DF65’s
11 skippers showed up for what looked to be a lively morning of racing under blue skies in a blustery E/ESE breeze. After a bit of a lakeside tidy up and mark repositioning, the fleet got away broadly on time, all sporting A+ rigs after a trial sail which suggested A rig would be under powered…how wrong that proved to be!
In the first two races on our typical windward/leeward course Peter Baldwin demonstrated his skill and experience leading from start to finish in the challenging conditions. Those behind struggled a little more with the gusty breeze. Paul Plested bagged a 2nd as did Charles Legg who kept his calm in race two, crossing the line ahead of Mike De St Paer in third, who also scored 3rd in race one. David White picked up a very creditable 5th in race one, and Richard Walker bagged a 4th.
By race three it was clear that the wind was too much for the A+ rig with plenty of nosediving and broaching downwind with places quickly changing. Paul Plested managed to get to the leeward gate first, which he held on to the finish. Mike was 2nd followed by Peter. Richard picked up another 4th and Dave Williams grabbed a 5th spot.
Guy Cowper had an excellent sail with his A rig scoring a pair of 2nds and 3rds, which gave him 3rd overall on the day. Mike struggled to get his A boat tuned correctly for two races, otherwise he would have been pushing for 3rd if not 2nd on the day. Conversely Andrew Potter, who had struggled with his A+ rig due to technical issues with his boat, did have some better racing with the A.
Overall an enjoyable if somewhat challenging morning of racing, watched over by Neil Westbrook and Malcolm Harvey who kindly acted as PRO and photographer this week.
DF95’s
It was a glorious sunny afternoon and the conditions made for some good sailing. The breeze was light at times but in the main steady, with occasional strong puffs blowing down the lake from the club house end in an east south easterly to easterly direction. There were plenty of shifts and headers to be had with all sailors benefiting and losing.
We had a good turn out of 9 helms. A standard course was set utilising the full length of the lake with single laps to keep the races flowing. All the finishes were self-monitored.
Paul and Peter returned from the IOM Worlds and sailed as if they had not been away, sharing the spoils of first and second whilst the other skippers vied for the other places.
A number of skippers suffered from minor gear problems such as melting knot to non centred rudder, to complete rudder servo failure (unlucky Steve).
Overall the racing was close (or even very close), interesting but most importantly fun. Once again the theme running through all races was consistency. Don’t be over the line (805) before the start and race a clean race.
Overall, an enjoyable afternoons racing, the 95’s seem to handle the shifty/gusty conditions much better than the 65’s, or were we just getting more used to it? A few stock photos this week I’m afraid as we were all too busy keeping in control to take photos.
A SW breeze today pointed to a tricky day at Gautby Rd, and so it proved. Despite a forecast for quite some wind there wasn’t much to show initially, however the pressure slowly built during the morning until some of the gusts were right at the top of A+. Mixed in with this were 180deg shifts, flat patches and holes and a very erratic breeze.
Another good turnout of 10 skippers, although John Brierly had to get away to work after only one race – which he won! – leaving the rest to fight it out on the usual course format starting at the clubhouse end.
The line looked heavily port end biased with the port end just on the edge of the windward bank wind shadow and it seemed to be best to start somewhere in the middle third of the line. There were exceptions to this of course, and good starts were made from all points on the line but conditions were so shifty that this varied from race to race.
The beat was very nearly a port tack fetch, with big left lifts in the gusts and also some completely flat patches and then a very tricky area at the top mark and the spreader where it proved necessary to put in a tack to make the spreader in some races.
After all this the racing was extremely close so even when the leader, or a leading group, was able to make a break this was likely to be neutralised on the run or the beat back to the line.
Afer John B had to leave the wins were shared between Mike, James and Clive, with Mike just emerging the winner from James and Clive with these first three covered by three points as shown below. Racing remained very keen throughout the fleet with almost everyone counting both some good scores and having to count some poor ones as shown below in detail.
