Category: iom

There was only a very light breeze from over the houses today, with some occasional pressure, but also some holes.  A course was setup starting from the far end with a windward mark and spreader at the clubhouse end and a gate on the far side below the start.  Boats usually had to tack to make the Windward mark, but it was never too clear cut which was the favoured way there.

Graham Elliott set the initial pace with a win in Race 1, before Brad Gibson took races 2 and 3.  Martin Roberts then got the measure of the conditions and picked up races 4 and 5 before Neil Westbrook had a storming first leg, and along with Brad pulling out a big lead on the fleet. This culminated in a final leg tackle with Brad with Neil’s Widget getting the win over the TS2.

After a tea break (thanks Bernie), there seemed to be a little more pressure when we resumed, but hopes of a better breeze were dashed, with little more for the remaining races after that initial burst.  In the final four races Brad took races 7 and 10 with Martin picking up the wins in races 8 and 9.  There was some close competition through the fleet and some place changes possible if the wind filled in from the rear, although it usually seemed to favour those who were in front from the start.

The final podium places were Brad first with 13 pts, then Martin and Graham tied on 16 pts, with Martin picking up second on account of his four wins relative to Graham having only one.  Thanks once again go to Dave Williams for running the racing this week and taking a few photos of the, err action??

1. Brad Gibson            17  TS2                    13pts
2. Martin Roberts      55  Widget            16pts (4 wins)
3. Graham Elliott       70  Fractel             16pts (1 win)
4. Bill Culshaw            21   Britpop!          30pts
5. Peter Baldwin        63  Britpop!           37 pts
6. Neil Westbrook      03  Widget            42 pts
7. John Berry               123  Lintel MMX 52 pts
8. Alan Watkinson      23  Britpop!         56 pts

The expected gales for the North West seemed to miss Gautby Road. The little wind that did appear was not consistent, initially from over the houses then veering from the clubhouse end. A course was eventually set and racing started with the 10 competing sailors on their best behaviour on the start line with very few call backs.

1. The wind was very difficult to predict especially approaching the finish line where a few expected winners lost out. 10 races were held with the final race reduced to one lap due to failing light and the disappearance of the wind totally. The racing was very close with only one point between 1st and 2nd and two sets of tied points. 5 different makes of boat were sailed.  Many thanks to Dave Williams for running the racing today.

1. Brad Gibson         17  TS2            14 pts 4 wins
2. Paul Allen             27  Britpop!  15 pts. 4 wins
3. Martin Roberts  55  Widget     22 pts 1 win, 3 x 2nds
4. John Brierley       84  Britpop!  22 pts 1 win, 2 x 2nds
5. Bill Culshaw         21  Britpop!  44 pts 1 x 3rd 1 x 4th 2 x 5th
6. Neil Westbrook   03 widget     44 pts 1 x 3rd 1 x 4th 1 x 5th
7. Alan Bennett       130  Britpop! 48 pts
8. Alan Watkinson  23  Britpop!  49 pts
9. John Berry            123  Lintel      56 pts
10. Charles Legg          25 Kantun 2 75 pts

Sailors arriving for the second IOM Winter Series were disappointed to find little breeze blowing and the only ripples were from the flock of Canadian Geese patrolling the lake.  However the first race started with a very light breeze generally from the NE (and so almost across the lake) but with some large shifts that could see it come from the East or North during any race.  Two boats missed the start and one pulled out early on leaving only seven to fight it out for line honours which went to Brad Gibson sailing a borrowed TS2. Race 2 again started with only 7 boats and this time it was John Brierley’s turn to take the win, which he then repeated in Race 3.  Brad then had another win in Race 4, with Martin Roberts finally getting into a groove, winning Races 5 and 6 before a break for a drink. 

After the break, Paul Allen took his first win in Race 7 and then Graham Elliott won the eighth and final race in very light winds.  As there was very little breeze, the fleet unanimously agreed to call it a day and have an early finish.  This left John  as a clear winner, with Brad in second and a consistent Alan Bennett in third.

Thanks must go to Dave Williams for running the racing today (plus taking a few photos of the “action”) and for Bernie who helped out Dave and made everyone warm drinks.

