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Category: iom

IOM 2017/18 Winter Series #5 (10/02/18) – Results

What the forecast said and what we got were miles apart, a decent 5mph wind from the NW-N-NE was what settled in by the 1pm, on the dot, start, not the 15mph Easterly that was expected.

Another good turn out of 12 boats,  with Martin, Graham, John and Dave all hoping to take full advantage of the fact that series leader Paul Allen was busy eating escargot and sipping the finest Moet in Paris for Jude’s 40th, must have been a difficult decision for the lad to take.

Sailing was challenging all afternoon with the starboard shifts coming as often as Martin buys a round, so when one was sniffed out, it had to be taken.

Graham and Martin, both sailing their Widgets, traded blows for 8 of the 9 races completed, the other was a TKO as Martin forgot to switch the boat on before launching, lessons to be learnt even after 40 years of radio sailing at the top. The sailing was very close at times as the shifts and gusts compressed the fleet in many races and nothing was to be taken for granted as Dave Williams found out in race 6, rounding the final mark 5 lengths clear after leading the entire race he was cruelly left in 4th position at the finish, as Dave does, a smile and a shrug, most would of resorted to gutter mutterings and kicking the coffee table, not Dave though.

Of the 9 races completed there were race wins for 4 skippers, Emelio, Dave Potter, Martin and Graham. Bill also showed a bit of the old spark in races 4 and 9 with two solid second places that left him just off the podium in 4th as it was Graham, Martin and Dave Potter that took the top three positions for the day and turning the temperature up to gas mark 9 for Paul and the final 2 races of the series.

Thanks again must go to Jack, Bernie and Joyce, without you, we couldn’t go racing.

  1. Graham Elliott 9 Pts
  2. Martin Roberts 17
  3. Dave Potter 23
  4. Bill Culshaw 27
  5. John Brierley 31
  6. Emilio Gonzalez 36
  7. Neil Westbrook 39
  8. Alan Watkinson 47
  9. Dave Williams 56
  10. Gary Benson 58
  11. Chris Chatfield 64
  12. Sally Collings 72

9 races sailed.

IOM 2017/18 Winter Series #4 (27/01/18)

Another fantastic turn out for round 4 of the Birkenhead Winter Series. A number of guests joined us today, including Mick Cooper from the Lincoln club sailing his TNT, Gary Benson from Fleetwood sailing his Arrival and Chris Chatfield  sailing his flat deck Widget to a high standard, definitely one to be watched when he takes possession of his new Fraktel. Once again, Martin, Graham and Mike chose to sail their Widgets on the day.

The wind was extremely challenging for most of the day with the first 4 races resulting in big gains and even bigger loses to be had, indeed, Dave Potter, Graham Elliott and Mike Allen all fell foul of this early on but it was Martin Roberts and Paul Allen sailing the most consistently to take the lead into the break.

After tea, the wind straightened significantly and we had a first race win by returning skipper and dinghy expert Mike Allen sailing grey 9 BritPOP! There was also some consistent sailing from John Brierley and the unlucky Emilio who was quite cruelly taken out by most of the fleet whilst rounding the final mark in 2nd position in one race.

The day belonged to Paul and Martin who both sailed extremely well in tricky conditions.

Yet again, thanks to Bernie and Jack for running the race and also John for wearing the waders to set the buoys, much appreciated.

  1. Paul Allen 13 Pts (Countback to 4th places)
  2. Martin Roberts 13
  3. Graham Elliott 23 (One 1st)
  4. John Brierley 23
  5. Derek Priestley 24
  6. Dave Potter 29
  7. Mike Allen 35
  8. Mike Parkington 46
  9. Bill Culshaw 54
  10. Dave Williams 56
  11. Peter Baldwin 58
  12. Neil Westbrook 61
  13. Emilio Gonzalez 66
  14. Roger Lincoln 71
  15. Andrew Peter 75
  16. Alan Watkinson 78
  17. Gary Benson 89 (One 9th)
  18. Mick Cooper 89
  19. Chris Chatfield 92
  20. Sally Collings 94
  21. Colin Deakin 105
  22. Sue Parkington 106

No racing at Birkenhead next weekend, but IOM sailors can venture to an open meeting at Doncaster on 4th February and the Dragonflite/Dragonforce TT is at West Lancs for Saturday and Sunday.

 

IOM 2017/18 Winter Series #3

Another great turn out for the 3rd race in the Winter series. Obviously a few skippers getting some early practice in for the upcoming European Championships being held in Croatia in April.

The wind was a medium to heavy top suit strength straight down the lake from the club house end.

The first race was a two boat match race at the front between  Rob Walsh and Paul Allen with Rob just getting his nose ahead by the finish, this was the first of many wins for Rob who took all but one race.

The day saw quite a few skippers tasting the front of the fleet at some time, Bill sailing his newly launched boat eventually ironed out some problems with his trim and put some solid results in. Martin, Graham and Mike all chose to sail their Widgets and all sailed well to register some very good scores. There were also impressive races by Alan and Sally who threatened the top 3 in a few races. Dave’s very impressive looking new boat from the Dave Creed workshop showed good speed in quite a few races.

Many thanks to Jack and Bernie on the start and finish line and also Joyce for the welcome cup of hot tea at the break.

  1. Rob Walsh 7 Pts
  2. Graham Elliott 17
  3. Paul Allen 22
  4. Martin Roberts 30
  5. Dave Potter 33
  6. John Brierley 36
  7. Emilio Gonzalez 43
  8. Bill Culshaw 49
  9. Mike Parkington 56
  10. Alan Watkinson 57
  11. Sue Parkington 76
  12. Gary Benson 81
  13. Andrew Peter 86
  14. Neil Westbrook 87
  15. Colin Deakin 92
  16. Chris Chatfield 93
  17. Dave Williams 105
  18. Sally Collings 115

9 races sailed.

IOM 2017 Winter Series #1

14 competitors turned up for the first race of the winter series, including visitors from Scotland and Fleetwood, and were greeted with a good breeze straight down the lake, testing the limits of the number 1 rigs.

Unfortunately, 2 suffered gear failures even before the start so we only had 12 starters.

Nine races were held with the last completed in fading wind and light!

  1. Dave Potter 8 Pts
  2. John Brierley 14
  3. Graham Elliott 19
  4. Martin Roberts 20
  5. Mike Parkington 33
  6. Bill Lees 51
  7. Andrew Peter 52
  8. Chris Chatfield 58
  9. Gordon Rae 61 (One 5th)
  10. Dave Williams 61 (No 5ths)
  11. Sally Collings 62
  12. Sue Parkington 64