c

DF/RG65 Winter 2025/6 #4 – 21/2/26

There was a small but enthusiastic bunch of seven sailors for the latest round of the DF/RG65 Winter Series.  Three DF65’s turned out along with four RG65’s (all Uno’s), with racing number’s rather depleted with a calendar clash of the RG65 Open at Bournville, losing a potential four sailors who had travelled.

The breeze was forecast to be SW and so it was always going to be a tricky day for deciding on a course and getting around the race track.  During the early practice period the wind would swing back and forth between a fetch to the clubhouse followed by one the opposite way.  Peter tried to keep our options open as to which way to start by setting some form of start line at both ends, along with a pair of Windward marks for each class and a single leeward rounding mark.

In the end, there was more West than South in it and so we started at the clubhouse, up to the finish mark and then a reach/fetch (and an occasional run!) to the far end.  Then it was nearly a run back to to the clubhouse end and beat back to the finish.  This was sailed for a couple of races, before the breeze picked up and straightened from the far end.  This allowed us to sail a course without using the finish as a Windward mark and did involve quite a bit of tacking as the gusts swung the breeze back and forth.  Oh and the sun was out at the start making for a very pleasant sail in the first session.

Knowing that there was rain forecast for later, Dave suggested that we sail seven races before a break, although with the wind being light at times we only sailed a single lap and finish leg, so race duration was about seven or eight minutes.  We sailed and scored as a single fleet, with the DF fleet using a nearer mark, the fleet were closely matched, with the edge going to the RG’s (although Clive would prefer a bit more separation between the Windward marks for another week).

The first session belonged to Peter, with seven straight wins, although the chasing pack were often not far behind.  A good number in the fleet posted seconds and thirds, with Alan and Clive posting similar results by the break.  Dave had a difficult first race, but then posted a second and two thirds later on.  It all depended on where you were positioned on the water and whether you saw the gust or not.  Overall, we saw some very close finishes, with only inches separating boats in many races.

We started the second session, just as the rain appeared.  This gradually got heavier at the end of Race 2 and there was unanimous agreement to call it a day at that point.  Clive took a win in Race 8, having reached his windward mark in some breeze and zipped off to the leeward mark, whilst the RG’s floundered trying to get the extra 10m or so up the lake.  Alan was going well in this second session, picking up two seconds.

Unsurprisingly, Peter took the afternoon, discarding a first and a third, with Alan in second just one point ahead of Clive.

Next week we are back to another round of the IOM WInter Series.

DF65 & DF95 Social Racing 18/2/26

It was a tough cold morning at the lake for DF65 Racing.  The fleet lost Dave first thing due to a bad cold, so seeking some warmth and then a few boats succombed to the B Rig conditions and had to call it a day, leaving just 7 to fight it out for overall honours.

Just six races completed before the sailors decided to call it a day.  John Carlin came out on top, followed by Guy Cowper starting to get to grips with the ’65, with James Douglas and Simon Bates very close behind.

Racing for the DF95 in the afternoon consisted of just three boats, so mostly fun and practice with a B rigs and no results recorded.

DF95 Winter 2026 #4 – 14/2/26

With a ridge of high pressure offering a brief respite from the continuously rainy  month of February, it was a sparkling sunny scene that welcomed the seven skippers to Gautby Road. Great to welcome Phillip Barnes of  Budworth SC  for his first time racing his new 95. Philip and Graham Birkett  of Budworth SC have  done an amazing job at enthusing 16 of their members to buy DF95’s from a standing start only a few weeks ago and we wish  them great success with their fleet.

Racing commenced in a light WSW breeze of about 5 knots max down the lake. A slight port bias was accepted on the line with clean starts and overall a good standard of rule compliance, following  the excellent racing rules talk given by Clive and Paul the previous Wednesday.
Race one was a close battle of the “dynamic duo “of Clive and Guy with Clive taking the bullet. Phillip had some minor transmitter set up niggles on race 1, but with help of a tweak from Clive soon picked up the pace to take a well deserved second overall on the day.
Clive decided in race  two to park on a yellow mark, which was not part of the course and several boats attempted to free him but to no avail. In assisting him Guy damaged his rig slightly, which caused him a  few issues down the line scuppering his chances of a podium finish.
Eventually  it was time to get the waders out to rescue Clive who by now had been stuck for ten minutes. Guy elected to wade out and got to within three feet of Clive’s boat when it miraculously freed itself! Was this another classic Clive wind up on Guy, or just Sods Law in operation?!!  Either way racing could now recommence.
Neil Westbrook had a good day with great pace in the light airs often choosing to break away  from the pack onto port into clear air and gain  some good lifts.  Dave Williams and Stuart Mearns both had a mixed bag of ups and down finishes, as did Charles Legg who looked strong in the early races.
After tea and several of Phil’s chocolate digestives, Guy seemed to recover and relish the ultra light airs to finish the  day with two wins, although overall it was our resident “Maestro” Clive who took  the win with a healthy lead of 7 point over 2 nd place Phil Barnes.  Another very enjoyable days racing with these  excellent pure one design boats.

