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Category: iom

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

IOM Summer Series 2022 #1 (9/4/22)

A lovely shifting, gusting wind from the North West, sun out all afternoon and 11 competitors including 1 visitor in Darin Ballington.
After a midday club committee meeting, we commenced sailing at 1pm with the wind strength staying consistent ly throughout the afternoon, right at the top end of ‘A’ rig with a few nose dives thrown in during the stronger gusts.
7 races completed before a 20 minute break and 5 afterwards giving us a total of 12 and therefore 2 discards. Positions changed continuously in every race due to the wind shifts but in the end it was Brad Gibson sailing Victoria’s BritPOP! that ran out the winner with Darin Ballington just 2 points behind and Martin Roberts in 3rd sailing his Vanilla design.
It was great to see 11 IOM’s sailing a club race again, many taking the opportunity to blow the dust off before the Nationals in a few weeks.
Race winners today were, Brad Gibson (5), Darin Ballington (4) and Graham Elliott (3).
Many thanks to Peter for setting the course, Jack for manning the canteen with Dave and Bernie starting and finishing us (with a little help from Jack).
Brad Gibson                62      Britpop!           20pts   5 wins
Darren Ballington    98      Britpop!           22pts  4 wins
Martin Roberts          22       Vanilla             30pts
Graham Elliott           09      Britpop!           31pts   3 wins
Bill Culshaw                21       Britpop!           51pts   3 x 3rds
John Brierley              84      Britpop!           51pts   1 x 3rds
Andrea Roberts         27       Britpop!          54pts
Peter Baldwin            63       Lintel mmx   66pts
Graham Birkett       133       Widget             79pts
Paul Stubbs                 91       Widget             87pts
Charles Legg               25      Kantun2          98pts