DF65’s
Spring had definitely sprung at Gautby road this morning with blue sky, blue water, sunshine and a nice SSE breeze blowing more or less straight down the lake. Thanks to Peter B’s well publicised morning dip on Saturday all the marks were in really good positions, with the start line, top marks and gate all looking square on. The first two races used the lower top marks giving a long spreader leg, but then it was agreed to use the topmost marks giving a shortened spreader leg, but introducing some big shifts approaching the top mark.
An excellent turnout of 13 skippers made for a busy line, and all agreed to RO in turns with line discipline really not too bad and, although there was some barging at the inner end of the line, turns were being taken as appropriate.
Mike won the first race comfortably, then RO’d race 2 and never quite got back into it. John then won races 2 and 3, and then later went on to win races 5, 8 and 10 to run out a clear winner. The following pack was led by Clive who sailed very consistently to a clear second overall without any race wins, and then the next 5 places were covered by 9 points as shown below. Almost everyone – except John – had to count some really disappointing results as the day proved deceptively tricky.
The first beat and run seemed reasonably straightforward (well by Gautby road standards anyway) but then on the beat back up to the line it was very easy to make a wrong move as boats came across to the finish line side. There was much place swapping and not a few “hero to zero and sometimes back” moments giving four different winners as shown below.
The pressure very gradually increased over the morning’s racing to reach nearly the top of A+ for some of the runs but overall the conditions made the sailing a pleasure. Thanks as always to Commodore Dave for keeping things moving whilst also acting as photographer, and to Malcolm for the results of a great mornings sailing which are shown in full below. 
DF95’s
The sun was shining and a perfect breeze for an A rig was blowing down the lake from the clubhouse end with a slight bias from the houses making for just enough “challenging stuff” to keep everyone on their toes for an afternoon of social sailing. The same course as the morning was used which meant using the full length of lake and the approach to the windward mark would be a bit tricky being in the lee of the clubhouse, but in fairness the bigger 95s coped well, sailing through the lulls and shifts. Stuart Trunkfield brought his son Joe along for a first racing experience, and Joe’s girlfriend Sadie didn’t take a lot of persuading to be the RO for the afternoon, and kept us under control. A good turnout of nine skippers, lined up for the first race.
The racing was close all afternoon with places being gained and lost all the way around the course, Alan was fast out of the blocks and took the first race and was on the pace all afternoon, Stuart Mearns was 2nd and had his best ever consistent set of results, and 3rd was Neil.
Race 2: it was Clive’s turn to take the first of two consecutive line honours, with Neil improving his 3rd place to take the 2nd spot with the consistent Stuart M 3rd.
Race 3: we lost Stuart T before the start when trying to tension his forestay a bowsie broke and he lost all rig tension, but returned after repairs for race 5. Meanwhile Stuart M was 2nd behind Clive with Malcolm Harvey 3rd, sailing with a B rig. Unfortunately, we also lost Neil at this point with terminal boat problems which was a shame as he was prominent in the 2 previous races.
Races 4 and 5: it was Alans turn to post 2 bullets, with Clive two 2nds and Stuart M two 3rds. Further back Joe was showing some good boat speed and was having a good battle with Phyl and Steve.
Race 6: Stuart Ms consistency finally pay off and took the win, with Clive 2nd and Joe posting his best result in a deserved 3rd place. Phyl was now posting consistent results just outside the top 3
Race 7, 8 and 9: Steve Miller had rigging problems and had to retire in race 7. The results were all similar with only minor changes in the pecking order. Clive posted 2 wins and a 2nd, Alan a 1,2,3, Phyl taking his best result of the day a 3rd in race 7, Joe posting a 2nd, his best result of the day in race 8.
Summary
A great afternoon of sailing, Clive taking overall honours from Alan and Stuart M, who had a stellar day. Bragging rights in the Trunkfield household definitely goes to Joe, although I did hear Stuart saying it was beginners luck, Im not so sure!!!
