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DF65 Winter Series 21st March 2018

Another great turnout saw 12 Dragonforces turn up for the day with 11 boats sailing 10 races and one brand new boat with a faulty winch!

The wind was forecast to be coming over the houses, but in the event it was straight down the lake with everyone opting to use “B” suit some excellent and close racing was held.

  1. John Brierley 8 Pts
  2. Neil Westbrook 18
  3. Roger Lincoln 19
  4. Dave Williams 30
  5. Alan Watkinson 35
  6. Sally Collings 44
  7. Andrew Peter 47
  8. Colin Deakin 50 (One 2nd)
  9. Ernie Rice 50
  10. Richard Walker 58
  11. Dave Pickup 73

10 races sailed.

Next week sees the final race in the “Winter” series. John Brierley clearly has the series sewn up, but 2nd place is wide open.

On The Road – Travelling Members

All winter series racing has now come to a close and spring is in the air!

Well it did not feel like spring for the last race of the DF65 winter series at West Lancs SC, Southport last Sunday. Very cold but as in the previous races well attended by Birkenhead Club members. The series started in early January with barmy light winds and sunshine and finished in March in sub zero conditions and winds that blew dogs of the quay side.

Club members who attended all or parts of the series were Alan Watkinson, Dave Williams, Andrew Peter, Dave Pickup, Roger Lincoln and John Brierley. All agreed an excellent series which ran on alternate weekends along with our IOM Winter series at Gautby Rd.

Overall John Brierley won the event and Alan Watkinson was 4th

Attention now turns to the IOM ranking event at Lincoln this weekend with a good turn out of club members already on the entry list.

John Brierley

DF65/RG65 2018 Series #1

Unfortunately the wind blew more from the East than the South East, that gave the 10 skippers quite a challenge ahead of them, it did blow about 12mph though with some 90degree gusts up to 18mph and some snow flurries to add to the fun.

With 6 RG65s and 4 DF65s taking to the start it was a good fleet although more was hoped for. Maybe a mixture of the rugby, the freezing weather or Malta had kept a few away but still, we had fun in the snow.

Everybody chose their middle rig to start and this seemed to be the correct choice with big holes in the wind. A long course was set with a nice gate at the leeward end and a finish in the middle.

Early pace setters were, Taylor from Scotland, Elliott and Baldwin sailing RGs and Lincoln sailing his DF. The wind was at best an enigma to all and made the most experienced skippers looked stupid at times, good old Birkenhead pox as Paul Jones would call it.

Race winners were John Taylor, Dave Williams and Graham Elliott with Roger Lincoln winning the DF race and Graham Elliott winning the RG race overall. 14 completed long races and no on water incidents all day, just cold fingers.

Thanks to our resident double act of Jack and Bernie for running the entire race and making tea in the freezing conditions.

  1. Graham Elliott 12Pts
  2. John Taylor 30
  3. Damian Ackroyd 42
  4. Peter Baldwin 43
  5. Dave Williams 61
  6. Roger Lincoln 66 (DF65)
  7. Alan Watkinson 83 (DF65)
  8. Andrew Peter 87 (DF65)
  9. John Brierley 88
  10. Sally Collings 107 (DF65)

14 races sailed

DF65 Winter Series 14th March 2018

‘C’ suit weather with the wind straight along the lake. Sally had boat electrical problems (Eds. note Again?) so acted as Race Officer and 10 races were sailed.

  1. Alan Watkinson 15 Pts
  2. Neil Westbrook 20 (2 firsts)
  3. John Brierley 20 (1 first)
  4. Peter Baldwin 22
  5. Andrew Peter 30
  6. Ernie Rice 40
  7. Colin Deakin 50
  8. Dave Williams 62 (1 fifth)
  9. Richard Walker 62 (0 fifths)

 

IOM 2017/18 Winter Series #7 (10/03/18)

One Metres Birkenhead

A steady (ish) south-easterly breeze greeted 10 eager skippers for the final round of the famous Birkenhead IOM Winter Series. Several of the usual suspects were missing, no doubt saving Mothers day brownie points so they could attend the first Marblehead ranker at Watermead on Sunday.

In total 27 skippers have competed and running into the final day any of the top 6 could have won. That said, 2013 World Champion Rob Walsh from Fleetwood had won each of the days he sailed and although not leading going into the final race, due to not having a discard, a betting man would put his money on Rob winning with a perfect score of 400.

The first race was led by Paul Allen, with Rob and Martin Roberts scrapping for second and third. This set the tone for the day, with these three sharing most of the top 3 places in all 9 races with Rob claiming more first places.

After some post brew drizzle the breeze dropped and begun to shift to the forecasted southerly. With this come several general recalls as the course became biased on starboard tack.

After 9 races Rob Walsh won with 10 points, Paul Allen was second with 16 points and Martin Roberts third on 21 points.

  1. Rob Walsh 10 Pts
  2. Paul Allen 16
  3. Martin Roberts 21
  4. John Brierley 29
  5. Emilio Gonzalez 38
  6. Peter Baldwin 49
  7. Alan Watkinson 51
  8. Mike Parkington 54
  9. Sue Parkington 65
  10. Andrew Peter 70  (one 5th)
  11. Dave Williams 70 (No 5ths)
  12. Garry Box 74

10 races sailed.

 

Series Results

As some may have forecasted Rob Walsh won the 2017/18 IOM Winter Series scoring the perfect 400. Paul Allen was second scoring 375 and Graham Elliott was third scoring 366.

Full series results here

 

 

Last race of Winter Series – and start of New Season

This coming weekend sees the final race in our highly successful Winter IOM Series with the final result still very finely in the balance. 26 different competitors have taken part and any of the top 6 look to be possible winners.

On 17th March the main season starts with the first day of the DF65/RG65 series (See Calendar for full details). Sailing starts at 11.00 and last race will start before 16.45

A reminder that this is an Open Series, so competitors from other clubs are welcome (entry £2 on the day). Four days in total with the best 3 to count towards the final result.

RG65s and DF65s will race together over the same course, but the DF65s will be scored separately, so it doesn’t matter if you have the latest RG65 design or a MK1 Dragonforce, you can win!

IOM and M series races start on 31st March and 12th May respectively and again these will be Open races with the M Class sailing at West Kirby Marine Lake.

We are also delighted to be hosting the DF65 Northern District Championships on Saturday September 15th and holding an RG65 Traveller Series Open the following week.