Birkenhead Radio Sailing & Power Club
I have now uploaded all of the photos from the 2025 Xmas Open to the Birkenhead Flikr Album. This is available though the gallery menu or this link
This includes all of the prizegiving photos, a few from Paul Plested and then a substantial number courtesy of Stuart Mearns – Enjoy.
This years IOM Xmas Open attracted a decent fleet of 18 sailors including 4 of the GBR Team for the 2026 IOM Worlds, so it was always going to be a difficult day to get a good result.
The forecast was for a SSE backing to S around mid-day. This theoretically might give us a breeze diagonal across the lake, but we were fortunate that the breeze was nearly straight down the lake from the Clubhouse with a strength that was low to middle of Top suit.
After a short briefing by Peter Baldwin standing in for the Sailing Sec, we got started on time at 10:15 and completed five races before a short drinls break. This first session was doominated by Brad Gibson (first in every race) and Graham Elliott, who took second in the first three and then a third in Race 5, with Darin Ballington picking up a couple of thirds, Josh King two seconds in races 4 and 5, with Peter Baldwin and John Brierley a third each. There was some close racing throughout the fleet, with errors in the middle bunch being penalised by plenty of lost places it was so tight.
John Tushingham had an unfortunate early bath after gear failure before the start of Race 3 and Robbie Mac lost three races in this early session with gear problems.
In the second session a further four races were completed and it was now Graham’s turn to give a better performance with three win’s to Brad’s single win. The podium spots were once again filled by similar names as in the first session, with Josh, Darin, Martin and Peter all picking up at least one decent score. However, by the time we stopped for lunch, the breeze had dropped and also backed, so that it was more over the houses and a little more of a lottery as to who might get the breeze along the race course.
Lunch taken, we sailed an additional seven races, but with only 17 starting as John Brierley also had un-fixable gear failure ending his day. Starts were interesting as we could be fetching, reaching or running off the line. Surpisingly considering the conditions, very few General recalls were called and only an occasional single OCS by someone who was well proud and visible to the Start Line Judge.
Unsurprisingly, the same names figured as race winners, with Brad taking four more and then the remainder in the hands of Josh, Graham and for the final race Paul Middleton. Most of the same names as before figured in the remaining podium spots, with the addition of John Smith taking a well deserved second in Race 15.
Overall a decent days racing with some close competition and some tricky close finishes to call for our Line Judge in training. Not surpringly, Brad Gibson took the day, with Graham Elliott in second and Josh King in third.
Brad thanked the Race Team (Dave Williams, Steve Miller and Judith Baldwin) and Joss Watkinson who did a sterling job in the galley, keeping everyone supplied with hot drinks and tasty snacks. More photos to follow in the Gallery tomorrow. There will be an additional post to provide the link.
A lovely bright start to sailing today, although the South West wind blowing right over the houses provided a somewhat lucky dip element to the days sailing. One of the clubhouse end start marks remains missing despite a pre-sailing search party, but the remaining start mark and the nearer gate mark provided a good start line, and it was agreed to use the finish mark as a windward mark providing a good – if very unpredictable – beat. The first few races then used the rest of the usual course, but as races were proving quite lengthy it was agreed to use a shortened course using the finish mark, outer start mark and gate.
Racing got away promptly from the clubhouse end with the line working OK. It was really very shifty (Neil would say people kept opening and closing doors in the next road) and it was somewhat of a lucky dip where to start. The first beat to round the finishing mark was also very tricky with different tactics working for different races.
Overall it seemed to pay to start on Starboard at the outer end and then sail until headed closer to the windward bank, but there were plenty of exceptions meaning there were five different winners during the mornings eight races. Almost everyone had at least one good result during the morning with Mike managing to stay clear overall.
Thanks to Commodore Dave for keeping things moving, taking pictures and doing the results which are shown below. A really pleasant day to be outside followed by an excellent Christmas meal very well organised by Malcolm – many thanks again
The lake didn’t look very inviting for sailing as the 12 skippers arrived for the first of the DF95 series of races including Brian Crosse from Great Orme and David Worron from Gresford. On a positive note the overnight rain had disappeared, but then grey skies remained and the promised wind had not materialised leaving a glassy look on the lake with only the odd zephyr managing to pass through.
