​A perfect day greeted us today at Risdon Brook Dam. N/NW winds varying from 4-8 knots thoughout, all in a steady direction - meaning we ahd absolutely ideal windward/return legs allowing for a lot of strategy on the upwind beats.

Eleven sailors turned up today and after a small delay with some bouy adjustments, Les soon got us under way.

Unsurprisingly, from the outset, Mat was showing the way, but we had a tight group of yachts challenging for the podioum positions.

For the first time in a long time, we had a protest hearing in one of the races. All handles without emotion or people getting upset, and result determined. My own personal opinion is that these instances should not be shied away from as it gives us all a valuable lesson in this side of sailing, which is very important for when we sail in higher level events.

We got eleven races in int he end, with the breeze threatening to soften in the last few races, but still hung about for us.

Today, Mat Gray was the winner, on 12 points.

Second place went to Lisa Blackwood, 3 points in arrears on 15

Third place, a further three behind, on 18 points, was Mickael Hickman - I believe the first sail day for his V11.

On handicap today, Kyle Stewart came out a clear winner on 4 net points. Equal second, on 1 net point was Lisa Blackwood, John Hall, Andrew Price and Rod Marshall.

Thanks to Les Hanson for his ever consistent Pro duties.

Coming up

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

Next Saturday 6th May is teh Herb Tyson Trophy at MBYC. Button press is 1030. We currently ahve just 5 yachts entered in this event. Should we not get six entries, the day will still go ahead, but it will lose its ranking event status, so please, if you wish to enter, do so as soon as possible. If you would like to have a try sailing the A Class yachts, let me know as we do ahve some yachts about that can be made ready for the day.

Next Sunday, 7th May is the DF95 42 Degrees South Regatta, at Risdon Brook Dam, button press at 1030. This is also a ranking event, with "normal" entries closing tonight and late entries closing on Friday.

Kyle

The forecasted sunny day with a moderate wind was enough to get a good fleet of 16 starters to today's handicap ta the dam. And the forecast did not disappoint either as it was a super day to be sailing. There was a strong Northerly katabatic wind of may be 15 knots when we arrived – enough to fool a few into putting up their B-rigs for the pre-event scratch races. By the time the 11:00 button press had come around though it was pretty evident that the wind was dying and A-rigs were the universal choice. The wind did moderate as the day proceeded and the last races were held in about 3 of 4 knots. But it was an excellent sailing wind!
 
Graeme Cooksey launched his new woodie. A Corbie 6 – beautifully built too! Graeme said that it needed 250 g of weight correctors which shows great building skills as it is difficult to make them come in really light. Graeme only sailed a couple of races today but had a nice second place in one of them.
 
It was good to see John Banks at the Dam today. John helped me do PRO duties and I needed help too as many of the finishes were really tight with most featuring the whole fleet finishing within one minute.
 
Third place today went to Peter Turner. That Mad Max has some real speed given the right conditions. Peter won two races today.
 
Second went to Andrew Wardrop in a welcome return to the podium.
 
And today’s winner was Ricky Price. Ricky seemed to always be near the head of the fleet and finished the day with four race wins in the tally. Congratulations to  the podium place getters!
 
Next IOM day will not be for a fortnight but on that day we thought it would be a good idea to have a ‘weigh-in’ and bring the scales for all boats. Remembering that the legal weight is 4 kg (with battery – ready to sail), it might be worth having a look at you boat in advance!
 
Coming up!
 
Sunday: Scratch racing for IOM’s at the Dam 10:00 button

Next Wednesday: Handicap for DF95’s at the Dam. 11:00 button.
 
John S

​A wonderful Autumn day today. Sun out, but not much breeze about. Only six skippers today, but the small consingent of sailors enjoyed the day thoroughly.

A few early hiccups with a few sailors having to do the drive of shame to get their yacht and batteries (oops).

We transferred sailing to Risdon Brook after assessing conditions at Montrose yesterday and feeling there was too much weed to hold the event.

We had very light conditions all day - hardly exceeding 5 knots most of the day, with the wind dying right out by the time we completed the 11th race, by which time we called it a day.

Supremely consistent sailing by the top two today, with Ray Joyce sailing fantastically well throughout - deserving his win today with just 14 points (worst counted being seconds).

Taking second today, was Stu Dawes, on 18 points - also very consistent throughout.

Big thanks to Les Hanson for taking on the Pro duties today.

Coming Up

Tuesday is Anzac Day. We will be sailing at Montrose from 1pm with "A" class yachts being the focus, but if you don't have an "A", you are more than welcome to bring what you do want to sail for an enjoyable afternoon.

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

Next Sunday is IOM Scratch at the dam. Button press at 10am

Kyle

The dam served us up a blustery North-Wester  of 5 – 20 knots which made getting the right rig choice tricky. We pretty much all chose our A-rigs for the first race but as the morning proceeded knock-downs and pitch-poles in the gusts were common and many changed to their B-rig. At lunch more skippers decided that the B-rig would be wise but it was a poor choice as the wind did settle. Those who sailed the day with the big rig throughout cam out grinning. In fact the top five today were A-rig all day skippers!


It did make for frustration too. Bodge said that he had about 5 rig changes but did not sail a single race where he thought he had the right rig up!


Thanks to our excellent PRO’s Pete Sylvester and Rod Jackman for their vigilant work today. 


Special mention must go to Martin Svensen  for a well sailed 4th overall including a race win and three other podiums too! Well sailed Martin!


