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Author: Peter Baldwin

DF65 & DF95 Social Racing 2026 – 3/6/26

DF65’s

A forecast of heavy showers clearly deterred a number of sailors today, but 10 hardy individuals still turned up to brave the elements

The normal Gautby Rd elements were all in place …. gusty and shifty from the clubhouse end, traditional course, goose poo etc …. with unfortunately a new underwater element ….. WEED!

A rigs were selected, which proved the right choice on balance …. overpowered in the gusts downwind leading to wipeouts but enough power at other times to go forward with weed attached

Paul arrived hoping to get some practice in before the Nationals, but having cleared the lake of minor strands of weed on his keel in the first 3 races, he then decided this wasn’t the sort of practice he came for and donned the waders to clear some weed properly with the rake

Alan, perhaps confused having his rig set up badly with actually sailing with weed more times than others it appeared, also gave up early. The rest of us persevered with the racing, accepting the fact that occasionally you hit a lump of weed that stopped you dead, but mostly you collected a few strands on the way round the course which gradually made you slower, but since everybody had a similar problem, didn’t impact the racing as much as it might have done. On the plus side, the forecast didn’t meet expectations and we only suffered one shower

On the water it was a close fight in every race between Clive, Andrew and Dave, who all clearly had a bit more speed (or a bit less weed) than everybody else. Clive started slowly but finished with 2 wins to take the day. Dave had a couple of poor results he was able to discard but his other results got him second. Andrew was the most consistent, but suffered a couple of critical weed pickup’s when leading races to end up third.

  1. Clive Warren         10pts. 4 wins
  2. Dave Williams      11pts. 3 wins
  3. Andrew Potter      12pts. 1 win
  4. Stuart Mearns      22pts
  5. Malcolm Harvey 30pts
  6. Neil Westbrook    32pts
  7. Dave Worron         37pts
  8. Dave White             40pts

Plus, Paul Plested & Alan Watkinson unscored after retiring early.

DF95’s

Seven boats took to the water for a challenging afternoons sailing. As the skippers emerged from the clubhouse after the lunch break the first challenge was to set a course as the wind had swung 45 degrees from Southerly to South Westerly, meaning it was blowing directly across the lake from the houses. The challenge was to try to set a course which wasn’t a reach up and down the lake. This was achieved by starting at the clubhouse end, (opposite end to the morning) using the outer start mark and inner gate mark as the starting line and using the finishing mark as the windward mark, then continuing up the lake to a top mark and spreader before the downwind leg to the gate and then to the finish. This provided 2 short beats to the first two marks.The second challenge was for the skippers to remember the course.

The breeze remained from the morning but with far more shifts and holes than the morning so it was tricky racing as the results showed with 6 of the 7 starters recording at least one first or second. In addition to the tricky wind there was also some 2 or 3 clumps of weed to snag the keel or rudder which needed luck to avoid.

There were some early casualties with Dave Worron missing the first race which was won by Clive with Charles second. Stuart M took top honours in race 2 remembering to sail the right course this time and Dave W showing his boat speed taking second.

Andy M had rigging problems before race 3 which kept him out for the rest of the afternoon, whilst Dave posted 2 bullets. Race 4 also saw Charles struggle home with a winch issue before retiring for 2 races.

The last 4 races saw four different race winners with Steve M, Stuart M, Clive and Dave all taking line honours

In summary, a very tricky afternoons sailing with multiple winners and some close racing. An element of luck needed to avoid picking weed up, but at least the rain stayed away!!

Thanks to Stuart M for the photos and Malcolm for tabulating the results

DF95 Winter 2025/6 #5 – 7/3/26

We were greeted with sunshine and a light Southerly breeze when we arrived at Gautby Rd for some Saturday fun. This provided testing and tricky condition particularly with the approach to the windward mark, with the mark sat in the lee of the clubhouse.

7 skippers got prepared, with numbers slightly down due to an IOM ranking event just up the road attracting some of the normal gang. Before starting Clive helped Neil replace a Rudder Servo, a casualty from Wednesday’s efforts. The buoy positions were fine with a slight bias on the start line for port but nobody chanced their arm getting a flier. Dave got racing underway on time at 12.00, and with only 7 boats starts were self monitored and finishes recorded by the first home.

