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Category: iom

IOM Summer Series 2022 #7 (13/8/22)

It was already hot when sailors started to arrive this week, the clear sun in a blue sky and temperature approaching 30C, but at least there was a light, middle of top suit breeze blowing down the lake from the clubhouse.  After the marks were moved around a little, sailing for the 7 particpants got underway soon after 1pm under the watchful eye of Dave Williams as RO.

Race 1 belonged to Alan Bennett (Viper) who started well and had a good lead at the first mark and was never challenged throughout, leaving the rest to a close fight for the other positions.  Peter Baldwin (Britpop!) then managed to take the next 4 race wins, before Alan took the win in Race 6 and a short break for a drink and snack. Martin Roberts (Vanilla) must have been well refreshed as he took Races 7, 10 and 11 after the break, with Peter picking up three more in Races 8, 9 and 12.  The top part of the fleet was always very close though with gains (and losses) to be made right up to the finish, in the shifty and patchy wind.

The breeze held as an ESE up until Race 10, when it became more light and patchy with some movement Northerly and be across the lake.  By the start of Race 11, the breeze had switched to be WNW (probably a late sea breeze) and that race ended up as a running start and a windward gate as the course was totally inverted.  For the final race the course was switched round and the first leg was once again a beat.

Peter took the day with his 7 wins, with Martin second and Alan close behind in third.  Thanks once again to Dave for getting the 12 races in at a steady  pace and Jack for manning the galley and keeping us refreshed – a very important role on such a hot day.

  1. Peter Baldwin            Britpop!   63   14pts
  2. Martin Roberts          Vanilla      22   21pts
  3. Alan Bennett               Viper         33   22pts
  4. John Berry                    Viper         12   32pts
  5. Charles Legg                K2              25   52pts
  6. Ken Jones                       Pitprop   71   60pts
  7. Alan Watkinson          Britpop!  23   66ptsNext week it is back to the DF and RG65 for Saturday racing.

IOM Summer 2022 #6 (23/7/22)

This week we had 10 sailors for IOM racing including our American visitor Chuck Millican and also anew to Birkenhead visitor from Etherow – Alan Bennett.  There was a good top suit breeze from the Clubhouse end which had some decent shifts (and short flicks) which tested the patience of most sailors.  Martin Roberts (Vanilla 2) started well, picking up wins in 4 of the first 6 races before the break for a late lunch, with Peter Baldwin (Britpop!) taking the other 2.  There was some close racing though throughout the fleet with good results from newcomer Alan Bennett (Viper), Bill Culshaw (Britpop!) and Chuck Millican (Britpop!).

After the break, Martin resumed with a win in Race 7, Chuck then picked up Race 8, Peter took Race 9, Martin Races 10 and 12 and Bill Race 11.  Alan Bennett was once again on the podium in a few races, John Berry also stepped up a gear in this second session and had two seconds in the later races (had Jack added something to his tea?)

Overall a great afternoons close racing for the whole fleet with 12 races completed.  Thanks must go to Dave Williams for running the racing and keeping us all under control and taking a few photos at the same time.  There were a number of OCS calls and general recalls leading to the RO suggesting that we wait until the go before pulling the trigger rather than at 1 second.  In addition, thanks to Jack for making the drinks once again.

Finally, it was good to say hello to Bernie at the Lake today, having not seen him for a while.  Hopefully we will see more of him on future Saturday afternoons.

  1. Martin Roberts         Vanilla 2          22    19pts (7 wins)
  2. Peter Baldwin           Britpop     !      63    22pts (3 wins)
  3. Bill Culshaw               Britpop!           21    26pts (1 win)
  4. Alan Bennett              Viper                 33    36pts
  5. Chuck Millican          Britpop!  BER 21    44pts
  6. Andrew Peter             V9                       66   60pts
  7. John Berry                  Viper                  12     62pts
  8. Alan Watkinson       Britpop!             23    68pts (1×4)
  9. Neil Westbrook        Widget               03    68pts
  10. Charles Legg              Kantun 2           25   85pts

IOM Summer Series 2022 #5 (2/7/22)

After the overnight showers had cleared, a good breeze towards the top end of A Rig from the far end greeted the 5 sailors for this weeks IOM racing, along with some sunny periods for good measure.

John Brierley (Britpop!) won the first three races in quick succession and after the first start was abandoned with first Bill then Peter caught up together in fishing line.  They had to be extracted by our RO Dave Williams who then spent a while untangling the many metres of line strung between and around the mark warps.

