Final summer scratch at Montrose for this part of the year, with our next scratch day being the start of the Winter Series.

Finally got a day at Montrose, with tide conditions just OK and wind bordeeline on cancelling the days sailing. 

As such, most sailors opted for C2 rigs early on, and as you get in the heavy conditions, we did unfortunately have a bit of attrition to the field, with Stu and Ray having some gremlins spoil their day. The rest of us - apart from John Hall - also had issues through the day, but were able to be resolved within a race or two and back on the water.

During one of the breaks (I think we only had one), Lisa and John wisely gambled on a change to C1 rig, and reaped the rewards in the later sailing session - John reeling off wins in the last five races from his smart decision making.

After nine races were completed, we called it a day, and the results were unsurprising, with John Cole-Cook coming away a comfortable round winner on 9 points.
Second place was Kyle Stewart on 14 points with Lisa Blackwood in third on 21 points.

Thanks to Phil Turnbull today, who came along to watch and soon picked up the scorers pad and did the Pro work for us. It's really appreciated.

Coming up

Wenesday is IOM Mid Week Handicap, button press at 11am. 

Next Sunday is a week off with it being Easter Sunday, but we will be back the following Sunday (7th April) for IOM Southern Tasmanian Championship - Entries available on our website.

Kyle

A South-Westerly was forecast and that is what we got for today’s IOM handicap event at Risdon Brook Dam. The wind was about 8 knots for the first race but intensified throughout the day and in the last race it was up to about 15 knots. It was a shifting and swirling wind too and so working the shifts was the way to win races.
A strong fleet of seventeen was a good turn-out especially as some of the regulars were away today. We used a triangular 7 – 9 – 4 course which worked well and was unchanged throughout the day. A rotating PRO was used. Thanks to all who took their turn. Having a PRO on duty is absolutely essential in windy conditions.
Before starting today Ray replaced buoy 6. This mark has snared quite a few skippers over the last few weeks. Ray has been systematically replacing all the buoys on the course. His new tethering system involves about 1 m of rope from the buoy to short length of heavy chain then more rope to an anchor block on the dam bed. This system is proving to be both durable and difficult to snare yourself on. Thanks Ray for the tremendous effort that you have been putting into this.
Third place today went to Ian Hey. I noticed that Bodge seemed to often work his way back into contention today after finding himself well back – good sailing!
Ray Joyce is having a really strong IOM season this year and took out second place today. 
And today’s winner was Commodore Rod Marshall who is really enjoying his new boat. Nothing worse than 4th for Rod today after discards were taken. Congratulations Rod, Ray and Ian.


Coming up:
Sunday - RM scratch racing at Montrose (1:00 button)
Next Wednesday – IOM handicap racing at RB Dam (11:00 button)

​A difficult day at the dam today with very light winds until the last race by the sounds of it.

Big thanks to Les and Rod for taking the Pro duties for the day. Always very appreciated.

Stu Dawes came away with the round win today with 22 points - an impressive 3 race wins and worst counted score of 4.

Second place was Lisa Blackwood on 25 points. Three race wins and a 5th as worst counted. Also very consistent.

Third place today went to John Hall. Three wins in the first four races had him blasting out of the blocks nicely, maintaining some good finishes throughout with 33 points for the day.

In Silver Division, John Hall came away with first place, on 16 points. 
Phil Turnbull took home second place on 24 points, with Ian Hey just one point bfurther behind on 25 points.

One note from after sailing finished - and a call out for someone who may be "in the know.
Unfortunately, the knot holding the rescue dinghy came loose while being towed back to the lockup and the dinghy fell off the back of the trailer - sustaining some damage to the rear of the skeg, dragging a hole in it which requires repair via plastic welding.

Do any of our members know of a plastic welder that may be able to carry out a simple repair for us in order to make the rescue dinghy ready for service for us again? We should be able to make a temporary repair for Wednesdays sail day, but do need to get a permanent repair completed on it. If you know of somebody that can help, please either let myself or one of the committee know as soon as possible so we can get the repair organised.

