DF65’s
Plenty of layers were required today and caution on the icy footpath. An A+ rig was selected for the light wind conditions.
Starting looked quite straight forward with a strong port end bias on the start line however this didn’t always prove successful with the dying wind on the far side of the course and slowly moving round as the morning progressed. There were a few start line collisions and the usual merry quips exchanged!! Gaining a good start however, wasn’t necessarily a guarantee to be in the leading pack at the windward mark.
There was plenty of potential for errors to be made up the beat as shifts were missed or the wind didn’t behave as it should (or expected)! The port side paid off for the first few races but gains would be made to starboard as the wind slowly moved round to the South.
The downwind leg seemed easier to stay ahead with few place changes and little congestion at the leeward gate with the near mark paying consistently. However, places continued to change on the final approach to the finish line. Competition was tight throughout the fleet with Mike and John tussling for 1st place with a tight following pack of Alan, James & Clive.
- john Carlin 11 10pts 3 wins
- Mike De St Paer 35 11pts 2 wins
- Alan Watkinson 373 16pts 2 wins
- James Douglas 73 17pts 1 win
- Clive Warren 53 21pts 1 win
- Charles Legg 21 29pts
- Richard Walker 39 30pts
- Dave Williams 33 37pts
- David White 74 40pts
DF95’s
6 skippers turned out in the afternoon for the 95 social sailing. The afternoon was much like the morning with what felt like a bitterly cold Sourtherly blowing from the club house corner of the lake. A similar course to the morning was used with the usual windward mark, spreader and gate, and finishing half way up the lake. The breeze was perfect for ‘A Rigs’. With only 6 boats the starts were self monitored, and first to finish recorded the results. 10 races were sailed providing 2 discards.
From the start the skippers were almost split into 2 groups with Alan, Paul, Guy, and Clive in the leading pack with Steve, Stuart and Andy in the second pack. Conditions by Gautby Rd standards weren’t too tricky, however there were places to be gained especially when approaching the windward mark and on the final beat from the gate to the finish line. This lead to some very tight racing within the 2 groups with some close finishes and private duals and the skippers had to keep concentrating.
The first 3 races saw 3 different winners with Clive, Alan and Guy taking 1 each and in the second group it was just as competitive with each of the 3 skippers also sharing the remaining position.
Race 4 and Clive picked up the pace with his 2nd win which turned out to be the start of an impressive run of 5 bullets. Clive had also been busy tweaking Andy’s boat which seemed to pay dividends with him taking the second place in race 5 and would move him up to battle it out with the front pack for the rest of the day.
Races 6, 7 and 8 and Alan was finding consistency and a bit more boat speed taking 3 seconds behind Clive, with Guy and Andy duelling it out for the other podium spot. Further down the fleet Steve and Stuart were having their own private battle and it was all to play for.
Races 9 and 10, and with the predicted rain starting to fall it was Alans turn to fire 2 straight bullets, with Andy and Clive sharing the other podium spoils. The at the bottom of the fleet could not have been closer with both Stuart and Steve tied on the same points with the final race to sail!!
In summary, a cold, but very enjoyable afternoon with extremely close racing throughout the small fleet, with very some good individual battles.
- 93 Clive Warren 10pts 2 wins
- 23 Alan Watkinson 15pts 2 wins
- 38 Guy Cowper 20pts 1 win
- 04 Andy Mearns 25pts
- 805 Stuart Mearns 40pts
- 637 Steve Miller 28pts
