A very consistently sailed day by Peter Germain our itinerant Quasmanian who is migrating back to the land of    cane toads & xxxx beer shortly, taking out this weeks Handicap. Great to see such a fine turnout as far as numbers are concerned.The morning started with the usual scratch racing in mid A  conditions with NE/E breeze on a course in front of the clubhouse for some close racing however sailing into the sun proved to be difficult so the course was changed to the bay which was not ideal but an improvement. There were 18 boats today which is the best turnout since Christmas. All in all a very good day.

At Montrose today we had a very welcome visit from Dr Rodney Ford from the Canterbury Model Yacht Club in Christchurch NZ. Rod told us that his club with 50 members sails  Canterbury J Class yachts with regular fleets of 25 boats. Rod took this photo of a very nice woody with one of the local dubious characters standing behind.

9 IOM skippers turned up today for the first round of the IOM Winter Scratch Series. The weather forecasters got it pretty wrong and the sailors were greeted with a nice day, with a good, steady 8-13 Knot NW breeze. A bit of glare off the water with the sun being lower, but other than that, close to perfect conditions.
Congratulations to Ray Joyce in taking out the first round, with a very consistent days racing, with Rod Jackman and Mike Hickman right on his heels. Lisa Blackwell also not too far behind.
http://mysailingresults.com/results_embed.asp?eventid=290

A solid start to the Winter Handicap days with twelve sailors turning up. Great so see such a close result, with seven skippers within 5 points, showing the handicaps used on the day were pretty much on the money.
https://mysailingresults.com/results_embed.asp?eventid=291
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In light winds and an outgoing tide sailing was tricky to say the least with a very bad start line set. The windward end of the line was the only place to be for starting today.
 
Some skippers again found themselves parked on buoys,  but Kim and Ted did well today to keep clear although Kim did have one wrapped around on the keel of his boat on the hard standing before the first race.  Sometimes it just happens.
 
Quite a few skippers were parked on the rocks in the shallows though, maybe a couple of pairs of wadders should be purchased by the club.
 
The old felloe of Dr. WHO  fame again shone on the day and took home the bottle of wine, Well done Rod.
 
Rod finished on 21 points followed by Tony Brewer with 13 points with Rod Marshall third with 12 points.  Then followed Kim Potter (no buoys today) with 11 points.  Next came Stuart Harris and John Smith with 10 points, Ray Joyce 9 points.  Ted Laing and Geoff Matthews with 8 points, Wayne Behrens 7points, Dave Murfit 5 points, Don Mcloud 4 points, Phil Turnbull and Andrew Wardrop 1 point each and Dennis Perry  on zero.  Allan McKenzie also had 0 points but did not rig his boat.
 
Due to the light winds and outgoing tide many skippers missed their starting time.
 
This being the last race of the summer series I have added up the points and congratulate Phi Turnbull on winning the handicap series.
 
Phil finished with 157 points with Kim Potter second with 141 points and Geoff Mathews third on 130 points.  What could have happened had Kim stayed away from the buoys and Geoff had sailed the right boat.
Andrew Wardrop was next with 124 points but Andrew to his credit was always the first skipper to help out with the rescue dinghy when other skippers was in trouble. Then came Wayne Turner on 112 points, Rod Jackman 111 points, John Smith 108 points, Wayne Behrens 107 points, David Jones 105 points, Peter Germein and Don Mcloud with 100 points, John Banks 93 points, Tony Brewer 91 points, Rod Marshall 84 points, Ray Joyce 80 points, Stuart Harris 75 points, Rob Cooney 74 points, Ted Laing 67 points, Dennis Lees 65 points, Dave Murfit 62 points, John Hall 52 points, Rob Gavin 37 points, Peter Sylvester 23 points,Geoff Rainbow 21 points, Dave Williams, Richard Barwick and John Cole Cook with 12 point, Dennis Berry 8 points and Lisa Blackwood 5 points.
 