Coming Up

IOM Handicap Racing on webdesday at the Dam, button press at 11am

RM Scratch Racing next Sunday at Montrose, button press at 1pm


Kyle

Another lovely day at Risdon Brook Dam! Sunny, a temperature in the mid- twenties, and a light North-Wester (2 or 3 knots) blowing down the dam. By race 6 in the afternoon a sea breeze arrived making for some fun racing with the A-rigs. Close finishes were the order of the day.
The rotating PRO system was used today. Thanks to all who participated.
It was great to see Dave Woolley racing his V11 (the red hulled No.55) for the first time. Dave scored a couple of podium finishes too!
Pete Turner took out third place overall with the Mad Max especially enjoying the light conditions of the morning.
Ray Joyce regularly features in the placings on Wednesday and took out second today. Especially good sailing as otherwise the back markers found it difficult to make an impression on the fleet.
And Today’s winner was Ricky Price with a score-sheet showing that he was consistently at the pointy end of the fleet.
All up it was just enjoyable to be sailing. It was the type of day where you could have easily raced on until sundown.
Coming up:
Sunday: DF95 scratch racing at the dam. (1:00 button)
Next Wednesday: More IOM handicap racing at the dam. (11:00 button)
Shorty

Warm conditions today, and drizzle about for much of the time while sailing. 

Very light to light South to South East wind, with a bit of South West coming in at times. Quite shifty on the water, with some rather large changes in directon encountered turning many hero's into zero's and vice versa thoughout. We all had our fair share in both camps there today.

Thirteen sailors on the water for much of the day - a great turnout - and fantastic to see the skippers taking the responsible options when parking with such a good turnout. Those that are more mobile opting to park on the hill, leaving the concrete apron to those who are less able to get around. Very appreciated to you all.

Les was not able to make it today, so Stu Dawes and John Banks provided us our offical duties today - thanks guys for the work in setting courses, calling the contacts and boats over the line etc. Not an easy day for course setting with the breeze, but we do appreciate the work gone in to setting up the best options we could.

It was nice also to see Mat Gray along to watch for a while. Mat has not sailed yet this year after dislocating his hip and is on a long, slow recovery journey. Great to see him out and watching the sailing for a little while. Big progress seeing you out and about, and hope to see you along again soon, when you are feeling up to it.

Ten races completed today, with the dam specialists really excelling today

Michael Hickman just so consistent today, hardly putting a foot wrong, finishing a well deserved round winner on 16 points.

Three behind in second, was Ray Joyce - also a very consistent day today. Well done to both of you.

Third place today, on 31 points, was Lisa Blackwood.

In Silver fleet today, Rod Marshall retrurned to the top of the leaderboard, on 23 points. Three Silver fleet wins, but notably, a first and second overall as well.

Second in Silver Fleet - on countback - was Andrew Wardrop, on 24 points, from Peter Sylvester.

Great to see such close results.

Coming up

Wednesday is a return to Mid Week IOM Handicap at the Dam, button press at 11am

Sunday 17th March is DF95 Scratch at the Dam, 1pm Button Press

Kyle

It was a lovely sunny day at the dam with the temperature nudging 30 C and a good (but variable) North Westerly wind mostly of 5 – 10 knots. I wasn’t surprised when I arrived to unlock the gates at 9:30 to see Phil Turnbull and Martin Svensen there eager and waiting. Both had very good sails yesterday at Puddleduck and I guess were keen to see if their rich vein of form would continue.
 
PRO Andrew Wardrop set a variety of good courses to match the changing wind conditions. Thanks for your work as usual Andrew.
 
Third place today went to the in-form Phil Turnbull who was backing up a second place in the Peter Smith memorial regatta on Saturday and a win in Tuesday’s Puddleduck event. Phil seems to think that his leaky DF95 is a bit faster than his other one.
 
John Hall took second place after winning the first two races straight off the bat. This is always a risky thing to do on a handicap day so well done John!
 
Today’s winner was Ray Joyce who was very consistent throughout the day. Congratulations Ray.
 
A ‘handicap shakedown’ occurred with this weeks results. When a scratch skipper (Ray) wins the day the top third of the fleet retain their starting handicap while the rest of the skippers (those that have completed enough races) have their handicap reduced by 10 seconds.
 
Coming up!

Sunday IOM scratch racing at Risdon Brook - Change of location due to very low tide again (1:00 button)

Next Wednesday IOM handicap at Risdon Brook Dam (11:00 button)
 
Shorty