Category: rg65

As sailors and the event team started to arrive, there was already a nice ESE breeze straight down the lake from the clubhouse end.  Our RO, Paul Plested soon donned the waders and worked with the Commodore to set out a windward leeward course starting at the far end of the lake.  Setting a good start line proved to be a bit tricky as the wind was having difficulty on deciding whether it was from the top left or right corner.

After a short briefing, the fleet of 17 RG65’s got started on time in a decent mid to top suit A swing rig breeze, with just a couple of boats using a full sized conventional rig.  The day was sailed at a decent but steady pace of 4 races followed by a break for a drink or lunch, with 16 races completed by the time the wind shut down (well actually reversed direction!) at around 16:00.

The day belonged to Alan Bennett sailing an Ivy with 7 wins, followed by Tobi Laux (another Ivy) with four, Graham Elliott (Electronica) with three, then Martin Roberts (Uno) and Bill Culshaw (Ivy) with one each.  Aside from these race winners, a number of boats had some good results and even had the lead at some point, but unfortunately never quite made that elusive first place.  Chris Elliott had a  number of seconds after a difficult start to the day missing the first two races with gear problems. Peter Baldwin also had a good day, but never managed to capitalise on some decent positions mid race.Vernon Appleton and Roger Hopper were also going well  with Vernon picking up a second and third during the day and based upon his speed later in the day, may well be better placed tomorrow.

As the full results sheet below will show, Alan Bennett not surprisingly won the day on 25 points, with Tobias Laux second on 32 points and then Graham Elliott in third on 41.  It was close for fourth to seventh place with only 6 points separating these 4 boats.

Out thanks go to our RO Paul Plested and his assitant wife Sharon, Joss in the galley for making drinks and some great cookies and also to Paul for some cracking photos.

A great entry of 9 boats for race 5 of the club DF/RG65 Winter series, the wind started off as a mid A rig from Gautby Rd and all the RG’s sailed using swing rigs, Phil sailing his DF65 was allowed to use his A+ rig and rightly so.

We sailed 6 races before tea with Alan, sailing his rebuilt Ivy comfortably winning the first half. Alan’s boat was in an unfortunate accident (involving his car) a few weeks ago and should of been written off, but he managed to do some serious surgery to her and she was as good as new and performing extremely well.

Vernon was racing his new Ivy for only the third time and went home a very happy skipper, his best result coming 3rd in race 6, a few little tweaks on his rig and he will return for the RG TT race next month.

After race 7 the wind swung around and around and died off considerably, that much so that our PRO, Neil Westbrook decided we should shorten the course to one lap for the final 4 races.

Overall the fleet, made up of Ivy’s, Uno’s, one Electronica and one DF65, enjoyed a pleasant afternoons sailing with race wins going to Alan, Graham, Peter and Bill but there was only one winner, Alan sailed extremely well and gave us all a good hammering.

Thanks go to Neil Westbrook who started and finished us by himself for all 12 races.

1. Alan Bennett      Ivy                  13pts
2. Graham Elliott  Electronica  19pts
3. Bill Culshaw       Ivy                   30pts
4. Peter Baldwin    Uno                 31pts
5. Vernon Appleton  Ivy               44pts
6. Paul Plested        Uno                 55pts
7. Dave Williams    Uno                 65pts
8. Charles Legg       Uno                 72pts

Phyl Fanning      DF65               10pts

After the recent spell of cold weather and strong winds, today was just the opposite, a pleasant sunny afternoon but unfortunately with a light wind blowing from the top of the lake. One of the start marks had to be moved before the start at 12.00, with the usual course of windward, then spreader and down through the gate and finish half way for the RG’s, with a shorter course for the DFs.

Unfortunately only two 65’s entered so this was a very useful training session for Phyl who has recently joined us radio sailing after many years of big boat sailing. Five RG’s had entered, numbers down due in part to the IOM Northern District Winter series race at Ripon.

Today was always going to be between the two Ivys of John and Bill and so it was with John taking 5 wins to Bill’s four. Alan, Charles and Dave sailing UNO’s were having their own very close racing up to the lunch break with very little between them. During the break Alan decided to change his rig for one he had not used even though it was several years old.

Also, during the break the light wind had started to disappear so we only managed three more races. This was when Alan shocked every one with taking a win a second and third. Thanks to Clive for his tuning tips to Phyl, John Carlin for officiating after lunch break and to Dave Williams for donning the waders, being line judge, scoring and managing to take a few photos. A pleasant afternoons sailing only spoilt by the dying wind, but 10 races held.

RG65’s

1. John Brierley        11pts 5wins Ivy
2. Bill Culshaw          14pts 4wins Ivy
3. Alan Watkinson  23pts 1win Uno
4. Dave Williams     28pts Uno
5. Charles Legg        33pts Uno

DF65’s

1. Clive Warren         8pts
2. Phyl Fanning      16pts

The first Birkenhead race of the New Year was for RG65 sailors and at the start held with as much water on the banks as in the lake.

The first job was to unblock the drain weir and then decide on a course. There was a slight reluctance to don the waders and move marks ude to the depth of water lapping over the path. Neil arrived and took on the RO’s position and due to the very light wind sorted a short course, sailing from half way up the far bank to a starboard rounding of the windward mark at the Clubhouse end across to a spreader mark, then downwind to a starboard rounding of the outer start mark which had been positioned by a good throw from John B. We sailed two laps and had a downwind finish.

Racing started at 12.00pm but unfortunately Charles was unable to compete due to the depth of water on the pathway likely to affect his wheel chair. The starts were very close with a couple of general recalls, the first race set the pattern for most races with Alan Bennett and John Brierley having very close races with Alan on top but unable to shake of John, both sailing very closely matched Ivy’s.

The other trio sailing Uno’s were also very close most of the time with George just finding the extra speed on the final leg. Due to Alan B and John match racing most of the time, they missed out when Dave and George caught them unaware’s in two races stealing a win each.

Thanks must go to Neil for keeping the racing going with twelve races, even though at times the wind died altogether, and thanks also to Dave for the creating the final results sheet.  Unfotunately we have no photos to share of the racing this week and so a stock photo has had to suffice.

1. Alan Bennett         Ivy 13pts 8wins
2. John Brierley        Ivy  19pts 2wins
3. George Bennett   Uno 33pts 1win
4. Dave Williams      Uno 34pts 1win
5. Alan Watkinson   Uno 42pts

Once again the breeze hardly failed to materialise all day and when it did it was never stable in direction for more than 30 seconds.  Primarily from over the houses, it proved troublesome to decide on an appropriate course to setup, with the Southern Bank in the Lee of the houses.  We therefore ended up with courses that were often a fetch followed by a reach back, although that could be a run followed in quick succession by another fetch.

As is usually the case, the cream rose to the top with Graham Elliott (Electronica) winning five races, Tobi Laux and Alan Bennett two each and John Brierley one.  After Graham, the next four boats were all Ivy designs followed by two Uno’s.

At the prizegiving, Graham thanked everyone for coming and the Race Team of Paul and Sharon Plested, Malcolm Harvey and Neil Westbrook along with Chris having another stint in the galley.

The photos from Malcolm don’t seem to show much wind, but there was some at times, but perhaps in the excitement and being absorbed in the racing Malcolm forgot to take photos with wind!