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DF65 & DF95 Social Racing 2024 – 2/10/24

DF65

North East wind at Gautby road to greet the excellent turnout of 14 DF65 sailors today. Initially the wind seemed very light, and A+ rigs were an obvious choice, but a succession of small fronts coming over – happily without any rain – also bought some punchy gusts and big shifts to add to the general disturbance caused by the trees. However, the wind stayed in, with enough force to cause the occasional nosedive later, and also some flat spots which caught nearly everyone out at some stage.

The usual course was used, with the windward and spreader mark in a very shifty area right up at the top in the corner opposite the clubhouse, and in fact the spreader was in the flat area under the trees meaning that getting clear on the run needed a touch of luck.

The line was surprisingly good, and good starts were made from just about anywhere during the morning’s racing. It initially looked better to start at the outer end either on port, or getting onto port a.s.a.p. and then trying to hold the port lifts as far as possible, but later it seemed to pay to keep over to the starboard side of the course perhaps in slightly cleaner air and more pressure.

Overall the racing was very close across the fleet, with much place changing and a few turns for various things. Mike, Clive, John and Paul all finished within six points, with other fleet positions also very close.

It was also a pleasure to welcome Phil, a Half Rater sailor from Wallasea YC who had come to take a look and tried both a 65 and 95 during the day.

Overall results as shown below with thanks as always to Dave for sorting them out.

  1.  Mike de St Paer            16pts  4wins
  2.  Clive Warren.                18pts. 2wins
  3.  John Carlin                    21pts
  4.  Paul Plested                  22pts. 3wins
  5.  Neil Westbrook           33pts
  6.  Don MacKinnon         36pts.  1win
  7.  Frans King                    49pts
  8.  Simon Bates                53pts   1x2nd
  9.  Dave Williams            53pts
  10. Sally Collings               58pts
  11. Richard Walker           59pts
  12. John Beech                    81pts
  13. John Lee                         89pts
  14. David White                  92pts

DF95

7 skippers took to the water for the start of the afternoons entertainment, which was a good turnout considering regulars Paul Little and Alan Watkinson were otherwise indisposed. It was good to see John Carlin with 95 in hand after a long absence from the afternoon sailing.

The same course as the morning 65’s was used, The wind being mainly easterly, (partially from the industrial estate) with some Northerly and Southerly thrown in for good measure depending where you were on the lake. This provided plenty of opportunity for losing places or if you were lucky, gaining a few. The breeze was reasonably steady with a few strong gusts to keep us on our toes but the 95s with A Rigs handled them with ease.
Mike very sportingly offered to share his boat with a potential new member Phil, and also had to leave before racing finished so his overall finishing result was not a true reflection. As there were only 7 boats, the normal self monitored start and first over the finishing line recording the race results. Single lap races and 7 races sailed in total after which the wind dropped off and we decided to call it a day.
Racing was very competitive with 6 of the 7 skippers finishing either first or second in at least one race, considering we only sailed 7 races, it shows how competitive the afternoon was!! In the end it was Clive who was most consistent in the tricky conditions, notching up a consistent set of results including 3 wins. He was pushed hard by Paul with 2 wins and Frans who had his best afternoon for some time finishing with 1 win and 2 seconds
In summary – A tricky afternoon with the sun shining, but very enjoyable as ever. Competitive fleet with an array of helms filling the podium places in each race.
Final Results
  1. Clive Warren         10pts         3 wins
  2. Paul Plested          14pts         2 wins
  3. Frans King             16pts         1 win
  4. John Carlin            22pts
  5. Richard Walker   28pts
  6. John Beech            31pts
  7. Mike DSP / Phil   34pts           1 win

DF65 Social racing 2024 – 25/9/24

DF65

On the water, the usual windward/leeward course was used with a spreader at the windward mark and a gate at the leeward mark. 12 races were completed in surprisingly un-Gautby Rd like conditions with a pretty consistent wind in both direction and strength

The racing at the front was dominated by Paul P, Andrew and Clive with a few short-lived cameos by others. Don got a second in race 3 and then won race 4 and then drifted back to mid fleet, although these results were good enough to get him 4th overall on countback. Richard, Dave, Paul L and Sally all had fleeting appearances near the front in various races but apart from a couple of thirds by Paul L, nobody was able to stay in the podium positions by the finish of any race. Paul P won overall, helped by some aggressive starting tactics by Clive on Andrew in race 10 which luckily didn’t deny Andrew second place overall with Clive in third.

