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Author: Peter Baldwin

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.

BRSPC Club Statement – Fish Deaths at Gautby Road Lake

This recent event is not the result of any actions by the club.
We only apply a D.E.F. R.A. approved natural dye called ‘ Lake Shadow ‘,
manufactured by Dyofix (see www.dyofix.co.uk/commercial-pond-dyes/)  and which is also used by many lakes and fisheries to reduce algae and improve water quality.  This has been used just twice this year, the last application was on 25th May.

The Environment Agency attribute the pr0blem to the recent hot weather and high temperatures, with too many large fish and not enough oxygen in a lake which is very shallow and has no cover from intense sunlight. It is not suitable as a fishing lake.

According to a report from the Environment Agency local Fisheries Officer;
“Unfortunately this is a natural occurrence at this time of year, and we are seeing more and more Oxygen Crashes. The dye will certainly help the situation in terms of controlling the algae and has no effects on fish.”

Wirral Council staff have now cleared the lake and surrounds of dead fish.

RG65 Winter Series 2023 #2 – 9/12/23

Well, we had a little rain today and plenty of wind but unfortunately it was blowing from over the houses and veering towards the top corner. The sail choice was in some cases, ‘this is all I have so it will have to do’. The majority using low A, and some using B which appeared to be the wrong choice.

The course was set starting from the Clubhouse end, to the windward mark with a port rounding at the very top of the lake, to a spreader then down to the outer start buoy mark with again a port rounding.  The timing of gusts on the start line caused many call backs spotted with the eagle eye of our assistant race officer George (Alan Bennett’s son).

Racing to the first mark was very close throughout the fleet but it was to the spreader that Alan B and John B were able to pull away. The downwind leg was disastrous for many with clear rudders showing in the nosedives. After four races with the wind picking up a break was called, for dinner and a change of rigs. Unfortunately Charles and Martin had suffered damaged and were not able to continue.

With the wind picking up and white horses on the lake, C rig was used by most boats which certainly made the downwind leg more manageable. With the wind increasing in strength even further, it was decided after the ninth race to finish the day before any more failures could occur.

Our thanks to Clive and George for acting as race officials and giving us nine long races.

  1. Alan Bennett       Ivy                          9pts 5wins
  2. John Brierley       Uno                      13pts 3wins
  3. Bill Culshaw         Ivy                       21pts 1win
  4. Alan Watkinson  Uno                     29pts
  5. John Carlin            Uno                     32pts  1x2nd
  6. Dave Williams      Uno                     32pts
  7. Martin Roberts    Pocket Rocket 38pts
  8. Charles Legg         Uno                      51pts

DF65TT Round 10 Day 2

Day 2 dawned with sun, but sadly no wind.  A postponement was called by the RO and we waited for the breeze to fill in.  By 11:00 there was  gentle SSW breeze sufficient to allow racing to start by 11:10.  After a few had decided not to attend or leave early only 16 boats took to the water in a light and patchy 2 to 5 knots.  We completed an additional 4 races before breaking for lunch, with a breeze that was at times nearly straight down the lake, perhaps helped by a bit of sea breeze adding to the gradient.  John and Peter continued their tussle for the overall lead, with John getting the upper hand in this first session, winning two races to Peters one, with one race tie as the finish judge was unable to split the pair as they crossed the finish line.

After lunch, a further 4 races were completed, although the breeze could shut off at any point and one race was abandoned and break taken before racing continued.  John continued to dominate this final session, with 3 wins, and Tony Sedgwick getting a win in the final race, having had some other excellent results over the weekend, but previously missing out on a win.

This gave a podium of John Tushingham in first, Peter Baldwin in second, with Dave Burke in third.  We had a great weekend of A+ sailing, and thanks go to the Race Officer John Brierley assisted by Dave Williams (Sat), Neil Westbrook, Malcolm Harvey and Judith all helping to run the racing, plus Jocelyn and Chris in the galley keeping everyone fed and watered throughout both days from early in the morning to the end of racing.

Final Results are:

DF65TT Round 10 Day 1

The day started with little or no wind, but a light breeze picked up after RO John Brierley had given his briefing and so Race 1 got underway soon after 10:00.  However, the breeze dropped during the race and the fleet was well spread by the time the leaders finished and the RO called a temporary halt and we restarted after about an hour when the breeze had picked up to a nice WNW breeze of about 5 knots.  We managed 5 races before taking lunch, with John Tushingham taking three wins, plus John Carlin and Peter Baldwin one each.  After lunch, a total of 11 further races were completed (with one break) before the cut-off time of 17:30. In this session there were five different race winners.  Peter took the lions share of seven race wins, with Dave Burke, Alan Watkinson, Simon Fairman and John Tushingham with one each.  Special mention to newcomer to the sport, Tony Sedgwick, who was unlucky to lose out in one race ending up second to Peter on the final leg into the finish having led for a good part of the race.

Racing on Saturday (c) Dave Williams

Results at the end of day 1 are as follows:

 

DF95 Summer 2023 #3 – 12/8/23

A fine sunny day at Gautby Road, nine DF 95 sailors keen to race but a horrendous wind kept them guessing as to the best way to tackle the usual two lap course starting from the Clubhouse end. The wind varied from overpowering to moments of nothing. It was imperative to anticipate the wind, to gain the start advantage. John Brierley always pushing did fall foul of the start line judge but generally no recalls. Up to tea break it was John or Alan taking the wins between them although after the break it was John who dominated. Andrew was unable to come to grips with his 95 so after the mainsail collapsed he retired to the Clubhouse to sort it, then returned to put in four good races. Clive had consistent races to gain third place.

A good afternoon sailing with twelve races and very close scoring.  Photos courtesy of Dave Williams.

  1. John Brierley          11pts 7wins
  2. Alan Watkinson   15pts 5wins
  3. Clive Warren         32pts
  4. John Carlin             41pts
  5. Andrew Peter        42pts 2X 2nds
  6. Dave Williams      42pts
  7. Neil Westbrook    43pts
  8. Frans King             56pts 2 x 3rds
  9. John Beech           56pts