Guy Cowper had problems with his FlySky transmitter and it took Dave Howard to sort it, (for those interested it turns out you can not bind on channel 2 if channel 1 is empty). Apart from this the pre race antics where trouble free. Neil Westbrook, was our RO for then day ably assisted by Dave Howard. By the time racing got underway on time at 12-00 there was just enough wind to note which direction it was generally coming from enabling a standard course to set, starting at the clubhouse end a spreader mark at the far end, and a gate at the leeward, a short beat back to the finish line halfway up the lake. Due to the lake of ‘real’ wind a single lap was set.
The start line looked like it had a port bias to it, but in reality there was a trade of between starting at the committee end and chancing your luck with the wind, or at the pin end where the wind was more reliable. Whichever position the skippers chose it resulted in a long port tack, then trying to navigate the best approach to the windward mark where many a place was lost and gained. The short beat back to the finish from the leeward gate was also a tricky win or lose leg, meaning the places were not secure until you’d crossed the line.
Unfortunately Martin R was a late arrival and missed the first 2 races. Racing was very tight, right from the outset, but John Brierley showed his class in the first race shooting out from the middle of the pack on the first beat, taking the win with Guy and Alan following him home. Race 2 and it was commodore Dave sneaking home first passing Clive and John B on the final beat. Race 3 and Martin joined in and showed his class straight away taking what was the start of 4 second places in a row but couldn’t topple John B from taking his 2nd win and the start of a run of 4 bullets. The minor places were keenly fought with Clive being very consistent having a run of 3 thirds and Brian C taking 1. The final 4 races were business as usual for our top 2 helms taking 2 wins each, but dropping out of podium positions when not winning, second places went Guy with 2 and Clive with 1 and final podium positions being filled by Dave W, Guy and John Beech
Special mentions go to Dave W for his win in race 2, John Beech who led convincingly at the first mark only to be pegged back, and Steve Miller who was in 3rd place in one race coming through the gate mark.
All in all, an enjoyable if not frustrating at times where everyone was close to the lead at some stage, but as always the cream always seems to float towards the top, Well done John B and Martin.
Thanks again to our ROs for the day and to Dave Howard for the photos.
Another crisp start today at Gautby road, but sunny and very happily nice and dry. The wind direction was South Easterly or South S. Easterly, but varied during the morning going slightly right mid-morning and then back again towards the end of the racing.
Good turnout of 8 skippers despite one or two regulars missing, and really close racing with everyone putting in some good results over the 8 races. The close racing also resulted in a number of close encounters of the boat to boat kind with the resulting turns affecting results. There were also a couple of proper entanglements with John being particularly unlucky to be collected while clearly leading a race.
As there were only 8 skippers it was agreed that race winners would record the results, while starts were “self-monitored”. Perhaps because of this the fleet wasn’t at all line shy, and although the starts were in fact pretty fair a dedicated RO might have called a few generals during the morning.
There were three winners during the morning with John starting where he left off last week with a clear win. Mike then managed three bullets and James then put in a couple. As always the start was critical and starting from the favoured pin end and getting the bow down on starboard worked for the first four or five races, but then – as mentioned – the gusts started to pull right, and it payed to start further up the line towards the committee end. James also made a couple of early port tacks pay to pick up a starboard lift along the club side of the lake.
The approach to the windward mark remained tricky, with some really flat patches in some races and the run had some very slow areas as well. Despite doing his share of turns during the morning Mike held on to win from James who had to miss the last race due to time pressure. .
The usual thanks to Commodore Dave for keeping things moving as well as finding time for a few photos and to Malcolm for doing the results which are shown below.
7 skippers wrapped up well to combat the bitterly cold wind with sunny intervals. Much like the morning, the wind was predominantly blowing from the south, blowing from the club house corner of the lake. A similar course to the morning was used with the usual windward mark, spreader and gate, and finishing half way up the lake. The breeze was perfect for ‘A Rigs’. With only 7 boats the starts were self monitored, and first to finish recorded the results. 19 races were sailed providing 2 discards.
