There was a really nice Northerly of about 12 knots blowing straight down Risdon Brook Dam this morning but it did make Rig choice a difficult to decision. Eventually we all chose to opt for B-rig which worked well for the morning sail. The wind did moderate a knot or two during the day and while an A-rig could have been useful in the late afternoon races everybody stayed with their B-rig.
It was pretty much a perfect wind for IOM sailing with just enough shifts and gusts to make the sailing interesting.
Rod Viney and Mick Rowley have been regular spectators in recent weeks and this week helped with the starting and finishing of races during the morning. Rod has just launched a DF95 and hopes to be joining us for next weeks DF95 handicap racing. In the afternoon Leigh Behrens was about and he was able to assist Lisa with recording duties. Thanks Rod, Mick, Leigh and Lisa.
Tight racing today, with third place a three way count-back between Andrew Wardrop, Phil Jackman and Ray Joyce, who were all locked up on 24 points. It was very tight actually as all skippers had one race win a-piece and Phil and Ray also scoring the same number of 2nd and 3rd placings as each other. Ray took the podium spot with a 4th place in his mix.
I had a good day out taking second spot with four race wins and really good boat speed especially early in the day. I was particularly pleased with my win in race 7 as by that stage my handicap had made me the scratch marker, starting last off the grid.
It was John Hall who took out the day. He was without doubt the most consistently good skipper and finished with two race wins and four second places. Congratulations John!


Coming up:
Sunday: The club Annual General Meeting 10:30 AM at Montrose Yacht Club. After the meeting we will move to Risdon Brook Dam for IOM scratch racing.
Next Wednesday: DF95 handicap racing at Risdon Brook Dam 11:00 button.
Shorty

A very cool start at the dam today, with thermals, gloves and beanies the order of the day. 

Seven skippers turned up for todays event - with thehelp of Richard Fisher as a late entry with Lisa generously loaning her Skalpel as well as NSW visitor, John Wyatt, who sailed Kyle's first Indie build. Thanks to both for joining in for the day's event. It was really appreciated and hope you both really enjoyed the day.

The wind gods listened to us and we were greeted with a nice 12-14 knot northerly - although coming down from the higlands - had a real chill to it.

We carried the first four races with B rigs, unlit the wind abated, and then it was the swing rigs for the remainder of the day, with the wind dropping to near nothing by the time we called an end to the sailing just prior to 3.30pm.

Ray dominated early, with seven wins from the first seven races, with Kyle not far behind with five seconds at the same time, with Lisa pushing them both, just behind the front two in third.

The racing was really close, and sailed in very good spirits, with many of the race results having 4 yachts within a few boat lengths of each other - ften just the lead or 2nd boat breaking out and the rest of the field sailing some very close quarters tactics.

After the lunch break, some teaking to Kyle's swing setup reaped some real rewards with three wins in a row, before Richard Fisher closed out the day with three wins on the trot as well.

Throughout the day, every skipper made the podium on at least two races, so although there was a bit of a points difference in the end, the sailing was quite close overall.

By the end of the 13th race, Kyle was able to just hold out with a win on 25 points.

Coming in second, just two behind, was Ray on 27.

Third place today was Lisa, on 34 points.

A big thanks to Les for his PRO work today. Nice quick turnarounds between races gave us those 13 races.

Coming up

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

Next Sunday is our AGM at MBYC at 1030, followed straight after with IOM Scratch at the dam. We will sail 3 hrs from the first button press to give the same time as a notmal scratch day

Kyle

The day was overcast and cool and the track a bit muddy but the 5 – 8 knot North-Westerly was absolutely perfect for sailing IOM’s at Risdon Brook Dam today. The wind maintained its strength and direction throughout the day and racing was completed using the same course all day.
Today’s honourable mention goes to Martin Svensen who had three good race wins and a second place to finish 4th overall. This was especially solid confident sailing by Martin and followed a strong day at Puddleduck with the DF65 yesterday. Martin’s last race win today came after he had whittled his handicap back to the main group. 
I took out 3rd place overall today finishing the event with a race win.
First and second places were tied on points and shared between Rob Cooney and Paul Matthews. Rob claimed the day on count-back, but checking the results both had two race wins, both had two 2nd places, and both had one 3rd place. It was down to Rob having a 4th beating Paul’s next best - 5th ! Congratulations to you both!
COMING UP:
Sunday: Marblehead Southern Tasmania Championships at Risdon Brook Dam. (10:15 briefing for a 10:30 button-press) Late entries can be made on-line.
Next Wednesday: IOM handicap at Risdon Brook Dam. (Button-press at 11:00)
And don’t forget the club Annual General Meeting is on Sunday 2nd June at 10:30 at Montrose. The meeting will be followed by IOM racing.


