A total of 28 boats made it to Ranking #3 on Saturday. With only two heats and 6 promotion many sailors spent the day oscillating between Heats A and B and when they weren’t sailing had an observer duty to fit in as well. The breeze built during the day and there was plenty of rig changing between A and B suits, which was not the forecast at all. Along with a heavy rain shower for a short while, everyone had some difficulties in getting into a groove.
Unfortunately with rig and course changes required for Race 9A, followed by a General Recall, this Race (and consequently Race 9B) had to be abandoned due to lack of time to complete by the final cut-off time.
By the end Rob Walsh took the day with Tony Edwards in second and Peter Stollery in third. The top places were very closely contested as the results below show.
A few photos from Saturday by Andrew Peter are here in the Gallery.
Photos from Jon Cooper (a local freelance photographer) on Saturday and Sunday are here in the Gallery. If you would like to have a print of any photo taken by Jon, then head to his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066514788823
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.
Next week it is back to the DF and RG65 for Saturday racing.
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?)
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.
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.
