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.