Peter Baldwin (Britpop!) then took races 4 & 6 and Bill Culshaw (Britpop!) took his first win in race 5, before a tea break.  There was close racing all afternoon but especially after the break with both Neil Westbrook (Widget) and the Kantun 2 of Charles Legg (after a few changes to rig settings),  being well in the mix or even ahead at the first mark.  Unfortunately, they were unable to hold onto any advantage and the wins were again shared between Bill, John and Peter.  A great afternoons sailing with a good pace set by the RO so that we completed 12 races in good time even after a slow start.  John took the overall win with Peter 2nd just a single point behind and Bill a further 4 points back in third.

Many thanks to our photographer,  RO and course setter Dave Williams and Jack for making a brew all afternoon.

  1. John Brierley      Britpop!   84  16pts (5 wins)
  2. Peter Baldwin     Britpop!  63   17pts (5 wins)
  3. Bill Culshaw        Britpop!   21    21pts (2 wins)
  4. Neil Westbrook  Widget     03    37pts
  5. Charles Legg       K2              25    45pts

IOM Summer 2022 #4 (18/6/22)

With a 10 degree swing in temperature from Friday it was time to put a second layer of clothing on for the 6 competitors today. The wind was from the top end of the lake straight down the middle and middle of top suit.
Unfortunately John Brierley had been partying with his family the night before to celebrate his Birthday and when he turned up and plugged in the winch did not respond so he stayed and helped out instead of sailing.
Peter Baldwin, sailing his new BritPOP! for the first time was quick out of the blocks and scored a Turkey of wins, strangely enough he also did this in races 8-10 to take his total to 6 wins on the day. Placings swapped about quickly on the water due to some nice shifts and the whole fleet was very compact in nearly all 12 races. Other race winners were Martin Roberts with 3 wins sailing his newly developed Vanilla design and Graham Elliott sailing a chartered Vickers V9 with 3 wins.
The results reflect how close the racing was today with only 9 points separating the top 4 boats.
  1. Peter Baldwin               63    Britpop !  18 pts 6 wins
  2. Martin Roberts             22    Vanilla     23 pts 3 wins
  3. Graham Elliott              66    V9             25 pts 3 wins
  4. Bill Culshaw                  121    Britpop!  27 pts
  5. Neil Westbrook             03    Widget     48 pts

Many thanks to Dave Williams for starting, finishing and scoring and Jack for making the tea.

 

IOM Summer Series 2022 #3 (21/5/22)

Due to a series of unfortunate events  3 off the original 6 made it to the start line.  A rig down the middle, with a funny turn around tea break.
All had their moment in the sun.
Thanks to Bernie, Dave and a mug of tea from Jack
  1. Martin Roberts         22    vanilla      10 pts     6  wins
  2. Bill Culshaw               21    britpop     15 pts     2 wins
  3. Alan Watkinson        23    britpop     19 pts     2 wins

The series figures have now been updated here which show Martin currently with a commanding lead.

 

IOM Summer Series #2 (23/4/22)

Well, Charles was right, it was indeed a 2nd suit wind, having arrived earlier than most Charles rigged his boat with 2nd suit but everyone else opted for top suit so Charles followed suit and changed up. The wind was trying to come from Gautby Road but it was all about the strength of the gusts that could come from anywhere from Gautby Road to the factories.
After the first race and not one boat managing to survive the gusts we took a fleet decision to all change down to 2nd suit, our PRO for the day, Dave Williams gave us 15 minutes to do so and this was indeed just enough time.
The racing at the front of the fleet was nip and tuck for the first 3 races with Darin, Martin and Graham swapping places but after race 4 it was Graham that began to make to make his move, winning races 4 and 5 with Darin slipping out of the top 3 for these 2 races.
7 races before a short break and a cup of tea supplied by the ever present Jack and back out on the water for race 8. Andrea had now blown the cobwebs off and getting to grips with her chartered BritPOP! and her results showed this with podium finishes in all but one race in races 5 through to 10.
A challenging and thoroughly enjoyable afternoons racing with 12 races completed and many thanks to Dave Williams for starting and finishing us (and taking a couple of photos), Jack for making the tea (great tea maker but at 92yrs old he has had plenty of practice) and Martin who put the waders on to move a few buoys and give us a great start line.
Good luck to all Birkenhead skippers that make the journey up to Loch Winnoch for next weekends IOM National Championships.
!st      Graham Elliott        13points            BritPOP!         7 race wins
2nd     Darin Ballington    22points           BritPOP!         3 race wins
3rd      Martin Roberts      24points            Vanilla             2 race wins
4th      Andrea Roberts     39points            BritPOP!
5th      Alan Watkinson    49points            BritPOP!
6th      Graham Birkett     51points            Widget
7th      Charles Legg           75points            K2