7 skippers took to the water, which considering 4 regulars were missing for one reason or another was a good turnout. As is almost the norm for the social racing, the starts were self monitored and the first to finish recorded the results. A standard course was set utilising the full length of the lake with single laps to keep the races flowing.
The racing was generally quite close, with 6 of the 7 skippers taking a podium positions and 4 posting bullets. Clive was the pick of the bunch posting 6 wins, and it was great to see the return of Neil after a few weeks posting a couple of wins and sailed as consistently as anyone notching up a good set of results. Consistency was the key to the day and taking the opportunities when you had the chance and Richard Walker was doing just this with all his results in the top 3, before he had to leave early after 5 races. Stuart took the overall win in the Mearns family although Andy had his fair share of wins over his brother, but the consistency let him down. Further down the fleet Malcolm and Steve were having there own private battle with Malcolm also posting a very impressive2nd in race 8. After 11 races with a softening wind we decided to call it a day.
Overall, an enjoyable afternoons racing, the 95s seem to handle the shifty conditions much better than the 65s, or were we just getting more used to it.
At the start of the day the wind (what there was) was from the east, meaning from the clubhouse end and slightly from the industrial park side, no option for Rigs it had to be top suit. A standard course was set utilising the full length of the lake, but due to the uncertainty of the wind or lack of, the number of laps varied between 1 and 2 depending on the wind at the start of each race.
Race 2 saw John Brierley get into his stride and take a narrow win from Clive and John Beech who showed good boat speed.
As the wind came and went John B and Clive were consistently at the front end of the fleet with John generally having the edge at the finish.
Race 5 and 6 John was out front again ,but this time in race 5 it was Dave who was chasing finishing in second with Clive third and in race 6 it was Clive second with Alan third.
Races 7,8 and 9, followed the familiar pattern of John B first, Clive second and third podium spot being filled by Dave, John Beech, and Alan (1 each)
Race 12, and it looked like Clive would make it a hat trick of wins leading for a lap and a half only to be becalmed at the weather mark and John B and Dave turn a 30m deficit and into a 10m advantage which was held to the finish.
Guy had his portable anemometer out and it showed gusts of 16 knots, although it must be a cheapo from Tandy’s because it lied! Speke Airport was gusting 36 knots blowing from the WNW so you can imagine it was very choppy down the clubhouse end of the lake.
C Rigs was the call as this is the smallest suit the 65’s carry. Boat handling and consistency paid off as ever. Very challenging conditions in the rain and squalls. Many a lament as skippers struggled to tack and found themselves in irons to great cost in the placings.
Our thanks to Malcom who sadly did not have a C Rig and so elected to be Rave (sic) Officer and photographer. Do join us again next week for yet another great Rave!
The wind continued to blow straight down the lake from the far end providing almost perfect sailing conditions for the six skippers who took to the water for an afternoon of DF95 sailing. The only downside was the intermittent rain showers and the cold wind, but you can’t have it all. The wind strength was perfect for C rigs an unusual sight at Gautby Rd.
A standard course was set with only one lap to maximise the number of races, with only six boats on the start line the starts were self monitored and the normal first to finish recorded the results.
Race 1, saw field split into 2 groups, with Clive, Alan and Guy taking the podium spots. There was then a gap to the other 3 boats.
The handicapping worked to close the gap between competitors, during the next 6 races all skippers visiting podium at least once. However they couldn’t catch Clive who had a very solid day posting 7 wins in the first 7 races. After bailing the water out of his boat Alan seemed to struggle to repeat his first race result whilst Stuart improved to post a string of 4 seconds. Steve also profited from the handicapping with 2 thirds, with Malcolm chipping in also with a third. It took a bit of team work in the last race to prevent Clive having a clean sweep, when Guy took Clive out whilst battling for the lead on the final leg to allow Alan and Stuart through.
