DF65’s
Sunshine and wind … what more do you need for a fun morning of DF65 racing? The forecast and a look at the lake on arrival both suggested we were on for a B rig day so I was a little surprised to find everybody setting up with A+ rigs. John was first to be ready and was sent out to test the conditions. He returned 5 minutes later and unconvincingly confirmed the A+ rig selection, then went back to have another test. As soon as everybody had got their A+ rigs on, John returned to say that A rigs were required … so we all changed down.
The wind was blowing predominantly straight down the lake from the clubhouse end. I say ‘predominantly’ as rarely is anything straightforward at Gautby Rd. The usual course was set (no need to waste time and space explaining it!) and we all set off on the first race. A rigs proved to be right and the first half of the beat was reasonably consistent. However as we got towards the windward mark the bit of easterly in the forecast had a pretty dramatic effect with unpredictable 30 degree shifts coupled with big puffs and even bigger lulls. These conditions persisted throughout the morning and proved to be a great leveller in every race. Starts weren’t critical and it was only how you managed the final third of the beat that really made a difference. First around the windward mark generally got away and went on to win the race.
By race 3 the wind strength had increased another notch which turned it into a lottery downwind as everybody started nose diving, which led to a change to B rigs for the rest of the morning. Clive proved the most consistent winning the day with 2 race wins. Alan also showed consistency to come second without winning a race. Dave might have won overall if we had been on B rigs all day … he came third winning 2 races and was only let down by his race results with the A rig, and a special shout-out to Stuart who won race 4.
Thanks to Neil and Andy for doing all the RO duties and Dave for the photos.
- Clive Warren 16pts. 2 wins
- Alan Watkinson 18pts
- Dave Williams 20pts. 2 wins
- Andrew Potter 21pts. 1 win
- Stuart Mearns 28pts. 1 win
- Guy Cowper 28pts
- John Carlin 29pts. 1 win
- Don McKinnon 48pts
- David White 49pts
- Simon Bates 51pts
DF95’s
The sun continued to shine, and the easterly wind continued to blow providing a great afternoons sailing for the 13 boats preparing to take to the water, including Phil Hackney from Budworth and prospective member Rob Riddle (a friend of Guys). We were also very pleased to welcome back Paul Mearns after his illness and Graham Birkett.
The conditions warranted B rigs and this proved correct but in a couple of races the conditions increased to top end B but was just about manageable. The standard course was set using the full length of the lake. The normal format of self monitoring of the start and the first to finish records the results was to save average points for RO’ing, and also to maximise sailing for all.
Joe was the first casualty, with a broken on / off switch which kept him out for the first races, Alan started as he meant to go on taking the win in race 1, with Graham and Clive filling up the podium. Steve had a very good race taking 4th as did our visitor Rob but unfortunately we lost John Carlin with boat failure.
Racing was very competitive and in the second race it was Graham who took line honours followed by Clive and Stuart M who sailed a great race to take 3rd.
Alan took the next two races and Guy picked up a second place finally showing some boat speed picking up a second, the conditions also picked up a further casualty with Andy Mearns having boat issues.
Race 5 and it looked like Clives’ consistency would pay off, but just 5m from the line. he caught a bag around his keel allowed Graham, Stuart M and Guy all to pass and fill the top 3. Clive finally got his revenge in the next race with Alan and Guy chasing, Phil Hackney pulled up at this stage having only an A rig and sailed well considering he was so over powered.
The final races saw Guy take 2 bullets with Alan taking the other with Graham, Stuart M, Stuart T and Clive filling the podium spots.
After 9 races time ran out which was a shame as the racing was first class with 4 different race winners and 7 different podium finishers. Congrats to Alan, taking the overall honours and to Graham, Guy and Clive with a point between each of them.
Thanks to Clive for the photos and Mal for the results in A fleet.
After a short briefing (and no questions), by Paul, racing got underway on time under the watchful eye of our RO duo of Neil Westbrook and Dave Williams. The start line was probably port biased at the start of the day, as long as you had the room to tack off and not get pinned all the way to the bank. Later on it became more even and occasionally slightly starboard biased, before returning to port.
First blood went to Robbie Mac, closely followed by Paul Plested and Graham Elliott. Brad Gibson then had a run of three wins, with Roger Crates, Martin Roberts, Graham and Paul Middleton all getting on the podium. Graham then took the final race before a coffee break, with Peter Baldwin and Brad following behind. Sailors were treated to a variety of Cakes and biscuits (mostly home made) all served up with free tea and coffee by Joss and Chris in the galley.
Following the break, Graham had three more wins, with Brad and Robbie taking one apiece. Podium places were gained by Brad, Graham, Martin and Bill Culshaw, who was starting to get to grips with the tricky conditions. The wind was not easy to manage with some strong gusts barreling down the course at times, usually knocking at least half the fleet over on the run, whilst a few might escape “scott free”. Lunch was then called, soon after 12:30 with ten races completed.
