DF65’s
A+ rig was selected for the conditions wind strength around 6 to 10 mph.
The first start had a strong starboard end bias but the real advantage was gained as always picking the right shifts and lifts some of which were false, so places exchanged frequently both up and down wind as the wind veered.
The bulk of the fleet started the day at the starboard end for the first few races but gradually moved down the line as the wind changed. The far side started to look good and sometimes worked but there were large flat patches to fall into.
John got off to a good start winning the first race followed by Clive winning the following two. Competition was close through the fleet Simon getting a first and second followed by Charles with a second in the 5th race. Dave, Stuart and Richard battled it out for the remaining places with nothing clearly settled until crossing the finish which was very close at times.
DF95’s
The sun was out and a lovely afternoon was to be had at Gautby Rd, The wind remained nominally easterly meaning that it was blowing from the clubhouse end with a bias from the industrial estate. Eight 95’s (including visitor Matt Pritchard from GOMYC) were ready to race on time and we were lucky enough to have Sadie (Joe’s girlfriend) volunteer to RO for us again. The same course as the morning was used, being a standard windward mark, spreader and leeward gate.
Similar to the morning, the wind was tricky with a number of holes and false shifts catching everyone out, but it was also a great leveller with 5 of the 8 skippers notching up at least 1 win and only Matt not dropping into the bottom 2 at some stage of the afternoon.
The first decision for the skippers was whether to tack down the near (control) bank where in theory there was better wind or whether to start at the far end of the line on starboard and look for the shift that was ‘sometimes’ present which provided a great lift on port. It was a 50 / 50 chance. The second decision was how to approach the top windward mark where the wind was swirling with no consistency and many a place was lost or won at this point. The run was equally challenging with probably the centre to control side of the lake being the safe option. But sometimes the mid to far side paid off, and on one occasion Stuart T picked up 4 places in 30meters after rounding the spreader by staying further out. The gate was just as tricky, much like the start, do you head for the port tack to the line, or stay in the better air and put more tacks in. The truth was it was a day to be in the right place at the right time.
Matt was the pick of the bunch and notched up a very consistent scorecard including four x 1st places and three 2nds. Stuart T sailed consistently fast all afternoon and notched up three 1st and three 2nds, and in the end after 12 races with 2 discards the two could only be separated by 1 point.
Meanwhile a little further back Clive was also consistent with two 1sts and four 2nds with Alan also picking up two 1sts but his consistency didn’t match Clives and finished 5 points adrift.
Stuart M also sailed well and picked up a deserved 1st in the penultimate race but a couple of bad results kept him (just) in the bottom half of the finishers.
Joe , Malcolm and Steve had flashes of brilliance with Steve and Malcolm both leading (in separate races) when rounding the gate mark only to drop back on the tricky last beat to the line.
Summary
Another great afternoons fun, although frustrating at times for everyone. Congrats to Matt for the overall win, also to Stuart T who takes the bragging rights home over son Joe (who beat Stuart last time)
Thanks to Sadie for keeping us in check again, to Malcolm for the tabulated results and to Clive and Malcolm for the photos.