In summary a great afternoon sailing, with near perfect C rig conditions, but after 8 races the skippers returned to the clubhouse to dry off and warm up.
15 skippers arrived for Round 2 and Pop-Up Open of this years IOM Summer Series with a light North Westerly wind flowing directly down the lake.
The field included 3 of our GBR team skippers, a hopeful reserve, 2 of the Worlds Race Team and a number of regulars on the Ranking circuit.
Racing got underway just after 10 am with Brad Gibson fast out of the blocks taking the first 2 races with Peter Baldwin, Graham Eliiott and Simon Fairman filling the early places.
After a slow start, Martin Roberts put his first win of the day down in race 3 in the light conditions with all having moments in the tricky upper course of variable shifts and wind pressure.
Races 4 and 5 were wins for Brad who was looking comfortable who along with Martin, were putting together clean starts and extending with low risk course management. Derek Priestly, Darin Ballington and Colin McGinnis were getting in amongst the placings up until a lunch break after race 8.
The afternoon session saw an increase in the wind of mid to at times upper range A rig. Wins were shared between Graham, Martin, Darin, Brad and a late to the party Rob McIntosh with a number of close races seeing the boats crossing the line in bunches that kept our scoring team on their toes. Like Rob, Paul Middleton shifted up a few gears for a number of podium finishes.
At just on 4pm and with 18 races completed, all retired to the clubhouse for an informal presentation.
Brad came out on top for the day with 10 wins and a couple of 3rds being his worst scoring results showing the level of consistency needed to do well in such a strong field. In second it was Graham (1 win) and Martin (4 wins) rounding out the podium with both having moments of brilliance as they ran through final testing and trims looking forward to the Worlds starting next week.
A warm morning greeted the seven enthusiastic sailors, unfortunately the wind was not so forthcoming and created a very frustrating morning for all.
The start at the top end of the lake was self monitored, although it was vital with the shortage of wind, not to be over on the bell. The first race saw Clive take an easy win with Charles and Dave finding their own wind, overtaking the rest of the fleet to gain a second and third.
The next five races followed a similar pattern in regards to the wind with any advantage slowly (sometimes quickly) wiped out on the way to the finish line. Congratulations to Clive who took three of the races to win overall, and to Alan and Charles for sharing the other three.
To say the day was frustrating wind wise was an understatement, but we managed six races somehow. Thanks go to Dave for calculating the results and taking then photos (as usual).
DF95’s
6 Skippers turned out to put their boats on the water for a “Gautby Rd special conditions” afternoon. The morning was bad enough with wind shifts and holes but in the afternoon it became even worse with the wind attempting to change direction by 180 degrees but never actually making it before switching back. That was the bad part; the good news was the sun shone and fun was had by all. For the wind that materialised, it was predominantly easterly which in plain terms was from the clubhouse end of the lake. The standard windward mark with spreader, then gate and finish at the line halfway up the lake. With only 6 skippers the starts were self monitored and the first to finish recorded the others home.
Competition for places was, as always, closely contested with everyone posting at least 1 podium finish. Stuart T came out of the blocks and took the 1st race from Clive who had a very consistent afternoon despite the conditions with Paul third. Clive then took the next 3 races with Charles posting 2 seconds and Stuart T, Stuart M and Paul filling the rest of the podium spots. As race 4 finished with the boats running across the line the 5th race was started from the clubhouse end of the lake, but shortly after the start the wind swung back to the original direction. Stuart T was in the right place at the right time and took line honours with Clive and Charles filling the next places. In the final race, Clive had a comfortale win with Steve taking a well deserved 2nd place.
After 8 races enough was enough and the wind finally wore our gallant competitors down. It had been a testing day at Gautby Rd by any standards. Well done to Clive who posted5 wins and 3 seconds, pushed by Stuart T with 3 wins, and Charles with 3 thirds, and Paul taking bragging rights in the Mearns household this week.