From the start the racing was dominated by John, Clive and Neil with the rest having the odd skirmish into the top three, this was highlighted in the results with 6 of the 7 skippers earning a second place or higher. Such were the conditions which were a great leveller, and saw Clive and John both discarding a last place in their respective results. As mentioned the approach to the windward mark was particularly tricky and many a place changed hands within 20 meters of the mark. However this wasn’t the only problem area and the last beat from the gate to finish line was also “twitchy bum time” with the decision of when to try to work back to the control side and finish line or when to stay out in the breeze and loose out on the shifts.

Unfortunately we lost Neil again with further electrical problems in race 7 and wasn’t able to return. This seemed to spur Guy on who took over his place as a consistent top 3 finisher including 3 first places although like John and Clive he picked up a last place.

The minor places were also being very keenly contested between Dave, Stuart M and Stuart T, with Dave picking up a 2nd and 3rd, and Stuart M picking up a 2nd and two 3rds having had a much better afternoon than morning.

Summary

An enjoyable, dry day with plenty of frustration to share around between everybody, but still somehow enjoyable with some good friends for company. Thanks to Dave for the photos and results.

DF95 Winter Series 2025/26 #1 – 6/12/25

The lake didn’t look very inviting for sailing as the 12 skippers arrived for the first of the DF95 series of races including Brian Crosse from Great Orme and David Worron from Gresford. On a positive note the overnight rain had disappeared, but then grey skies remained and the promised wind had not materialised leaving a glassy look on the lake with only the odd zephyr managing to pass through.

Guy Cowper had problems with his FlySky transmitter and it took Dave Howard to sort it, (for those interested it turns out you can not bind on channel 2 if channel 1 is empty). Apart from this the pre race antics where trouble free. Neil Westbrook, was our RO for then day ably assisted by Dave Howard. By the time racing got underway on time at 12-00 there was just enough wind to note which direction it was generally coming from enabling a standard course to set, starting at the clubhouse end a spreader mark at the far end, and a gate at the leeward, a short beat back to the finish line halfway up the lake. Due to the lake of ‘real’ wind a single lap was set.

The start line looked like it had a port bias to it, but in reality there was a trade of between starting at the committee end and chancing your luck with the wind, or at the pin end where the wind was more reliable. Whichever position the skippers chose it resulted in a long port tack, then trying to navigate the best approach to the windward mark where many a place was lost and gained. The short beat back to the finish from the leeward gate was also a tricky win or lose leg, meaning the places were not secure until you’d crossed the line.

Unfortunately Martin R was a late arrival and missed the first 2 races. Racing was very tight, right from the outset, but John Brierley showed his class in the first race shooting out from the middle of the pack on the first beat, taking the win with Guy and Alan following him home. Race 2 and it was commodore Dave sneaking home first passing Clive and John B on the final beat. Race 3 and Martin joined in and showed his class straight away taking what was the start of 4 second places in a row but couldn’t topple John B from taking his 2nd win and the start of a run of 4 bullets. The minor places were keenly fought with Clive being very consistent having a run of 3 thirds and Brian C taking 1. The final 4 races were business as usual for our top 2 helms taking 2 wins each, but dropping out of podium positions when not winning, second places went Guy with 2 and Clive with 1 and final podium positions being filled by Dave W, Guy and John Beech

Special mentions go to Dave W for his win in race 2, John Beech who led convincingly at the first mark only to be pegged back, and Steve Miller who was in 3rd place in one race coming through the gate mark.

All in all, an enjoyable if not frustrating at times where everyone was close to the lead at some stage, but as always the cream always seems to float towards the top, Well done John B and Martin.

Thanks again to our ROs for the day and to Dave Howard for the photos.

DF65 Social Racing 2025 – 24/9/25

DF65’s

The sun was shining and the light breeze looked like it was straight down the lake from the   club house end  (south easterly). The reality was that the it was swinging between south and east in various parts of the lake, but on a positive note there weren’t too many holes to fall into. The standard windward / leeward course was set and the below average turnout of 4 skippers were underway on time at 11-00am. The starts were self monitored and first to finish recorded the results.

8 races were sailed in a very socialable manner with the skippers enjoying the conditions. Clive dominated the racing with 5 firsts and 3 seconds but didn’t have it all his own way with Dave Williams sailing well early on, notching up a pair of wins in races 2 and 3. Alan was also very consistent and with a change of fortune, instead of the bad luck in a couple of races, could have pushed Clive harder, finishing with a win and 5 seconds.

It might have been a small field but a most enjoyable morning was had by all.