Third overall went to John Hall in a good return to form. John was always at the head of the fleet. Second went to Lisa Blackwood with some strong finishes after lunch. But today’s winner was Buzzy Behrens who was pretty much unstoppable – 5 race wins, two 2nd places and an overall points tally of minus 3 pts once discards and bonuses were tallied. Now that’s a good day out! Congratulations to the place getters.


Coming up;
Sunday: The John Emms Trophy series for Marbleheads. 10:30 button at Montrose. Late entries - online

Next Tuesday (Anzac Day). A Class sailing at MBYC from 1pm - later start to allow for those who wish to attend Anzac Day functions. Any other yachts are also welcome.
Next Wednesday: Handicap sailing for IOM’s again. 11:00 button at the dam


John S

​A change to our normal sailing methodology today, with two classes being sailed for the first time in my memory. DF65's started today at 10am, with four sailors fronting. Although low in numbers, we are confident they will increase given the enjoyment today and with the cold, wet weather likely keeping sailors away. Luckily, the predicted rain stayed away for us all day.

We got 6 races away after a delayed start with lack of wind. All very close and enjoyable. Three of the skippers recorded wins today. It was great to see Les Hanson sailing his DF65 - the first time on the water in a long time for him. Hopefuly Les will be sailing more regularly with others sharing the Pro duties.

While racing, John Hall and Stuart Dawes tended to the course buoys and adjusted as necessary, with a few having drifted over the last few weeks. Your assistance there is really appreciated guys.

At 1130, we closed the DF65 racing down and got ready for the DF95's. Nine sailors in the end were sailing. I had some family duties to tend to, so was not there for the second half. That said, it looks like quite close racing by the results, with 5 of the 9 skippers recording race wins and just 6 points separating the top five today.

First place today wet to Mathew Gray, on 18 points. Not having it all his way with just the one race win, but showing serious consistency througout with a worst counted result of 3rd.

Second place - on countback with three race wins - was Rod Jackman on 21 points. Continuing some great form as well.

Third place today, was Michael Hickman, also on 21 points with two race wins.

On handicap today, Rod Jackman and Michael Hickman took out first place, both on 1 net point.

All tied on third place on 0 net points was Mat Gray, Ray Joyce, John Hall, Phil Turnbull, John Short ad Martin Svensen

Thanks to Les Hanson and Rod Marshall for their Pro duties today. Always very appreciated.

On Wednesday, we have our regular IOM Mid Week Handicap, button press at 11am

Next Sunday, we have the RM John Emms Memorial. "Normal" entries have closed, with late entries accepted up to Friday, so if you are intending on sailing, please get those entries in as soon as possible. The link to the entry form is in the normal spot on our Ranking Events page.

Kyle

There was a good fleet of 14 starters at the dam despite mirror calm conditions on the Derwent and a forecast which threatened rain. The wind did filter in nicely for the start of the first race and the mornings races were sailed in a light Northerly (0 – 3 knots). Gusts were coming from the East and by the time we had finished our lunch the wind had settled in from the South-East and had strengthened a knot or two as well.


We used a rotating PRO today which seemed to work quite well. Thanks to all who took a turn. 


Graeme Cooksey is a regular and welcome visitor to Wednesday handicap racing. He is putting the finishing touches on a new wooden Corby 6 and is pretty sure that he will be joining us next week for his maiden race!


The rain started shortly after lunch and intensified through each race. Ultimately we decided to call it a day after 9 races as we were all thoroughly wet.  


I took third place today with some good results in the last couple of races. Buzzy Behrens was back on the dais too taking second spot with his trademark consistency. 


And the clear winner today was Lisa who was a good margin ahead on points and had nothing worse than 4th in the tally after discards were taken. Congratulations Lisa.


Coming up:
Sunday: Scratch racing for DF65's and DF95’s at the dam. 10:00 button-press for the DF65's and 12:00 button press for the DF95's
Next Wednesday: Handicap for IOM’s at the dam. 11:00 button-press

 
John S

Only 8 starters for todays DF95 handicap event at the dam. And it was all pretty quiet at first on the water too as the first races were conducted in not much more than drifting conditions. Our excellent PRO, Andrew Wardrop, decided to call early lunch after just two races, and it was a good call too, as while we were eating the sea breeze filled in nicely and continued to build throughout the afternoon. By the time we had sailed our last race it was getting close to be thinking about a rig change.
 
Apart from Ian Hey who cleaned us up today the points score was fairly close as was the racing with most skippers having the lead at some stage today. Ian finished the day clear ahead on a total of just 3 points once bonuses and discards were taken. Congratulations Bodge!
 
Third and second place today were tied on points and separated only by count back.  I managed to tip out Phil Jackman to take second after finishing well in the last couple of races. Interesting that exactly the same score tie (Phil and myself) happened at yesterday’s racing at Puddleduck vineyard.
 
Coming up:
Sunday:No sailing due to Easter.
Next Wednesday: Its back to IOM. Handicap at Risdon Brook Dam (11:00 button) 
 
John S

​Not able to make it on site today myself, so not much to report.

Six sailors were able to make it this week.

A very close and tight days worth of results between Ray and Lisa.

Ray took out the honors today, with 13 points from 11 races.

Lisa came in second, just one behind on 14 points.

Third place was decided via countback, with Andrew taking the plce on 31 pints from Stu.

On handicap, Andrew was the victor today, with two net points. Lisa came in second with 1 net point, with Ray and Phil tied for third, on 0 net points.

Coming up

We have DF95 Mid Week Handicap on Wednesday at the dam - button press at 11am.

Next Sunday is Easter, so there will be no sailing. The next sail day after that is IOM Mid Week Handicap on Wednesday, 12th April.

Kyle