The forecast of icy rain and gale force winds didn’t deter 19 hardy skippers racing for the 2018 Christmas IOM Race. The punchy south easterly breeze enabled Bernie and Jack to set a windward leeward course which used the full length of the lake. Remarkably there were very few retirements, a testament to boat design and maintenance. At the briefing Graham Elliott reminded skippers to race fairly and given the conditions try to keep incidents to a minimum. The leeward gate helped keep racing running smoothly, with the near buoy safer but less advantaged and the far buoy advantaged if you could complete the risky tack on the bank in the big waves! Before lunch racing was fast and furious, with many people posting good and average results. After a warming up with a brew and a mince pie, Bernie promised just 5 more races. With the rain and the wind building and the light dropping this was welcomed news. After 12 races Paul pipped Derek in 1st place with John Brierley sailing very consistently to claim 3rd. The next IOM Winter Series race is on Saturday 22nd December, 1pm start. Fingers crossed the suns out!
1st Paul Allen 31pts
2nd Derek Priestly 36pts
3rd John Brierley 41pts
4th Darin Ballington 42pts
5th Graham Elliot 46pts
6th Martin Roberts 52pts
7th Brad Gibson 59pts
8th Bill Culshaw 72pts
9th Vicky Gibson 73pts
10th Peter Baldwin 84pts
11th David Foster 101pts
12th Lawrence Drennon 117pts
13th Geoff Martindale 119pts
14th Mike Parkinson 122pts
15th Sue Parkinson 128pts
16th Neil Westbrook 129pts
17th Alan Watkinson 139pts
18th Andrew Peter 167pts
19th Dave Williams 181pts
After 12 Races
Thank to Peter Baldwin for risking his camera to take a pic!
