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Category: Fleets

DF65 Social Racing 2023 – 28/6/23

In an ideal world the wind blows consistently along the pond and the race officer can set a course with an unbiased start line, a satisfying beat to a windward mark, a reach down to a separator at which boats turn onto a downwind leg and sail happy to the leeward gate or mark. Today was not such a day. As we gathered at the pondside we scratched our heads trying to work out the wind direction, while the wind shifted around us, turning beats into runs and back again.

In the face of this wayward wind, it was decided to set a course starting at the clubhouse end, sailing to the far end and rounding the two furthest buoys to port before turning back to a mark at the clubhouse end and finishing halfway up the pond. After a few races the race officer, Dave Williams (who generously acted as RO throughout the racing) added a separator at the clubhouse end. Despite the fluky winds several boats managed consistent performance with Mike de St. Paer taking the honours, followed by Alan Watkinson. The full results after 8 races were:

  1. Mike de St. Paer                          10
  2. Alan Watkinson                           15
  3. Clive Warren                                 17
  4. Jon Whitehead                             21
  5. Andrew Peter                               30
  6. Neil Westbrook                            31
  7. John Carlin                                    32
  8. John Beech                                     47
  9. Paul Little                                       48
  10. Charles Legg                                  53
  11. Martin Whitingham-Jones     54
  12. Frans King                                      55
  13. Dave Warren                                  66
  14. Richard Walker                             83*

* Retired early owing to technical problems

DF/RG65 Summer 2023 #5 (24/6/23)

Six RG65s took part in an enjoyable and often closely fought afternoon of racing across eight two lap races that started at the clubhouse end, saw a beat up to a mark at the far end of the pond to be rounded to port, a nearby spreader also taken to port, and a run down to a single red at the clubhouse end to be taken to port. Owing to the wind direction it was decided to dispense with a downwind gate. For the most part, the course worked as planned but there were a couple races late on in which we found ourselves reaching up to the ‘upwind mark’ and reaching back to the ‘downwind mark’, with some very fluky winds in between. For most of the afternoon the sun shone and the breeze was strong enough to get the boats with their A swing rigs up to a good turn of speed without serious nosediving on the downwind legs. In the end, John Brierley was the runaway winner with Dave Williams to be congratulated on a well earned second place. The results in full are:

  1. John Brierley                    84  Uno                 6 Pts
  2. Dave Williams                  33  Uno               13 Pts
  3. Alan Watkinson               23  Uno               20 Pts
  4. John Carlin                          11  Uno              22 Pts (1 x second)
  5. Charles Legg                     26  Uno              22 Pts
  6. Neil Westbrook                03  Uno              31 Pts

DF65 Social Racing 2023 – 21/6/23

Another warm day with a gentle wind from the top of the lake. A welcome turnout of eventually 15 boats all using A+ rigs, Neil set the usual course but without the gate.

Clive took the first win pushed all the way by Alan. Then John Brierley, after his weekend success got into his stride taking the next two. Andrew Potter was unlucky to catch an under water obstacle, so donned the waders to initiate a search. He took the next two races. The wind then decided to play tricks by disappearing completely at times creating a very unpredictable course. As ten races had been held it was decided to call a halt.

Due to there being more competitors than races the average score system had to be put in place. As the scores show below there was some very close racing between several groups. Unfortunately Martin and Paul were not able to compete in all races hence the high scores.

  1. John Brierley                            12.6pts 4wins
  2. Clive Warren                            22.8pts 3wins
  3. Andrew Potter                         25.1pts 2wins
  4. Neil Westbrook                       29.4pts
  5. Alan Watkinson                     30pts
  6. John Carlin                               30.8pts 1win
  7. Andrew Peter                           45.7pts
  8. Richard Walker                       46.8pts
  9. Dave Williams                         51.4pts
  10. Charles Legg                            66.2pts
  11. John Beech                                73.5pts
  12. Frans King                                 83pts
  13. Malcolm Harvey                      85pts
  14. Martin Wittingham Jones   96pts
  15. Paul Little                                 107pts