1. John Brierley            84  Britpop!   10pts
2. Brad Gibson              71   TS2             17pts
3. Alan Bennett           130  Britpop!   20pts
4. Graham Elliott         70   Fraktal    26pts  1xwin
5. Peter Baldwin           63   Britpop!  26pts
6. Alan Watkinson       23   Britpop!   28pts
7. Paul Allen                   27   Britpop!   31pts
8. Martin Roberts         22   Vanilla 2 35pts
9. John Berry                   12   Viper        40pts
10. Charles Legg              25   K2             48pts

Seven sailors arrived on time for the first of the Winter series, but unfortunately Bill had battery troubles which delayed the start but even so our RO Dave Williams managed to run 12 races. With light winds from the clubhouse end six races were held before a welcome tea break thanks to Bernie in the galley.

During the first race after tea the wind freshened and turned 180 degrees with the start now from the clubhouse. Martin had boat troubles and switched to a Britpop, John Brierley had to leave early and passed control to John Carlin who managed some good results. Some very close finishes made the sailing interesting. A welcome return to the club from David Burke saw him soon back in the groove managing second overall. Thanks to Dave Williams for being our RO and Bernie for making the very welcome brews at “half=time”.

1. Martin Roberts     Widget/Britpop!  27pts 4 wins
2. David Burke            Britpop!                  31pts 1 win
3. Alan Watkinson     Britpop!                  34pts 2 wins, 2 x 2seconds
4. John Brierley/Carlin Britpop!             34pts 2 wins
5. Alan Bennett           Viper                         36pts
6. Bill Culshaw             Britpop!                  39pts 3 wins
7. John Berry                Viper                         46pts

12 skippers entered for this years Strebor trophy and what a days racing it was.

The sun shone and the wind was mid A rig from mainly the WNW  with plenty of gusts and shifts for the skippers to contend with. After our PRO for the day, Dave Williams, had set the marks we started at 10:30 which proved to be a popular start time for most.

The racing was tough to say the least, with plenty of movement up or down the fleet for anyone who read or misread the shifts.

By lunchtime, 3 skippers had stamped their authority on the race, but by no means having it all there own way- and they were often joined by the chasing bunch, the racing was that close. It was obvious that we were going to sail quite a few races on the day and consistency would be the key factor to win the day. Quite a few general recalls and individual recalls were called by Dave Williams and his keen eye and indeed he did a great job of keeping sailing ticking over at a good pace and managed to get 18 races in for the event, when we stopped after the last race which started at 3:25.

In the end it was Rob Walsh sailing his BritPOP! who took the trophy for his maiden victory at this event on 28 points and that included 7 race wins, following Rob was Graham Elliott on 30 points with 5 race wins and rounding off the podium and a welcome return after his Summer of dinghy sailing was Paul Allen on 31 points including 6 race wins.

This was probably one of the best days sailing we have had at the club for some time, the racing was hard but fair, with plenty of skippers ducking a stern or two even at the windward mark and not one raised voice was heard all day. After sailing 7 of us decided we had earnt a pint or two so off to the Caernarvon Castle for a little more banter.

Many thanks to Dave Williams for running the day (along with several different helpers) and Jack for supplying the refreshments.

Results

1. Rob Walsh           25  Britpop!   Fleetwood      28pts
2. Graham Elliott  09  Britpop!   Birkenhead    30pts
3. Paul Allen            27  Britpop!   Birkenhead     31pts
4. Martin Roberts  22  Vanilla     Birkenhead     72pts
5. Peter Baldwin     63  Britpop!  Birkenhead     73pts
6. Bill Culshaw         21  Britpop!   Birkenhead    76pts
7. Alan Bennett        33  Viper         Etherow          86pts
8. Chuck Millican   121  Britpop!  Birkenhead  102pts
9. Alan Watkinson  23  Britpop!   Birkenhead  120pts
10. John Berry             12  Viper         Etherow        129pts
11. Andrew Peter       66  V9             Birkenhead  145pts
12. Ken Jones              20  Pitprop    Etherow        153pts