  1. Paul Plested          16pts (5 wins)
  2. Andrew Potter     18pts (4 wins)
  3. Clive Warren        20pts (2 wins)
  4. Don McKinnon   46pts (1 win)
  5. Richard Walker  46pts
  6. Sally Collings      47pts
  7. Paul Little            49pts
  8. Dave Williams    54pts
  9. Frans King           58pts
  10. John Beech           68pts
  11. John Lee                77pts
  12. David White        78pts

John Carlin … retired with his boat to see a Relate councillor

DF95

7 Skippers got ready for the afternoon sailing, the weather was supposed to deteriorate with rain in the forecast from 2pm, fortunately this didn’t materialise and a reasonably steady mainly easterly breeze made for a good afternoons sailing. It wasn’t without its Gautby road shifts and twists especially around the windward mark area.
A rig was the preferred choice for all 7 skippers, with self monitored starts, and first over the finishing line recording the results. With the rain forecast it was decided to get as many races in as possible so single lap races were agreed and 9 Races were sailed in total.
The first race set the tone for the afternoon when all the boats were rounding the gate marks, one of the skippers noticed a lone 95 at the windward end of the lake, wallowing, when the question “who’s boat is that at the other end of the lake” was asked; to which Frans replied “must be mine, I thought I was doing rather well”, having sailed the wrong boat for the whole of the downwind without realising!!! In the meantime at the front Paul was showing good boat speed to take the honours, Clive was second with Richard 3rd.
The same 3 filled the podium spots until in race 5 Frans had a 15m lead coming through the gate only to get the wrong side of a couple of shifts and then stuck in irons for 30 secs as he watched the whole fleet sail pass, you just know when its not your day. The race finally being won by Martin.
The top 2 positions on the remaining races were shared between Paul and Clive with John Beech picking up a second and third.
In summary –  A good afternoon enjoyment, (even Frans enjoyed it) conditions were challenging at times with wind shifts all over the lake providing with close racing at the front of the pack and also at the back
  1. Paul Plested                            154            9pts                 5 wins
  2. Clive Warren                            93           11pts                 3 wins
  3. Martin Wittingham-Jones 77          28pts                1 win
  4. John Beech                               288         28pts                1 second
  5. Richard Walker                         52         28pts
  6. Frans King                                  59         32pts
  7. Paul Little                                    14         38pts

Recent Club Successes at RG65 Nationals and Full report for Saturday

RG65 Nationals

I am pleased to report that Graham Elliott gained another MYA RG65 Nationals title last weekend sailing a Brad Gibson designed Electronica. The event had strong competition including a number of French entries, although unfortunately winds were light all weekend coming from the cafe (one of the more difficult directions for Eastbourne).  Bill Culshaw was our other club entry who finished 8th in a field of 20 boats.  Full final results are available via the RG65 website here

Updated post for Saturdays IOM Racing

The post for Saturdays IOM racing has now been updated to include a report.  Click here to view it again, although it should be visible below this post!

IOM Summer 2024 #7 – 21/9/24

Round 7 of the IOM Summer series presented thirteen skippers with a tough race track in light variable mainly Easterly winds.

Visiting us for the day were Shaun Priestley (Fleetwood) and Rob Wilson (Lincoln) looking to fine tune their setups for the upcoming World Championships in Australia, as well as Darin Ballington (Lincoln) and Simon Pope (Market Bosworth).

PRO Dave Williams ably asisted by Clive Warren got racing underway at 1pm with Brad setting the tone with 3 straight wins in the fickle winds. Alan Bennett, John Brierley, Rob Wilson and Martin Roberts were finding form with consistent top placings with John taking races 4 and 5 before a break for tea was called in the fading conditions.

After the break Alan and Martin continued good form with a string of top 3 placings including a win for each in races 8 and 9 respectively. Shaun steadily built through the day, as did Simon with strong placings, while both Darin and Andrea Roberts had rare days where good starts faded to scores that deserved better.

In all it was a challenging days sailing that favoured those that minimised their worst scores and held on to better ones.

After 11 races and 2 discards, Brad took the win from Martin who enjoyed a welcome return to form and John Brierley rounded the podium.

Again a big thank you to Dave and Clive for keeping the day rolling on our behalf.

Our next IOM club race is on the 12th of October and the Strebor Open on the 2nd of November. All are invited to enter on the website and join us for some of the countries toughest racing.