It was good to see John Carlin on the start line for the first time in a while and from the start showed the way for the rest of the skippers to follow. The start line looked to have a heavy port bias but this was not necessarily the case, with some skippers starting on starboard and tacking early onto port whilst others held the starboard start as far as possible up the lake before tacking. In the end it didn’t seem to matter with both options proving successful in different races, typical Gautby Rd unpredictability. It was much more about which shift to tack on and which ones might leave you headed going nowhere. This was never more in evidence than when approaching the windward mark where the wind was at its trickiest. The downwind wasn’t as much of a test with not many places being exchanged. The final beat from the gate to the line was a conundrum, port gate or starboard gate was the question the helms had to answer, there wasn’t an easy answer and many places were lost or gained on the final leg.
John C was off to a flyer with 3 straight wins, although Clive did push him right to the line in the first 2 races before Andy took over and pushed him in the 3rd. Further down the battle was just as competitive between Malcolm, Steve, Stuart and John B with positions being swapped throughout the race.
Race 4 and Andy went one better taking the win from Clive with John C 3rd.
Race 5 and it was business as usual for John C taking the first, of 4 straight wins, whilst Malcolm took a 2nd place and Steve the 3rd.
Race 6, Clive followed John C to take the 2nd spot and it was John Bs turn to take the final podium spot. Unfortunately we lost Andy for the rest of the day with technical failure. Races 7, 8 and 9, saw John C taking the last of his run of wins with Clive taking the win in the final race, with Malcolm taking a 2nd and John B and Steve picking up a 3rd place each.
This all made the lower positions very close. There was no doubt about the winner and congratulations go to John C for a solid set of results
Thanks to Clive and Andy for the photos
Results
Plenty of layers were required today and caution on the icy footpath. An A+ rig was selected for the light wind conditions.
Starting looked quite straight forward with a strong port end bias on the start line however this didn’t always prove successful with the dying wind on the far side of the course and slowly moving round as the morning progressed. There were a few start line collisions and the usual merry quips exchanged!! Gaining a good start however, wasn’t necessarily a guarantee to be in the leading pack at the windward mark.
There was plenty of potential for errors to be made up the beat as shifts were missed or the wind didn’t behave as it should (or expected)! The port side paid off for the first few races but gains would be made to starboard as the wind slowly moved round to the South.
The downwind leg seemed easier to stay ahead with few place changes and little congestion at the leeward gate with the near mark paying consistently. However, places continued to change on the final approach to the finish line. Competition was tight throughout the fleet with Mike and John tussling for 1st place with a tight following pack of Alan, James & Clive.
6 skippers turned out in the afternoon for the 95 social sailing. The afternoon was much like the morning with what felt like a bitterly cold Sourtherly blowing from the club house corner of the lake. A similar course to the morning was used with the usual windward mark, spreader and gate, and finishing half way up the lake. The breeze was perfect for ‘A Rigs’. With only 6 boats the starts were self monitored, and first to finish recorded the results. 10 races were sailed providing 2 discards.
From the start the skippers were almost split into 2 groups with Alan, Paul, Guy, and Clive in the leading pack with Steve, Stuart and Andy in the second pack. Conditions by Gautby Rd standards weren’t too tricky, however there were places to be gained especially when approaching the windward mark and on the final beat from the gate to the finish line. This lead to some very tight racing within the 2 groups with some close finishes and private duals and the skippers had to keep concentrating.
The first 3 races saw 3 different winners with Clive, Alan and Guy taking 1 each and in the second group it was just as competitive with each of the 3 skippers also sharing the remaining position.
Race 4 and Clive picked up the pace with his 2nd win which turned out to be the start of an impressive run of 5 bullets. Clive had also been busy tweaking Andy’s boat which seemed to pay dividends with him taking the second place in race 5 and would move him up to battle it out with the front pack for the rest of the day.
Races 6, 7 and 8 and Alan was finding consistency and a bit more boat speed taking 3 seconds behind Clive, with Guy and Andy duelling it out for the other podium spot. Further down the fleet Steve and Stuart were having their own private battle and it was all to play for.
Races 9 and 10, and with the predicted rain starting to fall it was Alans turn to fire 2 straight bullets, with Andy and Clive sharing the other podium spoils. The at the bottom of the fleet could not have been closer with both Stuart and Steve tied on the same points with the final race to sail!!
In summary, a cold, but very enjoyable afternoon with extremely close racing throughout the small fleet, with very some good individual battles.