Shorty

There was a Northerly of about 10 knots when we arrived at Risdon Brook Dam for today’s IOM handicap racing. By the time that we were ready to rig up it had picked up to about 15 knots causing those who has rigged at home to change down to B-rigs. There were significant light patches but the B-rig was needed as there were substantial gusty squalls as well. The good thing was that the choice of B-rig was universal and so we at least the playing field was level.
 
Andrew Floyd didn’t make the start line today with electronics trouble but he did stay on until lunch to do PRO work. Thanks Andrew.
 
Today’s racing was a ‘handicap shield’ event. Generally the handicap shield races fall on the second Wednesday of each month (as noted in our race calendar) but if racing is cancelled on that day (as it was last week) then it is forwarded to the next racing Wednesday.
 
A few of the skippers expressed their disappointment about the weather last week causing us to cancel our trip to Forcett. So I think we might try to organise a ‘day out’ at some stage later in the year.
 
It was enjoyable sailing today even though the conditions were challenging. In many of the races tail-enders were able to make up good ground with gusts coming from behind. Many of the finishes were very close. Often the short leg from the gate to the finish changed the finishing order completely.
 
Today’s winner was Chris Wood who dominated the podium and had three race wins. It was a particularly impressive performance especially considering that Chris started well behind the rest of the fleet for every race.
 
Second place went to John Hall who sailed particularly well in the morning session.
 
And third was Commodore, Rod Marshall sailing the wooden Blitz today.  Rod seems to have the new handicap system well figured already. Fourteen podium points are required before a handicap penalty is applied for the next week. (Rod finished with 13.2!)
 
Congratulations Chris, John and Rod.
 
COMING UP;
Sunday: RM scratch racing at the dam. (10:00 button press) - Reminder that the day is open for any other yachts to come along and sail as well as we anticipate few Marbleheads on the day. RM Scratch will count as a scratch day if we have four Marbleheads sailing, otherwise it will be a "general sail day".

Next Wednesday: IOM handicap racing at the dam. (11:00 button press)

Note that Saturday's scheduled A Class Scratch has been cancelled due to a lack of confirmed numbers with an amount of regular skippers being unavailable on the day.

News from within the club
The committee have been busy working on possible solutions to access issues at Montrose at the point and we would like to share some exciting news that has recently developed for us. 
Ian Hey was enjoying a coffee with a friend, who was talking about a floating pontoon that he knew of that was possibly surplus to requirements, and Ian mentioned that the club could use such a platform at our Montrose sailing area. After a few phone calls and a site visit by Rod and Kyle to inspect it, we have been able to secure it, a Sailability T-Dock, which will be a very useful asset for us to gain safe access to the water at the point, as well as access at the front of Montrose Clubhouse and at the Dam if required.
We will shortly have this in our posession and will be working with council for possible attachment solutions at the point.
A big thanks to Ian Hey for his work in getting this moving, and thinking of the club when the topic came about. A fantastic example where you don't need to be a committee member to help the club. Anybody - if they hear or know of anything that can be of benefit to the club - can simply contact any committee member for it to be brought up and we will certainly discuss and act on it accordingly.

Another very light day today.

On arrival at the dam, it was entirely glassed out and enthusiasm was low, with not much expectation of wind for the day, however, a little bit did arrive by button press.

Eleven skippers fronted by the start of the day and our Pro's for the day, Les Hanson and Rod Marshal soon had us under way.

We quickly tied back to back races together to get enough in, with the expectation of very little racing after lunch, but we did get a few more in than expected, and in the end, finished with 10 races for the day, before again calling the day early with the wind packing it in for the day on us.