  1. Brad Gibson                42         Birkenhead              Post PUNK   11pts
  2. Martin Roberts          46         Birkenhead              Viper             31pts
  3. John Brierley              84         Birkenhead               Venti            33pts
  4. Alan Bennett             180         Etherow/Bhead      Britpop!      34pts
  5. Robert Wilson            97         Lincoln                       Britpop!      40pts
  6. Rob McIntosh             12         Birkenhead                K2                 53pts
  7. Shaun Priestley          87         Fleetwood                 Britpop!      59pts
  8. Peter Baldwin             63         Birkenhead               Britpop!      61pts
  9. Simon Pope                  19         Market Bosworth   Britpop!      65pts
  10. Andrea Roberts        127         Birkenhead               Britpop!       66pts
  11. Darin Ballington       98         Lincoln                       BritPOP!      68pts
  12. John Berry                    12         Etherow/Bhead       Viper            95pts
  13. George Bennett          17         Etherow/Bhead       TS2              103pts

Thanks go to Clive Warren for the photos.  There are a few more in the Event Flikr  Album here

 

 

Social Sailing & VMYG #3 – 24/8/24

Open Sailing Day – a Cornucopia of Boats !

You never know what to expect, which is the Joy of Open Days at BRSC.

Mike de St. Paer certainly won the prize for Largest Yacht, with his enormous and glorious vintage 20 Rater, closely followed by Charles with his Cantebury J Class, both boats rather over canvassed for the brisk Westerly breeze.

Graham Reeves produced a very interesting Marblehead Vane boat, converted to optional RC, with an unusual and perplexing ‘ Sliding Rig’ , which caused much conversation and Alan brought along his splendid wooden Corbie 5 IOM , recently completed from a Hull built by the late Colin Deakin.

Guest Sailor Nick Wooton and Partner sailed a couple of Star Yachts
and a small Seifert Pond Yacht, and Andrew and Alan brought along a selection of Star Yachts to add to the conversations and the fleet on the water.

There was as much time spent in the Clubhouse as on the water, chatting,
rigging boats, fixing Rigs, and discovering fascinating historical details
of the various boats.

We rounded the day off with some Radio Sailing, with DF65 and DF95’s
on the lake, with Graham Reeves grandchildren enjoying the breeze.

As a Finale, our ex Club Captain Robbie Mack turned up with his wife,
to catch -up on club matters and assure us of his vigilance with regard
to lake safety.

Thanks to all for making the day so enjoyable.

We have to also mention the amazing BSYAS – British Star Yacht Appreciation Society , hosted by Graham Hunt, see link BSYAS (birkenheadstaryachts.co.uk)
Star Yachts historically used our lake as a test bed for all their model yachts.

Finally, the Vintage Model Yacht Group, see link , (vmyg.org.uk) do an amazing job of collecting and restoring important and historic model yachts from the earliest days of our sport.

DF95 Summer 2024 #5 – 10/8/24

The forecasts were correct this week to give us a breeze that was close to being straight down the lake with a start at the clubhouse end and with 6 to 10 knots.  Not so good was the light drizzle that we started with, although that soon passed and we had sunshine from around 14:00 for the remainder of the afternoon.  RO duties were shared through the fleet and so 11 races were sailed with everyone dropping out to run a race (and scoring 0 for the race).

The racing was great and very close especially at the windward mark.  This could occasionally cause a few problems, with last minute tacks for the mark, but generally few problems were caused.

Peter had the best of the afternoon with six wins from the eleven races, with Martin picking up four and Alan the remaining one.  Paul Plested had a great afternoon, with a string of second places at the start of the afternoon and may have placed higher were it not for getting hooked up on the windward mark in one race.  John Carlin was often in the mix at the first windward mark and also picked up a good number of seconds and thirds after a difficult start.  John Beech had a great start to the afternoon and led the fleet around the first mark, but unfortunately was unable to capitalise on his position.

So  the win went to Peter, with Martin second and John Brierley third, consistently up there with many races in the top three, but no win.  Martin may have been placed higher except his transmitter battery ran out during the last race giving him a second DNF.  The points were very close in the lower order with 4 places separeted by just a point.

  1. Peter Baldwin      172  14pts
  2. Martin Roberts    184  17pts
  3. John Brieley            84  22pts
  4. Paul Plested           154  25pts
  5. Alan  Watkinson    23  29pts
  6. John Carlin               05  30pts
  7. Frans King               59  50pts
  8. John Beech             288  52pts
  9. Andrew Peter         179  53pts
  10. Dave Williams         33  60pts
  11. Malcom Harvey  2019  68pts