​A bit of action and drama today. Initially, 10 yachts turned up to sail - one of the best turnouts for RM's in a long time.

The first race ended up being abandoned. For some unknown reason, as each yacht turned around the windward buoy the second time around, they slowed and ended up gravitating towards each other. This necessitated the use of the rescue boat and on closer inspection, someone lost their kite and it was wrapped around the buoy and its line was drifting in such a way that every yacht in the race got caught up in it.

After rescue and much delay, we fnally got under way again in a mix of A and B rigs. This soon changed out to C Rigs for much of the afternoon. The southerly sea reeze was as good as it gets for much of the afternoon.

Just 8 races were completed in the end after the earlier delays, and only with the sailors still able to sail happy to extend the day a bit. 

Unfortunately, we had quite an attrition rate, with just four yachts competing for the last three races.

Some very close finishes in the end today, with Kyle Stewart running out the winner of the day with 12 points, on countback to Stuart Dawes. Two wins to one being the difference.

Rod Marshall took third place today, on 22 points, also on countback to Jeff Byerley.

On handicap today, Jeff Byerley took out first place on 4 rank diff points, with Rod Marshall in second with 3 rank diff points. Third place, on two rank diff points was Kyle Stewart, Stuart Dawes and Phil Turnbull.

Thanks to Les for his Pro work today.

This Wednesday is DF95 Mid Week Handicap at the dam, button press at 11am.

This coming Thursday, MBYC will be hosting an A Class Twilight Series, with the sheds being opened up at 4pm and sailing getting under way as soon as everyone is ready to go. The club "A" is available, so if you'd like to sail it, let Kyle know so it can be set aside for you.

Next Sunday is IOM Scratch at Montrose. With tide conditions in the afternoon not ideal, we will be starting at 10am on Sunday.

Of note also for Sunday, there will be an International Triathlon event on Sunday, which will have the East Derwent Highway and Bowen Bridge closed. The Brooker Highway is open, but expect delays in travelling to Montrose on Sunday.

Kyle

It was a nice warm day with a very suitable 10 knot Northerly blowing down the dam when we arrived this morning. The prospect of good weather (and of course great company) brought out a strong fleet of 17 skippers today although Peter Turner’s boat didn’t make it to water due to electronics trouble.
The wind lightened and backed to the South West as the day proceeded which did mean that the last couple of races turned out to be reaching events.
Kim Potter generously loaned his boat to Rod Jackman today and took on PRO duties himself. Thanks for your great work today Kim.
We did not seem to have as many problems with weed snare today which was a welcome change as it has caused plenty of trouble over recent weeks.
Often the day will favour a particular group of our skippers: either the long handicappers, the back markers, or the mid-fleet skippers – but not so today. Winners were from across the handicap spectrum and the results table totally shuffled.
Third place today went to Peter Germain. A couple of race wins for the woodie!
Second went to Ray Joyce who is regularly in the mix in series results.
Today’s winner was Jammy Jones who had a great day’s racing and had nothing worse than 4th in his total once discards were removed. It was particularly impressive as Jammy had a morning dental appointment and only turned up seconds before the button for the first race. It just shows how important clean teeth are to winning races! Congratulations Jammy!
Coming up:
Tomorrow – an Australia Day special - A Class at the Dam. (11:00 button press). 
Sunday - Marbleheads at Montrose (1:00 button press)
Next Wednesday – being the first Wednesday of the month is DF95’s handicapat the Dam. (11:00 button press).
 
John S

I was not able to be at the dam today, but reports came back to me that the fantastic turnout of eleven sailors enjoyed a real nice sea breeze all afternoon.

It was great to see Rod Jackman back from his holiday on the big island, and Jammy back to Sunday sailing.

Cannot report too much else, so on to the results from the eleven races.

Mathew Gray continued his sparkling form, winning the day on 18 points.

Rod Jackman sailed very consistently (worst kept result a 6th) in second place with 26 points.

Third place was much closer run, with Michael Hickman taking third on 30 points, just edging out Stuart Dawes, one point behind.

Handicap results had Mathew Gray taking the double with 3 rank diff points, with Michael Hickman and David Jones in second with 2 rank diff points.

Thanks to our PRO's today, Les Hanson and Rod Marshall. Your efforts are truly appreciated.

Wednesday is IOM Mid Week Handicap at the dam.

Thursday (Australia Day) is the first A Class scratch event for the year at MBYC, button press at 11am. We have two spare A's available to sail on Thursday for members. Kyle has his spare GothicA that can be used, as well as the trusty club A Class (that Stuart Dawes sailed to third place in the state champs). If you'd like to sail one of these yachts, contact Kyle or John Hall to reserve the yacht.

