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Category: results

DF65 Social Racing 2022 #20 (18/5/22)

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.

  1. James Douglas    73 17 pts
  2. Andrew Peter    919 21 pts
  3. Alan Watkinson  373 24 pts [ 3 x 1sts ]
  4. Neil Westbrook    03 24 pts [ 2 x 1sts ]
  5. Simon Bates        69 37 pts [ 2 x 2nds ]
  6. Richard Walker    39 37 pts [ 3 x 3rds ]
  7. Dave Williams      33 38 pts
  8. Derek Matthews   57 57 pts
  9. John Beech          80 64 pts
  10. Paul Whalley        53 76 pts

DF65 Social Racing #19 (11/5/22)

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.

RG/DF65 Summer Series 2022 #2 (7/5/22)

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.

  1. ​John Brierley             84     uno                       18pts   5 wins
  2. Peter Baldwin           63     uno                       21pts    3 wins
  3. Neil Westbrook        03     uno                       38pts
  4. Alan Watkinson        23     scurry                 42pts
  5. Graham Elliott           09    electronica       43pts   3 wins 
  6. Martin Roberts          33    pocket rocket   51pts    1 win
  7. Charles Legg               26    uno                       52pts
 
DFs
  1. Andrew Peter         919          22pts  4 wins
  2. Graham Reeves      187          24pts  1 win
After 12 races

DF65 Social Racing #18 (4/5/22)

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.

  1. Alan Watkinson       373  16 pts 4wins
  2. Neil Westbrook          03  18 pts 3wins
  3. Dave Williams          233  20 pts 2 wins
  4. Simon Bates                69 31 pts
  5. Richard Walker          39  35 pts
  6. James Douglas            73  39 pts 1 win
  7. Stan Metcalf                46  39 pts
  8. Charles Legg                21  63 pts
  9. John Beech                   80  68 pts

DF65 Social Racing 2022 #17 (27/4/22)

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.

  1. Alan Watkinson   373   14pts 2 wins
  2. Richard Walker      39   15pts 2 wins
  3. Andrew Potter      194   15pts 1 win
  4.  Dave Williams     233    18pts
  5. John Brierley           84   27pts 3 wins, 4 races sailed
  6. Sally Collings       829   28pts, 6 races sailed
  7. Charles Legg           21    35pts, three 5ths
  8. John Beech               80   35pts
  9. Malcolm Harvey  1019 49pts

IOM Summer Series #2 (23/4/22)

Well, Charles was right, it was indeed a 2nd suit wind, having arrived earlier than most Charles rigged his boat with 2nd suit but everyone else opted for top suit so Charles followed suit and changed up. The wind was trying to come from Gautby Road but it was all about the strength of the gusts that could come from anywhere from Gautby Road to the factories.
After the first race and not one boat managing to survive the gusts we took a fleet decision to all change down to 2nd suit, our PRO for the day, Dave Williams gave us 15 minutes to do so and this was indeed just enough time.
The racing at the front of the fleet was nip and tuck for the first 3 races with Darin, Martin and Graham swapping places but after race 4 it was Graham that began to make to make his move, winning races 4 and 5 with Darin slipping out of the top 3 for these 2 races.
7 races before a short break and a cup of tea supplied by the ever present Jack and back out on the water for race 8. Andrea had now blown the cobwebs off and getting to grips with her chartered BritPOP! and her results showed this with podium finishes in all but one race in races 5 through to 10.
A challenging and thoroughly enjoyable afternoons racing with 12 races completed and many thanks to Dave Williams for starting and finishing us (and taking a couple of photos), Jack for making the tea (great tea maker but at 92yrs old he has had plenty of practice) and Martin who put the waders on to move a few buoys and give us a great start line.
Good luck to all Birkenhead skippers that make the journey up to Loch Winnoch for next weekends IOM National Championships.
!st      Graham Elliott        13points            BritPOP!         7 race wins
2nd     Darin Ballington    22points           BritPOP!         3 race wins
3rd      Martin Roberts      24points            Vanilla             2 race wins
4th      Andrea Roberts     39points            BritPOP!
5th      Alan Watkinson    49points            BritPOP!
6th      Graham Birkett     51points            Widget
7th      Charles Legg           75points            K2