DF65’s
With folks away over the Summer, and perhaps because of recent problems with algae in the lake, only five skippers turned up to race their DF65’s. As it turned out it was a good morning of racing with the wind blowing straight down the lake, with boats running with A+ rigs, although smaller rigs would have been beneficial towards the end of the session. A typical one lap windward/leeward course was used throughout the morning.
In the first five races Paul Plested was fastest out of the blocks on four occasions. In race three Dave Williams got the shifts right and led until the leeward gate when he sailed into rather than around the right-hand buoy. This gifted 1st place to Paul making it five bullets out of five races with Charles Legg also getting promoted to 2nd. James Douglas was close throughout the opening five races scoring four 2nds and Phyl Fanning picked up a 3rd in race five.
In both races six and seven Dave got great starts and led to the finish. Paul, having been OCS is race six, pulled back up to 2nd on the last beat to the line and James picked up another 2nd in race seven.
By race eight the wind had picked up considerably and the fleet would have been much better on A or even B rigs, but as the session was close to ending the skippers agreed to carry on. With hindsight, they might have been better calling it a day then as all were getting wiped out on the run. Towards the leeward gate all five boats were broached and virtually uncontrollable. James was the first to zig-zag through the gate and then beat back up to finish, followed by Paul and then Dave.
Despite the breeze, the skippers decided to try one more race as the wind had abated slightly, for the start at least. Again, possibly not the best decision, as the race became a struggle against the conditions. James again won this battle and posted his second 1st of the day.
In summary, it was a very enjoyable morning of racing helped by negligible impact from the algae, which looks to be dissipating. Thanks go to Dave and Malcolm for the few DF65 photo’s1. Paul Plested 9pts 5 x 1sts
2. James Douglas 12pts 2 x 1sts, 5 x 2nds
3. Dave Williams 20pts 2 x 1sts
4. Charles Legg 20pts 2 x 2nds
5. Phyl Fanning 33pts 1 x 3rd
DF95’s
Two skippers stayed on from the morning’s DF65 racing and were joined at various stages by three others. Unfortunately with B rigs the order of the day, Steve Miller was unable to take part as he currently only has an A rig. The benefit for the other four was that Steve stayed on to run the racing.
Martin Whittingham-Jones turned up with about ten minutes to the start, but he’d rigged A rig, so he missed the first race whilst changing to B rig. As with the morning racing, a standard one lap windward/leeward course was used, with the beat being up the lake away from the clubhouse.
Despite there only being four boats, the starts were as competitive as they could be with all four vying for a clean fast start on starboard in most instances, with the odd shot at a port end cross the fleet job now and again. Although having to work his way through the fleet on several occasions, Paul ended up hogging most, but not all of the 1sts in the ten races sailed. Phyl Fanning scored a well earned bullet in race five and Martin crossed the finish line 1st in race seven. John Beech, despite not picking up a top spot was quick all afternoon and there was only one point between him and Martin at the end of the day.
In race nine Phyl’s battery died and his boat needed rescuing, and in race ten Paul’s rudder servo started to play up, so all agreed it was time to call it a day.
1. Paul Plested 8pts
2. Martin Whittingham-Jones 19pts 1 x 1st
3. John Beech 20pts
4. Phyl Fanning 27pts 1 x 1st
