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DF65 & DF95 Social racing 2023 – 25/10/23

The DF fleet arrived to a more or less flat calm, and there was some discussion about whether racing could take place. As so often happems, while this was going on a slight breeze from the far end appeared, and after a short delay there was enough to get round the course.

Although the breeze remained patchy to say the least, there was some very good racing all across the fleet.

After 5 races it went completely flat again and it was agreed that the day was over.

There were 4 winners out of 5 races, with Clive winning 2, but James Douglas ran out the overall winner with no race wins but a string of seconds.

The next 4 boats were covered by 2 points with final positions as shown below.

Many thanks to Dave who once again ran all the racing.

Final Positions were:

  1. James Douglas               8 pts
  2. John Carlin                     10 pts           1 win
  3. Clive Warren                  11 pts           2 wins
  4. Alan Watkinson            12 pts           1 win
  5. Mike de St Paer             12 pts           1 Win
  6. Neil Westbrook             21 pts
  7. Richard Walker             29 pts
  8. John Beech                      30pts
  9. Dave Howard                  35 pts
  10. Frans King                       36 pts
  11. Malcolm Harvey           39 pts

DF95 Social Racing

Following on from the morning DF65 sailing 7 skippers stayed behind to partake in the DF95 sailing. The wind was very similar to the morning with it generally coming down the lake but also swinging through 45deg making it difficult for the helms. Picking the right shifts to take was paramount. A slightly extended lunch was taken to allow the breeze to fill in for the first race. Richard Walker had a slight advantage by using a very unofficial A+ rig. It was really interesting to monitor the performance of the larger rig, which was approx 20% bigger than the standard A rig. As there were only seven boats Clive oversaw the start sequence and the first over the line recorded the finishing places. The same course as the morning was used and single lap races were the order of the day, due to lack of wind and to attempt to get 6 races completed
As expected the “A+rig” was too much of an advantage and Richard won every  race except the last which he didn’t start, Clive was very consistent finishing with 5 second places and the remainder of the places were closely fought by the rest of the field with Alan finishing in 3rd
thanks to a first place in the last race
The Photo attached shows the A+Rig (numberless sail) in the foreground
Final Standings:
  1. Richard Walker         72    5pts  (A+ rig)
  2. Clive Warren              93  10pts
  3. Alan Watkinson        23  16pts
  4. John Beech               288  18pts
  5. Malcolm Harvey  2019 21pts
  6. Frans King                  59  26pts
  7. Dave Howard             00  29pts

DF65TT Round 10 Day 2

Day 2 dawned with sun, but sadly no wind.  A postponement was called by the RO and we waited for the breeze to fill in.  By 11:00 there was  gentle SSW breeze sufficient to allow racing to start by 11:10.  After a few had decided not to attend or leave early only 16 boats took to the water in a light and patchy 2 to 5 knots.  We completed an additional 4 races before breaking for lunch, with a breeze that was at times nearly straight down the lake, perhaps helped by a bit of sea breeze adding to the gradient.  John and Peter continued their tussle for the overall lead, with John getting the upper hand in this first session, winning two races to Peters one, with one race tie as the finish judge was unable to split the pair as they crossed the finish line.

After lunch, a further 4 races were completed, although the breeze could shut off at any point and one race was abandoned and break taken before racing continued.  John continued to dominate this final session, with 3 wins, and Tony Sedgwick getting a win in the final race, having had some other excellent results over the weekend, but previously missing out on a win.

This gave a podium of John Tushingham in first, Peter Baldwin in second, with Dave Burke in third.  We had a great weekend of A+ sailing, and thanks go to the Race Officer John Brierley assisted by Dave Williams (Sat), Neil Westbrook, Malcolm Harvey and Judith all helping to run the racing, plus Jocelyn and Chris in the galley keeping everyone fed and watered throughout both days from early in the morning to the end of racing.

Final Results are:

DF65TT Round 10 Day 1

The day started with little or no wind, but a light breeze picked up after RO John Brierley had given his briefing and so Race 1 got underway soon after 10:00.  However, the breeze dropped during the race and the fleet was well spread by the time the leaders finished and the RO called a temporary halt and we restarted after about an hour when the breeze had picked up to a nice WNW breeze of about 5 knots.  We managed 5 races before taking lunch, with John Tushingham taking three wins, plus John Carlin and Peter Baldwin one each.  After lunch, a total of 11 further races were completed (with one break) before the cut-off time of 17:30. In this session there were five different race winners.  Peter took the lions share of seven race wins, with Dave Burke, Alan Watkinson, Simon Fairman and John Tushingham with one each.  Special mention to newcomer to the sport, Tony Sedgwick, who was unlucky to lose out in one race ending up second to Peter on the final leg into the finish having led for a good part of the race.

Racing on Saturday (c) Dave Williams

Results at the end of day 1 are as follows:

 

Calendar and new events posted

I have now put up the Calendar for the Winter and added events through until the end of March.  Only 12 events will show in the “Upcoming Events” list at any one time.

The events include the upcoming DF65 TT on the weekend of 21st & 22nd October and the Strebor IOM Open to be held on Saturday 16th December.  This will be Round 2 of the Northern District IOM Winter Series, following on from Round 1 at Askern on the 4th November .

Peter Baldwin

Sailing Sec

DF95 Summer Series 2023 #4 – 7/10/23

An un-seasonally warm and bright day greeted the 10 skippers who attended for the fourth round of the DF-95 Summer Series at Gautby Road. The wind(?) was very light and coming from the west over the houses giving conditions that were more suited to “a glass of Pimms on the terrace” than sailing, but our skippers decided to go for it with “A” rigs.

From the onset the conditions were very challenging with the almost none existent wind swirling, gusting(?) then dropping and full of holes but all the boats made the best of them that they could.

Given that the wind could gust and be gone faster than you could say the words there were few recalls at the starts which was at the Clubhouse end of the lake with the course going up to the top end of the lake and back over two laps with a finish half way up the lake.

John Brierley made the most of the conditions seeming to catch a wind that was not available to the boats alongside and often being half a lap ahead of the trailing fleet which gave him 5 wins and 2 seconds. Although John was a convincing winner on the day he did not have it all his own way with Alan Watkinson (1), Clive Warren (2) and John Carlin (1) winning races.

A break was welcomed by all the skippers after 5 races after which racing continued for a further 4 races before everyone agreed that conditions were just too flat to continue.

Paul Little came along to watch the racing and offered to be RO for the day which was greatly appreciated by all the skippers.