IOM Summer 2023 #3 – 17/6/23

7 skippers, 5 sailing BritPOP!’s, 1 Widget and 1 Chimera, the new design from Craig Richards. The wind was a beautiful top suit breeze from Gautby Road although it did gust up in a few races that caused everyone to cope with the odd nosedive.
The course was near perfect for the conditions and the start line well placed. 7 races before break with Graham Elliott winning 5 of them, Martin Roberts and Alan Bennett winning the other two. 5 races after break with Graham winning 4 and Martin the other one.
Sailing was quite tough and boat control and picking the shifts was key, some very close sailing in most races and lots of gains and losses if you never went on the shift at exactly the right time. 6 out of the 7 skippers got a second place or above in at least one race out of the 12 completed which shows how close the fleet were.
Dave Williams started and finished us and called at least 2 general recalls, many thanks Dave.
Race winners, Graham Elliott 9 wins, Martin Roberts 2 wins, Alan Bennett 1 win, well sailed Alan with a great average.
Graham Elliott                  09  11 Pts
Alan Bennett                    130  25 Pts
Martin Roberts                 22  27 Pts
Bill Culshaw                       21  34 Pts
Neil Westbrook                03  47 Pts
Alan Watkinson               23  49 Pts
Garry Benson                   68  63 Pts

DF65 Social Racing 2023 – 14/6/23

Eleven sailors arrived on a glorious sunny day accompanied by a pleasant breeze. A+ the rig of the day. Mike put his boat on the water and quickly realised he had no control at times so took the boat out and volunteered to be RO. Martin having changed his winch from last week still had problems so he was also out for the morning and then there were nine.

After John C donned the waders and moved the start line racing commenced. Andrew started well and gained three wins in the first four races but then could not find a better position than third.

John C was having electrical problems so had to drop out of two races but the repair was satisfactory meaning he could move up to be with the leaders Alan and Neil, who finished with a point between them. Ten races were held with the usual two laps for the final race. Thanks again to Mike for being our RO and to John for moving the marks.

  1. Alan Watkinson       16pts 4 wins
  2. Neil Westbrook        17pts  1 win
  3. Andrew Potter          20pts 3 wins
  4. John Carlin                21pts  2 wins
  5. Clive Warren             29pts
  6. Charles Legg             49pts
  7. Dave Williams          51pts
  8. Frans King                 58pts
  9. Malcolm Harvey     60pts

DF/RG65 Summer Series 2023 #4 – 10/6/23

Today turned out to be one of the warmest days of the year on the Wirral, with final temperatures reaching 30C, but at least the Easterly breeze was still with us, with an average of probably 6-8 knots, but holes (2knots) and gusts of 12+ knots causing a few nose dives and boats out of control, especially in the last race.

Peter donned the waders and made a few tweaks to Wednesdays course, but in the end the wind was a lot straighter by the time we started and this resulted in a bit too much port bias on the line.  Peter and Martin slugged it out for overall honours with 5 wins each. However, the consistent Martin took the day in the Pocket Rocket with his swing rig further forward and the boat living up to the “Rocket” name.

There were strong performances at times during the day from John, Bill (Ivy) and Clive once he changed to a conventionally rigged Pocket Rocket following electrical problems.  A number of boats had gear and electrical failures during the day causing one or more lost races for 6 of the 8 boats.  Was it the warm day or just bad luck?

Line watching and results recording was done by the fleet for half the races, until John Carlin paid a visit and helped out in the middle session; so thanks John.

  1. Martin Roberts           133  Pocket Rocket    11pts
  2. Peter Baldwin               63  Uno                         14pts
  3. Bill Culshaw                   21  Ivy                           30pts
  4. Clive Warren      184/163  Scuttle/Pocket    33pts
  5. Dave Williams               33  Uno                         39pts
  6. John Brierley                 84  3D print proto    42pts
  7. Alan Watkinson           23   Uno                         43pts
  8. Charles Legg                 26   Uno                         48pts