Next Sunday, 29th January is Marblehead Scratch at MBYC, button press at 1pm.

Kyle

​Peter Sylvester offered to take on PRO duties for today’s IOM handicap at the dam.  Pete sold his V10 IOM earlier this week after only a couple of hours up on the net. He is awaiting a new Katun 2 which a friend will be personally delivering from Croatia.  
 
The light and shifty South-Westerly which greeted us today did not make it easy for the setting of courses and so our thanks to you Pete for excellent work in tricky conditions.  After lunch the wind was stronger (about 10 knots) and more North-Westerly which made for some excellent sailing.
 
Race honors were shared around today with most skippers getting to the podium at some stage.
 
Third place overall went to Ray Joyce with 3 race wins in his total.
 
I took second place. I have managed this position three weeks consecutively – but are now facing a handicap challenge!
 
And today’s winner was Rod Marshall with 5 podium finishes on his sheet. Congratulations Rod!
 
Coming up:
Sunday’s scratch racing will be for DF95’s at the dam – 1:00 button press.
Next Wednesday’s handicap at the dam will be IOM’s – 11:00 button press.
 
John S

Sorry, not much to say today as I wasn't shoreside.

That said, there was a great breeze today, with C and C2's the order of the day.

A bit light on with numbers, but a lot happening this time of year as well, so those that could make it had a great time with the wind available.

Lisa Blackwood came away winner today, with 17 points from 12 races.

Ray Joyce was 6 points away in second, on 23 points with John Cole-Cook a further 4 in arrears in third, on 27 points.

On handicap, Lisa took out todays event also, with 4 net points, with John Hall in second on 2 net points and Andrew Wardrop taking third on 0 net points.

Thanks to Les for his Pro work today.

This Wednesday is IOM Mid Week Handicap at the dam, button press at 11am.

Next Sunday is DF95 Scratch, also at the dam, button press at 1pm.

Kyle

A beautiful blue sky day with a maximum temperature of 26 degrees was predicted and so the 15 skippers that fronted today needed only one more ingredient – wind. It was a bit dozey at first and wasn’t really until after lunch that a consistent sea-breeze had brewed to give the skippers a decent day out at the Dam.

It was great to have Kyle with us today. Some convenient rostering at work may allow him to get a few Wednesday sails over the next couple of months.

Occasionally the situation arises where there is a blanket finish and the PRO cannot write down the sail numbers fast enough. This unfortunately happened in race 8 today which was abandoned and re-sailed. So, simultaneous congratulations and commiserations to Peter Germain and John Hall who finished in first and second place in the abandoned race. Moral victories to you both.

Pete Sylvester had a day of note. Bad morning - great afternoon (with three race wins). Whatever was in Pete’s lunch box was worth having!

John Hall took third place overall today and I managed second. Neither of us had a race win today which I guess demonstrates the importance of consistency in series racing.

Mat Gray was well ahead of the rest of the fleet again and deserved overall honours today. Well sailed Mat!

Sunday’s sailing will be for Marblehead’s 1:00 PM start at Montrose.

And next Wednesday’s handicap will be for IOM’s – 11:00 button at the Dam.

John S

​The first sailing day of the year started out cloudy, cool and without much wind at all, but by the time for button-press the day had started to warm up and with the warmth a light south-wester filtered across the dam. This wind built and backed to the south as the day proceeded providing excellent conditions for DF95 sailing.
 
Only eight skippers fronted for todays event so I am guessing that some are enjoying a holiday break. As usual Andrew Wardrop did an excellent job on PRO duties today.
 
Rod Marshall came to help the PRO but ended up taking the helm of Kim Potter’s yacht when Kim had enough sailing for the day. It was good to see you back today Kim. And some good sailing by Rod too in an unfamiliar boat.
 
Third place overall was taken by Chris Wood who was trying out a new set of light-weight 30 micron sails.
 
I managed to take second place with a couple of race wins and generally more consistency than usual. 
 
Today’s winner was Mat Gray who was in a class of his own: 4 race wins, all podium finishes and minus 6 points overall after bonuses and discards were taken. Well done Mat!
 
IMPORTANT - START TIME CHANGE!
 
Sunday’s racing for IOM’s at Montrose will start at 10:00 AM (not 1:00 PM) due to unfavorable tides in the afternoon. Be aware that the Cadbury's Marathon will be on at this time, so there may be delays in getting into the road to the yacht club. I'd advise not trying to cross over the highway, and for those coming from south of the club, instead go further north and under the highway via Main Rd and back to the yacht club from there.

Next Wednesday’s handicap at the Dam will be for IOM’s with an 11:00 button-press.
 
John S