IOM Winter Series 2025/6 #4 – 7/2/26

With a number of skippers away in Southport representing the club at other events, it was a small but keen group that fronted for Round 4 of the IOM Winter series.

Racing got underway in a steady 5 – 8 knot south easterly wind that gave us a windward return course over the full length of the lake.
Brad took the first 2 races pushed hard by Alan, Robbie and Guy who is fast coming to grips with his new boat. After a delayed start, Martin was fired up and was never headed in races 3 and 4.
Our visitiors John Tideswell (Keighley) and Andrew Backhouse (Birmingham) were fast in coming to grips with the streaky shifts and benefitting from some tuning tips from the lead group. The proof was in a number of races leading up to and following tea break where all boats were finishing within 30 seconds of the leaders.
With tea taken, Alan, Martin and Brad took wins with both Robbie and Graham scoring top 3 places. Races went down to the wire with a duff tack or missed puff being the difference.
In the end after 12 races with 2 discards Brad took the win from Martin in second and Alan rounding out the top 3. An excellent days racing to which we again that Dave and Neil for keeping us in order.
Our next IOM event at the club is Saturday the 28th of February with all welcome to join us for some hot racing in the Northwest!
  1. Brad Gibson               42   Post Punk  13pts
  2. Martin Roberts         22   BritPOP!     23pts
  3. Alan Bennett            178   BritPOP!     27pts
  4. Rob Mcintosh            64   Venti           36pts
  5. Graham Birkett       133   Widget        45pts
  6. Guy Cowper                39   BritPOP!     49pts
  7. Andrew Backhouse 70   BritPOP!     65pts
  8. John Tideswell          88   BritPOP!     66pts

DF65 & DF95 Social Racing 2026 – 4/2/26

DF65’s

Another grey day with a real chill in the air, but dry and with an A+ S.E. Breeze blowing straight (or at least as straight as it ever does) down the lake from the clubhouse end. Even better the marks were in an almost perfect position with a good start line and gate, and as there were only five takers for the mornings 65 racing it was agreed to us a single windward mark with no spreader.

As ever with sailboat racing nothing is quite as straightforward as it looks, and the conditions proved tricky resulting in some excellent racing and quite a bit of frustration, with hero to zero and back again. Initially it definitely paid to start at the committee end on starboard, but during the morning the breeze went left for a while allowing some good starts from further down the line. Even then the beat proved tricky with the timing of when to tack back on port changing all the time. There were also some significant dead patches which weren’t apparent from the shore and these affected positions both upwind and downwind.  The gate was also interesting, as although it was slightly favoured to the club side, there were enough shifts to make the far side pay some of the time, and Clive made some excellent beats to the finish sailing right out to the far bank before tacking back.

Alan was Mr Consistency with four wins and two seconds to finish on 15 points, well clear of Guy on 19 – who also won three races – in second. Mike followed one point later, with Clive on 22 and Dave on 25 with the detailed results shown below.

Despite the overcast weather there was a lot of really close racing, with place swapping on all legs of the course in most races. Thanks as always to Dave for keeping us organised, whilst managing to take a couple of photos and to Malcolm who not only did the results but gave up his morning sailing to do some maintenance assessment work.

DF95’s

A South Easterly light breeze settled in for the afternoon, providing big wind shifts especially around the approach to the windward mark where the buoy was in the lee of the clubhouse. Given the light breeze the good turnout of 11 skippers had an easy choice of A rig.

The full length of the lake was used with a standard windward mark, spreader and gate set, 1 lap races in order to fit more races in. Malcolm Harvey volunteered to keep us in check and be the RO for the afternoon, and unfortunately we lost commodore Dave before the first race with a main winch servo issue.

As seems to be the case recently, the racing was very competitive with 6 of the remaining 10 helms recording at least 1 win. Paul was fast out of the blocks posting back to back wins with Ian second. Clive was next to post a win with Guy second. Stuart T sailed a brilliant fourth race and build a 20m lead at the first mark which he held to the finish, Stuart M. posted his best result of the day taking second. Unfortunately we lost Paul in race 4 with a burnt out rudder servo. Race 5 and our fourth different winner, this time it was Ian’s turn who had been knocking on the door in a couple of the previous races but made it to the line this time.

Clive then switched on his motor and took 4 bullets from the last 6 races with Alan and Andy each picking a deserved win. The minor places were split between Ian, Alan, Guy and visitor for the day Matt Pritchard from Great Orme MYC.

At the end of 11 races, the light was beginning to fade and we decided to finish. Because the racing had been so competitive nobody knew who would walk away with the overall win. It had been a very closely fought taxing afternoon of sailing, with some big wind shifts and plenty of passing opportunities, and also plenty of opportunity to lose out by picking a wrong shift or by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Thanks to Malcolm for the results, being our RO and getting some photos of the action as well.