The scratch series was won by David Jones with 200 points followed by Ray Joyce 176 points, Rod Marshall 129 points, Peter Sylvester 124  points, Chris Wood 84 points Andrew Wardrop 79 points, Rod Jackman 78 points Kyle Stuart 68 points, John Cole Cook 31 points Tony Brewer 26 points and Wayne Behrens with 17 points.
 
I have enjoyed the series, and with more attention paid to sailing within the spirit of the rules, Wednesday sailing would be even better.
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As stated earlier Andrew Wardrop always gave up sailing to help others as did Tony Brewer, and Rod Jackman.
 
I hope to be sailing again soon.
 
Please give Wayne Behrens as much help as you did me but he would certainly appreciate more.
 
For the last time
Wednesday Coordinator
John Banks      

​Light winds was the order of the morning at Montrose with just 2 scratch races before the handicap events started.  With light fading wind only another 2 races were sailed before the PRO went for an early lunch.
 
With a new course set in the afternoon there was pleasant sailing for the afternoon.
 
Kim Potter again showed his affection for the buoys but not only getting caught up he also altered the course for the day. Maybe next week he will get it right.
 
Three skippers were separated by only 2 points going into the last race.
 
Ted Laing didn’t start and Wayne Behrens found a nice rock to sit on.  This left it open for John Hall to win the bottle of white wine. 
 
John Finished on 24 points followed by Wayne Behrens with 21 points and Ted Laing on 20 points.  Ray Joyce and Rod Jackman were next with 18 points, Tony Brewer 15 points, Andrew Wardrop 12 points, Phil Turnbull 10 points, David Jones 9 points, Stuart Harris 7 points, Kim Potter 2 points, Dave Murfit, Dennis Perry and John Cole Cook with 0 points.
 
Next week is the last day of summer handicap racing so come along to Montrose and have a sail. If you don’t you could be losing points that may win you the series.
 
Wednesday Coordinator
John Banks   

​A few scratch races in light northwest winds once around a short tight course did no predict what was to come in today’s handicap racing.
 
Rod Jackman nearly at his best
 
As the gun went for the first race two boats became one and race boats had to manoeuvre around them.  Half way through the race with the boats still causing a problem Andrew Wardrop (as he does on many occasions)  and with Tony Brewer assisting him retired from the race to rescue the two boats caught together.  It is this kind of sportsmanship that builds a good club.
 
Ted Laing jumped out of the box early to win the first race from Rod Jackman with Stuart Harris third.
The second race went to Kim Potter with Andrew Wardrop second and Tony Brewer third.  Just rewards as they went to assist boats in trouble.
From this race on wards Kim Potter and Ted Laing had a problem getting past the second mark as they took turns to tangle their keels on the mooring line.
The third race went to David Jones Rod Jackman second and third to Phil Turnbull.
Forth race was won by Rod Jackman Andrew Wardrop second and Stuart Harris third.
The fifth race Rod Jackman again got the gun  with Dave Murfit second and Stuart Harris third.
Three in a row for Rod with David Jones second and three thirds in a row for Stuart  Harris.
The last race went to a ring in sailing Kim Potters boat followed by Rod Jackman and Tony Brewer third.
Not a pleasant day at the Dam but an enjoyable day at Montrose.
 
Final points for the day was Rod Jackman first with 35 points David Jones and Tony Brewer equal second on 17 points. Then came Stuart Harris on 16 points, Andrew Wardrop 14 points, Phil Turnbull13 points, Kim Potter 12 points, Ted Laing 10 points, David Murfit 7 points, Dennis Lees 5 points.
Bad luck is still snapping at Wayne Turner who found the rocks in a few races to take paint off the keel but no happy with that he dropped his radio in the river a well, it can only improve Wayne.
 
The summer series finishes at the last Wednesday of this month (March) so come along and have a sail at Montrose it isn’t that bad.
 
Wednesday coordinator
John Banks

With the Long Weekend and the 2.4m national Championships being held this weekend, skippers were contacted where possible and we only had three confirmed sailors today, so Round 2 of the RM Scratch Summer Series was called off. 
Back to IOM's next, with the Perpetual IOM Handicap Perpetual Trophy Round 1 on Wednesday and IOM Scratch Summer Series (Round 4) next Sunday.