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DF/RG65 Summer 2024 #6 – 17/8/24

Once again we were treated to a decent 6-8mph breeze nearly straight down the lake with the odd gust thrown in and some sun to start the afternoon.  The existing course was used, although the start line proved to be rather port biased in the main, with Neil managing to get in a couple of port flyers during the afternoon whilst the rest of the fleet floundered on a left shift.

The first session belonged to Bill who took wins in five of the six races, with Graham manging to take the first race after Bill was left in a hole at the Leeward gate prior to the finish allowing Graham and Peter through.  The podium places were mostly taken by Peter and Graham, with Dave holding onto second in Race 3 after a great first beat.  Alan and Charles were often in close contention for a good part of the race, but the tricky conditions (was that a shift or not?) often catching them out.

After the break, Bill took the first race, but then Graham managed a run of 3 wins, which should probably have been 4, but Bill pulled through in the last 20m after Graham (I was robbed!) was caught out with what became tricky conditions at the end of the afternoon.  Although racing was still tight throughout the fleet, Bill, Graham and Peter filled all of the podium spots in this second session.

Neil meanwhile, was unfortunately sailing on his own in a DF65 with A+ rig as both of his RG65’s are currently out of action.  Initially sailing the same course, we changed it so that he was only sailing to a nearer windward mark.  He was then finishing with the leaders and therfore in company for more of the time.

Another enjoyable afternoon at the lake – thanks to Dave for working out the scores once we had finished the eleven races.

  1. Bill Culshaw          Ivy                   21  11pts
  2. Graham Elliott     Electronica  09  15pts
  3. Peter Baldwin       Uno                 63  23pts
  4. Alan Watkinson   Uno                 23  37pts
  5. Dave Williams      Uno                  33  44pts
  6. Charles Legg         Uno                  26  46pts

DF65

  1. Neil Westbrook  03  9pts

DF/RG65 Summer 2024 #5 = 20/7/24

Four RG sailors arrived for a competitive but friendly race. The wind from the Clubhouse end only made itself felt from the top half of the lake. An interesting course was set using the normal gate as a start line starboard rounding of the left mark,of the normal start line over to the white finish mark to port through the gate and repeat one and a half times.

Bill with his Ivy was on top form, taking all the races but having a little competition from Alan on a couple of races. Alan, Dave and Charles were having a more competitive time with close racing all taking turn for seconds and thirds.

An early dinner was called for as Dave’s rudder servo expired, thanks to Alan this was replaced in record time. After dinner, Bill carried out a tuning session which brought all the UNO’s even closer together but still not able to beat Bill. A very relaxing and enjoyable afternoon was had by all.

  1. Bill Culshaw              6pts 8wins
  2. Alan Watkinson     13pts
  3. Dave Williams         16pts
  4. Charles Legg            19pts

Potential change of event in the Calendar

I am looking at changing the sailing for next Saturday 25th May to be DF/RG65 Summer #3 and swapping the VMYG & Social sailing day to the 1st June.  Please do not book the VMYG/Social Sailing event at this stage.  The swap of event will take place by Tuesday 21st.  The change is being considered as there is an RG65 TT at Keighley on the 1st June which will reduce the turnout for club racing.

Peter Baldwin – Sailing Sec

RG65 Summer Series 2024 #2 – 4/5/24

A turnout of only four skippers, possibly due to the very light wind forecast and others being away at the IOM Nationals. The wind from the top end of the lake was extremely light and at times non existent. All four boats with maximum A swing rig were on the start line under the keen eye of our Race Officer Neil.

Each race was to be one lap with Bill showing the way for the first race and then Alan B taking the next three. Due to the wind conditions the finishes were very close between Bill and Alan B and could have gone either way. After a coffee break Dave managed a win by just being in the right place at the right time. The next four races saw Bill and Alan B taking it in turns to gain the victory. Alan W was always in contention but often losing out downwind. While Bill and Alan B were sailing for honours Dave and Alan W were having their own race.

Many thanks to Neil for offering to be Race Officer giving us eight races and strict on the start line.

  1. Alan Bennett         Ivy      7pts 5 wins
  2. Bill Culshaw          Ivy    10pts 2 wins
  3. Dave Williams      Uno  19pts 1 win
  4. Alan Watkinson   Uno   19pts

DF/RG65 Summer Series 2024 #1 – 13/4/24

8 skippers all sailing RG65’s turned up for a 1pm start, we all sailed the first race in swing A rigs but with some really vicious gusts appearing everyone decided to go down a rig for race 2. The direction the wind was coming from was from all points of the compass or as we like to say at Birkenhead, Tescos, clubhouse, factories and houses winds.
We sailed another 4 races until calling a tea break in the hope the wind direction would settle, it didnt.
Another 2 races after tea and we were all sent back to the clubhouse to change down yet again.
The racing was close in most races and resembled a piece of elastic as the leaders fell into holes allowing the chasing pack to catch up.
Graham sailing his Electronica had the lions share of the wins (7) with John sailing his Ivy winning the other 3, Bill who normally challenges for the lead was unfortunately not getting used to his new radio gear and had a bit of a miserable day for his standards, Alan suffered in the final 5 races with rig size but George sailing an Uno really turned it round in the final 5 races with a 6,4,2,2,5 finish, well done George in very trying conditions, George is only 9years old by the way.
  1. Graham Elliott       ELECTRONICA   9POINTS
  2. John Brierley           IVY                         15
  3. Alan Bennet             IVY                         20
  4. Bill Culshaw             IVY                         37
  5. Alan Watkinson      UNO                      38
  6. George Bennet        UNO                       43
  7. Dave Williams         UNO                       50
  8. Charles Legg            UNO                       55

DF/RG65 Winter Series 2023 #4 – 27/1/24

There were 6 RG65 sailors today for Round 4 of the Winter Series, with a few regulars missing for a variety of reasons.  The breeze was forecast to be an 8-10mph Southerly which would have been an unpleasant and shifty wind over the top of the houses.  However, we were fortunate to have something that was more like ESE or SE, although lighter at around 3 to 6 mph with occasional 8mph gusts and so mostly down the lake from the clubhouse.

We got away a little late after Peter had moved quite a few marks around to produce a reasonable course in the conditions and with young George Bennett acting as our Race Officer.  The first race looked to be safe for Alan Bennett, until Alan Watkinson picked up a good lifting shift around the left hand final gate mark and powered across the line ahead of Alan.  Alanbennett got his revenge by winning the next 4 races before the break, giving him a commanding lead at the halfway stage, ahead of Bill Culshaw who had picked up a number of seconds.

In the second half, Bill had three wins and Alan picked up another two, with John Brierley and Peter Baldwin also taking the occasional second from the two front runners.  After 10 races, Alan was a clear winner on 10 points, five ahead of Bill, with John Brierley picking up third place.

Our thanks must go to George for acting as RO and scorer (with a bit of help from Dave Williams).

  1. Alan Bennett          Ivy  10pts  (6 x first)
  2. Bill Culshaw           Ivy  15pts  (3 x first)
  3. John Brierley        Uno  23pts
  4. Peter Baldwin       Uno  26pts
  5. Alan Watkinson   Uno  36pts  (1 x first)
  6. Dave Williams      Uno  39pts