Category: dragonforce

A deceptive wind from the Clubhouse end made the thinking to go A+. After the first race it was decided that was a bad decision and all changed to A rig.

Mike was the complete master of the conditions, taking eight races without any real competition. Those behind notably James, Alan, John and Neil were fighting for second place honours with some very close racing between them. Clive started well but his last four race results pulled him down.

Twelve races were held.

1. Mike de St Paer     10 pts 8wins
2. James Douglas      22 pts 3wins
3. John Carlin             29 pts
4. Alan Watkinson   30 pts 1 win
5. Clive Warren         37pts
6. Neil Westbrook    45 pts
7. Andrew Potter      56 pts
8. Dave Williams      59 pts
9. John Beech             65 pts
10. Paul Little               71 pts
11. Malcolm Harvey  76 pts
12. Frans King              77 pts

A very cold morning and strong winds with plenty of gusts thrown in greeted the seven sailors. B rig was chosen but a few wished for C rig before the end of racing.

The usual course was sailed with the start line at the top end of the lake. Most of the eight starts were clean with the exception of John who managed three call backs!!

Racing for the line honours was always between John and James with James eventually wearing John down to take the final race. Six points separated the rest of the fleet with places won or lost on the downwind leg depending if you were lucky enough to dodge the gusts. Unfortunately we lost Andrew after four races due to electrical problems. Thanks to Dave for acting as RO.

1. John Carlin             6pts 7 wins
2. James Douglas     11pts 1 win
3. Clive Warren         23pts
4. Richard Walker   25pts
5. Malcolm Harvey 28pts
6. Frans King             29pts
7. Andrew Potter      32pts

Light winds from the Clubhouse end the ten sailors with no discussion required, opted for A+ rigs. Racing started as usual at 11am with each competitor dropping out in turn to be Race officer. The first two races were taken by Simon and James who battled with each other throughout the series, ending before discards one point apart. Neil with his consistency of seconds and thirds took second place honours but the overall winner was John C with a string of four wins even after mooring his boat on one of the gate marks.

Racing was halted after 10 races due to the arrival of the lorry from the Parks & Gardens Department to collect the rubbish behind the Clubhouse.

1st       John Carlin            12pts 4 wins
2nd     Neil Westbrook   17pts. 1 win
3rd      Alan Watkinson  18pts. 2 wins
4th      Simon Bates         19pts. 1 win
5th       James Douglas.   23pts 2 wins
6th      Dave Williams     30pts
7th      Richard Walker    31pts
8th      Charles Legg         41pts
9th      Stan Metcalf          53pts
10th     John Beech            54pts

A dry day with varying wind strength from the Clubhouse end. The fifteen keen sailors opted to use the A+ rig even though it was near the limit. Peter donned the waders and moved the marks to give an even start and a decent beat & run. Racing was very close at the sharp end with four wins a piece for Peter and John C with Clive and Andrew taking one each. The strong gusts felt on the downwind leg caused most boats to bury bows and to pirouette, probably losing many places trying to regain control. Ten races were completed with the final being the usual two laps.

1. Peter Baldwin          11.4 pts 4 wins
2. John Carlin               16 pts 4 wins
3. James Douglas        26 pts
4. Andrew Peter          26.2 pts 1 win
5. Neil Westbrook      35.4 pts
6. Richard Walker       49 pts
7. Dave Williams         49.1 pts
8. Paul Little                 58.2 pts
9. Alan Watkinson     61.7 pts
10. Stan Metcalf            67.4 pts
11. Clive Warren            69.7 pts 1 win
12. Simon Bates             81 pts
13. Frans King                81.1 pts
14. Charles Legg            84 pts
15. John Beech                88 pts

Average scores had to be used due to five members not being able to be RO.

A slightly depleted entry of 9 DF65 sailors arrived to what seemed like an A+ rig day, despite forecasts for some much heftier wind strengths. Shortly before the first race it became clear that A rig would be the order of the day so a quick change was required.

John Carlin then started Race 1 on a course which turned out to be pretty much of a Starboard tack close fetch and a reach / beat / fetch back to the leeward gate. Flat spots and some powerful gusts caught almost everyone out at some point, resulting in quite a bit of contact, both bumper to bumper and doorhandle to doorhandle.

During race 1 Dave Williams’ winch failed and he very kindly stayed to RO the rest of the racing which was comfortably won by Alan Watkinson who dealt with the tricky conditions much better than the rest of the fleet.
Mike St Paer and Clive Warren followed, separated by only two points, and then by Andrew Potter and John Carlin who finished only one point apart.
Paul Little and Don Mackinnon also finished only one point apart, and John Beech and Frans King also finished within three points so racing was tight right across the fleet on a typically shifty gusty Gautby road day.

Final Positions were:
1. Alan Watkinson      10 pts 4 wins
2. Mike de St Paer      15 pts 3 wins
3. Clive Warren           17 pts 2 wins
4. Andrew Potter        29 pts
5. John Carlin              30.3 pts
6. Paul Little                35 pts
7. Don Mackinnon     36 pts
8. John Beech               52 pts
9. Frans King                55 pts