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Author: Peter Baldwin

DF65 Social Racing 2023 – 28/6/23

In an ideal world the wind blows consistently along the pond and the race officer can set a course with an unbiased start line, a satisfying beat to a windward mark, a reach down to a separator at which boats turn onto a downwind leg and sail happy to the leeward gate or mark. Today was not such a day. As we gathered at the pondside we scratched our heads trying to work out the wind direction, while the wind shifted around us, turning beats into runs and back again.

In the face of this wayward wind, it was decided to set a course starting at the clubhouse end, sailing to the far end and rounding the two furthest buoys to port before turning back to a mark at the clubhouse end and finishing halfway up the pond. After a few races the race officer, Dave Williams (who generously acted as RO throughout the racing) added a separator at the clubhouse end. Despite the fluky winds several boats managed consistent performance with Mike de St. Paer taking the honours, followed by Alan Watkinson. The full results after 8 races were:

  1. Mike de St. Paer                          10
  2. Alan Watkinson                           15
  3. Clive Warren                                 17
  4. Jon Whitehead                             21
  5. Andrew Peter                               30
  6. Neil Westbrook                            31
  7. John Carlin                                    32
  8. John Beech                                     47
  9. Paul Little                                       48
  10. Charles Legg                                  53
  11. Martin Whitingham-Jones     54
  12. Frans King                                      55
  13. Dave Warren                                  66
  14. Richard Walker                             83*

* Retired early owing to technical problems

DF65 Social Racing 2023 – 14/6/23

Eleven sailors arrived on a glorious sunny day accompanied by a pleasant breeze. A+ the rig of the day. Mike put his boat on the water and quickly realised he had no control at times so took the boat out and volunteered to be RO. Martin having changed his winch from last week still had problems so he was also out for the morning and then there were nine.

After John C donned the waders and moved the start line racing commenced. Andrew started well and gained three wins in the first four races but then could not find a better position than third.

John C was having electrical problems so had to drop out of two races but the repair was satisfactory meaning he could move up to be with the leaders Alan and Neil, who finished with a point between them. Ten races were held with the usual two laps for the final race. Thanks again to Mike for being our RO and to John for moving the marks.

  1. Alan Watkinson       16pts 4 wins
  2. Neil Westbrook        17pts  1 win
  3. Andrew Potter          20pts 3 wins
  4. John Carlin                21pts  2 wins
  5. Clive Warren             29pts
  6. Charles Legg             49pts
  7. Dave Williams          51pts
  8. Frans King                 58pts
  9. Malcolm Harvey     60pts

DF/RG65 Summer Series 2023 #4 – 10/6/23

Today turned out to be one of the warmest days of the year on the Wirral, with final temperatures reaching 30C, but at least the Easterly breeze was still with us, with an average of probably 6-8 knots, but holes (2knots) and gusts of 12+ knots causing a few nose dives and boats out of control, especially in the last race.

Peter donned the waders and made a few tweaks to Wednesdays course, but in the end the wind was a lot straighter by the time we started and this resulted in a bit too much port bias on the line.  Peter and Martin slugged it out for overall honours with 5 wins each. However, the consistent Martin took the day in the Pocket Rocket with his swing rig further forward and the boat living up to the “Rocket” name.

There were strong performances at times during the day from John, Bill (Ivy) and Clive once he changed to a conventionally rigged Pocket Rocket following electrical problems.  A number of boats had gear and electrical failures during the day causing one or more lost races for 6 of the 8 boats.  Was it the warm day or just bad luck?

Line watching and results recording was done by the fleet for half the races, until John Carlin paid a visit and helped out in the middle session; so thanks John.

  1. Martin Roberts           133  Pocket Rocket    11pts
  2. Peter Baldwin               63  Uno                         14pts
  3. Bill Culshaw                   21  Ivy                           30pts
  4. Clive Warren      184/163  Scuttle/Pocket    33pts
  5. Dave Williams               33  Uno                         39pts
  6. John Brierley                 84  3D print proto    42pts
  7. Alan Watkinson           23   Uno                         43pts
  8. Charles Legg                 26   Uno                         48pts

DF65 & DF95 Social Racing 2023 – 7/6/23

There was no decision to be made on rigs this week, with a cool, good mid to top end of A+ blowing down the lake from the clubhouse.  After Peter moved a few marks around to give a reasonable start line and leeward gate position, racing got underway soon after 11, but without Peter who was helping to try and get Martin on the water as he had an intermittent winch issue.  Unfortunately there appeared to be no immediate solution, so Martin Whittingham-Jones very kindly agreed to be RO for the morning.

John Carlin ran the first race and so he was given average points for that race (based upon his 7 other counting races).  This left the top 4 very close, with Alan taking the day on 16 pts and 3 wins, John C second on 19.4 pts and 3 wins, Peter 3rd on 20 pts (2 wins) and Clive 4th on 21 pts (2 wins).

  1. Alan Watkinson   373   16 Pts
  2. John Carlin                11 19.4 Pts (3 wins)
  3. Peter Baldwin         63   20 Pts (2 wins)
  4. Clive Warren           53    21 Pts (2 wins)
  5. Andrew Potter      194   29 Pts
  6. James Douglas        73   40 Pts
  7. Frans King                95  54 Pts
  8. Charles Legg            21   55 Pts
  9. John Beech               80   60 Pts

Out of interest, if Peter had been given average points for missing race 1, that would have given him 18.3 pts and second place.

Afterwards five DF95’s had an hour or so of one lap racing and tune up ideas, with some close finishes once again.

IOM Summer Series 2023 – #2 – 3/6/23

Windguru was spot on, with no wind forecast before 1.00.  At 1.20 RO John Carlin pressed the start button with an 8 mph shifty breeze from the top end. For the first of 12 non stop races. Martin nailed the first 3, with John robbed of race 4. Andrea got to it together for wins in Race 8 and 11.  Alan after some near misses earlier in the day, got his bow first over the line in Race 9.
  1. Martin Roberts     11pts     Chimera
  2. Andrea Roberts    24pts     Britpop
  3. Alan Bennett         25pts     Britpop
  4. John Berry              35pts     Lintel
  5. Neil Westbrook    46pts    Widget

DF65 Social Racing 2023 – 31/5/23

Another good turnout for DF racing. The wind was N.Easterly ish, with the usual holes, lifts, and gusts and a coolish air temperature.

John Carlin won the first race and went on to dominate the day’s racing with a total of 6 wins and an excellent 11 point score after discards.

There was much close racing throughout the day, with a very port end biased line making for some interesting starts. These included starboard tack boats being tagged by those attempting port end flyers, and quite a bit of boat to boat contact with a couple of starts looking like a real melee.

John was followed by Clive, who had two wins and then Mike with one win and a certain amount of radio trouble, along with Neil, Alan and Charles who all suffered with some boat issues during the day.

Overall excellent racing with the overall fleet standard still improving.

Final Positions were:

  1. John Carlin                                  11 pts          6 wins
  2. Clive Warren                              27 pts          2 wins
  3. Mike de St Paer                         29 pts          1 win
  4. Neil Westbrook                         31 pts           1 win
  5. Dave Williams                           31 pts
  6. Richard Walker                         43 pts
  7. Frans King                                  45 pts
  8. John Beech                                  48 pts
  9. Alan Watkinson                         57 pts
  10. Charles Legg                               63 pts
  11. Don Mackinnon                         69 pts
  12. Martin Whittingham-Jones 79 pts