As the fleet emerged after the lunch break, conditions seemed pretty similar to just before lunch, but a few nasty gusts sent a number of sailors back to the clubhouse to change rigs and a small delay ensued.
As we resumed with about 5 boats on B rig’s Bill put his to great use and rounded the Windward mark well in the lead holding onto this through to the finish, with Graham chasing hard but unable to catch him. In this next session of five races, Graham took an additional win, Martin had two and Simon Fairman had a great start and picked up a win in Race 14. Podium spots once again taken by pretty much the same top 5 boats.
So, into the final session of five races and most were back in A rigs as the gusts were not as strong as earlier and having been good straight after lunch, never showed the same promise later in that session. Peter took the first win after the tea break, with Brad then picking up two and Graham and Robbie one each.
After twenty races, our RO decided to call it a day, a little before time, but useful for those who had travelled some distance. When the results were entered, the day went to Brad Gibson sailing his Post Punk design, closely followed by Graham Elliott sailing his 2011 BritPOP! with Martin Roberts third also sailing a BritPOP!
At the prizegiving, where Jacks’ daughter Debbie presented the prizes, Brad thanked everyone involved in setting up and running the event, Joss and Chris for running the galley all day, then thanked the six visitors for travelling to the event. He also wished Graham and Martin every success at the forthcoming World Championship being held at Datchet Water in mid May.
The forecast suggested that the fleet could be moving down the rigs as the day wore on, but for the 65s in the morning A+ was manageable…just! Whilst the general wind direction was from over the clubhouse, the shifts and gusts were significant, with big gains/losses bringing smiles/tears depending up on how well you coped with them.
The racing throughout the fleet was close, with several four boat close finishes, and with others just pipping competitors on the line. Paul Plested made it a challenge for anyone else to take top spot on the day by winning the first four races. However, John Carlin, after a slow start, found his form posting two 1sts and several podium positions to finish a clear 2nd overall on the day.
Clive Warren was, at one point, closer to the top two than the final result suggests, but gear failure meant he missed three races and also had to count a retired. Andrew also had boat issues, but managed to get back afloat, only missing one race. Charles Legg opted to sit the racing out after the first two races.
James Douglas was joined on the day by his son, Cam, who took turns racing 73, with James hopping over to Dave William’s boat on at least one occasion. Richard Walker, Stuart Mearns and Stuart Trunkfield (first time with his DF65) all featured at or near the front of the fleet in several races, but struggled to hang on through to the finish, apart from Stuart M who did bag a 2nd in race seven. With only five points separating them, Richard came out on top in this mid fleet tussle.
David White and Malcolm Harvey battled on in the challenging conditions, with David edging out Malcolm on the day.
8 boats today, a little down on numbers due to the Easter holidays.
The wind was a lovely top suit from the houses, clubhouse end of the lake which gave everyone a massive challenge, one minute becalmed and the next nosedive, boat handling skills were needed by all.
The gamble today was sheet out and go for speed and risk not making the next mark or sail a little tighter and slower but guaranteeing you could lay the next mark. At least 8 of the 12 races sailed saw 4 boats finishing within 4 metres of each other.
By far the stand out race of the day was race 10, young Noah who had sailed well all day, finally got a position fitting his efforts, with a 3rd. Race winners on the day, Brad with 5, Graham with 3, Martin on 2 and Olly and Rob one a piece.
Thanks to Dave and Neil for starting and finishing us today and Dave for the photos and full results as below:
We arrived today expecting no wind, but in fact there was a gentle NW ish breeze blowing with just enough Northerly in it to miss the clubside housing. Another excellent turnout of 11 skippers started, including ex-Commodore John B, for what turned out to be a really interesting mornings racing very kindly run by Neil who got the racing away promptly.
The start looked to favour a port tack start but the line could be laid on Starboard. James made a couple of port tack flier starts work, but the size of the fleet and the shifts meant most preferred to approach on starboard. Line discipline was surprisingly good, with only one general, so Neil didn’t have to use the threatened black flag.
Initially it appeared to pay to continue on starboard before tacking, but again that changed during the morning, and then at the top of the beat there was a big port tack lift – but not every time – and also an intermittent very flat patch at the far side before the starboard layline tack to the top mark which caught a few out.
The gate was also interesting with successful last beats made from both sides, and a surprising amount of place swapping on this last leg.
John B showed his experience and class by winning 4 of the 9 races sailed to win by two points from James who took a couple of races to get going but thereafter sailed very consistently to a close second place.
Alan was the best of the rest, beating Mike on countback for third and closely followed by John in fifth. Very nice to welcome Martin James back and a well done to Stuart Mearns who is sailing quicker every time and finished the day in sixth.
Very close racing on the water with the usual thanks to Dave for organising us and taking the pictures, and today to Neil for ROing on a really chilly day.
