trophy of the day. What we found instead was a fitful 0-5kn from roughly the direction forecast….no surfing today then!

With the usual top guns otherwise engaged, it was left to the rest of the fleet to battle it out with in very variable and testing conditions. Ernie, Bernie and Jack did their best to keep the fleet under control as skippers tried to pick their way through the holes and shifts, the lead changing frequently. The tea break brought a heavy but short-lived downpour and…….a 180degree shift of the still light and variable wind, dampening not just our heads but our spirits. A couple more races and we called it a day just as rays of sunshine began to break through the heavy sky.

Three boats tied on points and separated only on countback, testified to the closeness of the racing. Thanks go as usual to the race team and Joyce in the galley.

As the boats were packed away, news filtered through that club member Rob Walsh had succeeded in holding on to his lead and won the 2013 IOM World Championship after a nail-biting final day…..Congratulations Rob!!

Graham Birkett

1. Bill Culshaw   12 pts
2. Dave Burke   12
3. Graham Birkett   12
4. Jim Findlay   20
5. Colin Smith   22
6. Kris Morrow    31
7. Dave Williams   38
8. Dave Pickup   44
9. Les Kewn   58

8 races

ND IOM Summer Series, 13/10/13

A fleet of 12 boats for the final round of the Northern District Summer Series raced in light 0-5 knot conditions. Consistancy proved the key for Graham Elliott who took the win from Darin Ballington in second and Dave Burke in third. The racing was close throughout the day with some skippers travelling great distance to race against the UK’s strongest IOM fleet venue.
Race team – Brad Gibson, Jim Findlay, Ernie Rice.

1. Graham Elliott,   28 pts
2. Darin Ballington,   40
3. Dave Burke,   50
4. Roy Stevens,   53
5. Graham Birkett,   54
6. Vernon Appleton,   54
7. Mick Chamberlain,   57
8. Martin Roberts,   60
9. Bill Culshaw,   63
10. Colin Smith,   92
11. John Fozzard,   106
12. Damian Ackroyd,   114

13 races

IOM CC10, 2/10/13

1. Rob Walsh,   9 pts
2. Brad Gibson,   11
3. Graham Birkett,   19
4. Neil Westbrook,   29
5. Martin Roberts,   30
6. Dave Potter,   30
7. Bill Culshaw,   36
8. Dave Burke,   40
9. Vernon Gee,   43
10. Colin Smith,   46
11. Dave Williams,   52
12. Jim Findlay,   57
13. Greg Burke,   64
14. Kris Morrow,   66
15. Dave Pickup,   69
16. Ernie Rice,   76
17. Les Kewn,   89

8 races

Final IOM Club Championship placings now on the Club Championships page

IOM STREBOR Open Race, 21/9/13

Post National Blues?? Nice Sunny day?? End of season fatigue??  Whatever the reason, it was a small group of 7 who gathered at the pond to contest the trophy including Graham Whalley all the way from Manor Park.

A light breeze from the clubhouse end in the morning was regular enough to provide some good competitive sailing but with the ever present fear of falling into a hole or missing a big shift. The lunch break coincided with 180 degree swing of the breeze and temporary lightening, giving us a re-tuning challenge and a course change to keep us on our toes.

We took turns to chase Rob around the pond, sometimes getting in front of him but not often enough to prevent him walking away with the rather nice trophy… Well done Rob!
Thanks as usual to the race team, Jack & Bernie and Joyce on tea and biscuits for enabling an enjoyable days yachting.

Graham Birkett

1. Rob Walsh,   19 pts
2. Graham Birkett,   26
3. Dave Burke,   38
4. Bill Culshaw,   47
5. Colin Smith,   69
6. Graham Whalley,   74
7. Dave Williams,   83

17 races