DF65’s
None of the promised warmer weather was evident at Gautby road as the DF65 group arrived today, and the single digit temperatures were feeling even colder in the brisk SE breeze.
Despite the conditions 13 skippers showed up, although John B and Dave W did not compete for various reasons. Rig choice for the day was A, and as people rigged it started to rain heavily making everyone wonder what would happen next.
However, the rain stopped, the existing course looked OK and Dave W got race 1 away in a punchy top of A breeze blowing straight down the lake from the clubhouse end, and Neil then arrived and very kindly took over as RO for the morning despite the cold.
The first two races were won by Mike and Andrew P, but it was then agreed to change to B rig as the gusts were increasing, and the next four races had four different winners indicating how close the racing was. The beat seemed to work OK on both sides of the course at different times, but was very shifty nearer the top with almost everyone struggling to keep position at some point. The starts were very closely contested with two general recalls and some other OCS calls.
Paul P used some pressure downwind on the far side of the lake in a couple of races to good effect, but Peter B won the day with three wins and very consistent results over the nine races to beat Paul P and Mike who managed a couple of wins apiece.
An excellent mornings racing which ended up in sunshine and rather steadier conditions with results shown below, and with thanks again to Neil for being our excellent RO and Malcom for collating the results with grateful thanks to Dave Williams for the photos again and as can be seen from the last one, the sun did come out, but it didn’t make it much warmer!
- Peter Baldwin 12 pts 3 wins
- Paul Plested 16 pts 2 wins
- Mike de St Paer 18 pts 2 wins
- Andrew Potter 24 pts 1 win
- John Carlin 25 pts 1 win
- Clive Warren 32 pts
- John Beech 48 pts
- Charles Legg 49 pts
- Malcolm Harvey 54 pts
- Dave White 67 pts
- Phyl Fanning 75 pts
DF95’s
The morning may have started with a bit of rain but the afternoon started with sunshine but not enough to warm the 7 skippers who turned out for the DF95 sailing. It was a small but well formed group comprising of 5 regulars and 2 relatively new members in Phyl and Steve. Apart for the sunshine the weather was the same as the morning so B rigs were chosen. No surprises in that the same course as the morning was used, with a windward mark, spreader and a run down the full length of the lake to a gate. The average person would say the wind was blowing straight down the lake, however the reality was it was coming from the clubhouse causing a number of shifts and a few holes for the skippers to deal with. The problem being, these were not the same for 2 consecutive races, so the skippers had to adapt accordingly. Self monitored starts and first to finish recorded the positions.
The racing predictably split into 2 sections with the 5 established helms leading the way, with Phyll and Steve having their own private battle, although not that far behind. They will soon be sailing in the pack.
Up at the front Peter was showing a clean pair of heals or should that be a shiny transom with 7 wins from the 8 races sailed, his only blemish was in race 4 when Clive and Paul relegated him to third. In the meantime Paul was notching up a consistent set of second places. The results don’t tell the true story with, more often than not, the top 3 places beingkeenly contested between 4 boats with places changing hands right up to the finish line .
Results (2 discards)
- Peter Baldwin 6pts (7 wins)
- Paul Plested 13pts
- Clive Warren 17pts (1 win)
- John Carlin 17pts
- Malcolm Harvey 30pts
- Steve Miller 38pts
- Phyll Fanning 39pts
The wind was quite an unusual one for Birkenhead, predominantly down Gautby Road but with some cruel shifts if you got on the wrong side of them but hero shifts if you got on the correct side of them, nice top end of A rig with some nosediving in the first 6 races before tea.
It was Brad that showed early pace, taking out the first two races and Alan also showing us some great speed in these races with a third and fourth, unfortunately Josh, sailing Pop, missed the first race with a temperamental knob, on his transmitter which was quickly fixed with a bit of fiddling.
Race positions throughout the day switched very quickly due to the shifts but it was Brad who stayed consistently in front, winning 8 in the end. Martin had a better last 6 races that included a string of seconds, probably due to him growing into his new sailing glasses. Andrea should have won race 10, but in the excitement and concentration she unfortunately forgot to finish but still managed a third.
There was also a great battle all afternoon between Andy, Phil and John, I am sure they enjoyed their afternoons sailing.
Race winners included, Brad, Rob, Graham, Simon and Josh.
