Birkenhead Radio Sailing & Power Club
The series figures have now been updated here which show Martin currently with a commanding lead.
10 sailors arrived to warm weather and sunshine, but again some very flukey wind conditions at Gautby Road lake.
Sailing skills and tempers were tested as the wind circled round the lake in mostly unpredictable directions, with both lulls and gusts, meaning close attention to the trim of the A+ sail rigs was paramount at all times.
Conditions made for very close racing as the points testify. With thanks to John Carlin and Mike de St Paer for acting as Race Officers, frequently needing eagle eyes to judge the close places at the finish line.
Just half a dozen sailors arrived, to be welcomed by a damp morning with almost windless conditions. Not very promising for a days racing, so we decided to just have un-scored social racing session and managed a few single lap races. Start line and course direction was alternated, as the light winds shifted in a most unpredictable manner, as did the results of each race.
The wind did steady and fill to a fresh westerly towards the end of the morning, which gave us a final two lap race to finish the day.
What a days sailing today at Birkenhead for the second RG/DF 65 Summer series. Wall to wall sunshine with a steady top suit from the North West (with significant shifts causing a number of snakes and ladder place changes). With the lake seemingly divided into two wind patterns it was essential to get in the right lane quickly. With just two DF65s, the boats were sailed in some races by young members of Graham Reeves family, and it was good to see there enthusiasm and capabilities.
In the RG class, the racing was being used as a tune up for the National Championships next week in Eastbourne and any small mistakes were certainly pounced upon. In the first race John covering Graham did not focus on Peter who threaded his way through for the win. It was certainly going to be that close all afternoon.
The other races up to the tea break were shared between Martin and Graham and after the break these two had to withdraw for pressing family commitments leaving John to take the afternoon session with 5 of the 6 wins . The racing between the other Unos was very close and great to see Alan having a good first outing with his new boat. Neil and Charles were also having moments at the sharp end which resulted in a great and close days sailing.
Thanks to Bernie for running the event and Jack for our drinks at the break.
It was a cold damp day at the lake with the wind blowing straight down from the top end. Due to John C injuring his leg whilst dinghy sailing, and having mobility problems, wishing to assist our RO Sally, a course was set starting from the middle and finishing in the middle. Windward mark to port, spreader to port then down through the gate to finish at middle.
For the racing, A+ was the suit of choice but as the racing progressed ‘A’ would have been more appropriate as positions changed several times with boats overwhelmed on the downward run. There was very close racing between Alan and Neil with James putting in some very good results until gear failure dropped him out of three races, leaving Alan the winner by only two points. Thanks to Sally for organising the ten races and to John her assistant for clerical duties.
A rather cold and shifty easterly wind greeted the nine DF 65 racers today, and enabled a course using the full length of the lake to a windward mark at the clubhouse end.
As always racing was close, and was dominated initially by John Brierley who won races 2,3, and 4 but then had to leave for a work appointment. There were four race winners during the day, with Alan Watkinson steadily improving his “spare” boat to win by a point from Richard Walker who had tied on points with Andrew Potter but ended up ahead with two wins to Andrews one.
The fleet became slightly depleted as other sailors had to follow John due to commitments elsewhere, and as the breeze went progressively left and became even more shifty eight races was judged to be enough for the day.