  1. Clive Warren       No53   5 wins     7pts
  2. Alan Watkinson No373   1 win    11pts
  3. Dave Williams    No33     2 wins   15pts
  4. David White        No94                   21pts

DF95’s

The sun remained shining and the light breeze held and if anything strengthened marginally and was a bit more consistent for the afternoon DF95 social sailing. It was still swinging from south and east in various parts of the lake, but on a positive note it was more predictable, or were we just becoming immune to the shifts? A similar standard windward / leeward course was set to the morning sailing with a slight tweak. The 5 skippers were underway on time by 13.30. The starts were self monitored and first to finish recorded the results.

Racing was undertaken in good humour with some good banter between the skippers. Clive spent the best part of a couple of races coaching Steve Miller who was back after a few months absence, which I think was appreciated. Racing was very competitive even with the reduced fleet of 5 boats with 3 of the 5 helms recording 3 or more wins each. Alan came out on top just ahead of Clive, after the 2 were separated only by the number of wins. Martin wasn’t quite as consistent as the front two despite notching up 3 wins. Steve Miller showed glimpses of good boat speed and ability and even lead around the windward mark on one occasion.

Ten very enjoyable races were completed sailed, in a lovely Autumnal afternoon with good sailing conditions..

  1. Alan Watkinson                        23   4 wins   13pts
  2. Clive Warren                               93    3 wins  13pts
  3. Martin Whitingham Jones    77    3 wins  16pts
  4. John Beech                                288                   28pts
  5. Steve Miller                               637                   36pts

IOM Winter 2024/5 #5 – 8/3/25

Glorious sun and wind at Gautby Road for our 12 skippers. Great to see a few guests travelling to join in.
The wind was quite an unusual one for Birkenhead, predominantly down Gautby Road but with some cruel shifts if you got on the wrong side of them but hero shifts if you got on the correct side of them, nice top end of A rig with some nosediving in the first 6 races before tea.
It was Brad that showed early pace, taking out the first two races and Alan also showing us some great speed in these races with a third and fourth, unfortunately Josh, sailing Pop, missed the first race with a temperamental knob, on his transmitter which was quickly fixed with a bit of fiddling.
Race positions throughout the day switched very quickly due to the shifts but it was Brad who stayed consistently in front, winning 8 in the end. Martin had a better last 6 races that included a string of seconds, probably due to him growing into his new sailing glasses. Andrea should have won race 10, but in the excitement and concentration she unfortunately forgot to finish but still managed a third.
There was also a great battle all afternoon between Andy, Phil and John, I am sure they enjoyed their afternoons sailing.
Race winners included, Brad, Rob, Graham, Simon and Josh.
Many thanks to Neil and Dave (who also took the photos) for starting and finishing us and good luck to all Birkenhead skippers at next week’s ranking weekend in Scarborough.
  1. Brad Gibson          42   Post PUNK    13pts
  2. Graham Elliott     09   BritPOP!        31pts
  3. Martin Roberts   168  BritPOP!        35pts
  4. Simon Fairman    71   Alioth             40pts
  5. Andrea Roberts   127  BritPOP!       43pts
  6. Josh King                 26  POP!               46pts
  7. Rob Macintosh      66  V9                   50pts
  8. Alan Watkinson    23  Corbie 5         77pts 1x3rd
  9. Graham Birkett   133  Widget           77pts
  10. Andy Backhouse 142  Widget           97pts
  11. Phyl Fanning         37   Lintel           106pts
  12. John Beech           139   Gadget         109pts

DF65 Social Racing 2024 – 3/7/24

Nine sailors today and just a light breeze from the top of the lake on arrival. Racing started at 11.00am, and by 11.45 we had managed just two races. The normal course was sailed but with using existing marks a long distance spreader. All the starts were well disciplined as to be called over would have been a disaster.

John Carlin led the first race and looked to be on for a certain win until he sailed into a hole, allowing the following boats to catch him with Alan taking his first of two wins. Such was the unpredictability of the wind that two of the races had photo finishes between four boats. After three races and the light wind dropping to zero at times, a final race was decided to enable one discard. Even so, three skippers still had had enough and retired.

  1. Alan Watkinson   4pts 2wins
  2. Dave Williams      6.2pts 1win
  3. Richard Walker   9pts 1win
  4. Frans King             9pts
  5. Charles Legg         9.2pts
  6. John Carlin            15pts
  7. Malcolm Harvey 15.2pts
  8. Paul Little              18pts
  9. David White          23pts

Due to a lack of cooperation from the wind to produce anything to sail with, DF95 racing was cancelled.