Similar to yesterday, most sailors had some time in the sun as such, gaining podium finishes - with one seemingly wondering if the sun even came up today....

In the end, Lisa Blackwood book-ended the weekend with another win, taking out the 42 Degrees South Regatta on 22 points.

Ray Joyce came in second on countback on 22 points.

Stuart Dawes took third place, also on 30 points.

In Silver Division, John Hall came away with the win on 16 points, on counback from Phil Jackman in second, also on 16 points.
Phil Turnbull claimed third spot on 18 points, also on countback - such was the closeness in the division.

A point to make for clarification on points score in Silver fleet as it was asked at the dam today, the scores in Silver fleet are tallied up amongst the Silver Fleet skippers in the absence of any other skippers. Example in race 1, John Hall finished 2nd overall and John Short 5th, but in Silver Fleet, their scores are 1st and 2nd.

Coming up

Wednesday is IOM Mid Week Handicap at relocated venue, Forcett Lakes, button press at 11am

Next Sunday (Mothers Day) has no scheduled scratch sailing but there seems to be some demand for sailing on the day. Please let me know if you'd like to sail at the normal time (10-1) and if there are enough (6), we will open the dam up for a sail day for the interested members.

Kyle

​Very light conditions today, with the wind from the North West for much of the day. Dying right off at about 2.30, where we decided to call the day a bit early - a good call in hindsight, with the dam glassed out for the remainder of the afternoon.

Seven skippers fronted for this years event, six Blisters of various versions and a Sweet 9.

Nine races completed for the event, expertly run by Les Hanson.

Some very close racing amongst everyone throughout, with all competitors enjoying time at the pointy end of the field, but by the end of most of the races, a few regular suspects kept edging out in the front three or four positions.

Of note, all seven skippers took at least one podium result in a race during the day.

By the end of the nnth race, the winner was decided by the narrowest of margins, with Lisa Blackwood winning the 2024 installment of the Herb Tyson Memrial Trophy with 11 points.

In second place, just one point behind, was Michael Hickman on 12 points.

Rounding out the top three was Kyle Stewart on 18 points.

Coming up

Tomorrow is the DF95 42 Degree South Regatta, at Risdon Brook Dam. Button press is at 1030.

Kyle

There was a quite decent 8 – 10 knots of North-Westerly wind when we arrived at the dam for today’s DF95 handicap racing. After a couple of decent scratch races it was time to start the handicap series but that was somehow a signal for the wind to die. By the time the second race was complete it was pretty much drifting conditions. We optimistically had lunch a little early after race 3 hoping for the wind to return. Unfortunately not! We had two further races in the afternoon and then called it a day. Huge thanks to our DF95 PRO Andrew Wardrop for ensuring that we at least completed a series.
Keeping your boat moving was the key to success today and no-one did that better than John Hall who is proving to be a bit of a DF95 specialist and won the day by a good margin. 
Rod Jackman tagged in Lisa for the afternoon session and the pair managed to take out second place in a count-back decision from Phil Turnbull. Congratualtions to John, Rod, Lisa and Phil!
In fact count-back decisions were the order of the day. Looking down the scoreboard there were ties for 2nd/3rd and 4th/5th and 6th/7th and 8th/9th!
IMPORTANT VENUE CHANGE!
Next Wednesday we will be unable to use our facility at Risdon Brook dam due to school cross country events. Our friends at the Forcett club have offered us the opportunity to race next Wednesday on their course at Forcett Lakes. So huge thanks to them for this.
COMING UP:
Saturday: Herb Tyson Memorial Trophy for A Class at Risdon Brook Dam. Enter online. 10:30 briefing for a 11:00 button press. Access to the dam from 10:00 due to the weekly Park Run that is on earlier in the day and we need to allow them to finish.
Sunday: 42 degrees South DF95 regatta at Risdon Brook Dam. Enter online. 10:15 briefing for a 10:30 button press.
Next Wednesday: IOM handicap racing at Forcett Lakes. 11:00 button press.

A few people have asked about the calendar on our website as it is in a bit of a different format. We have had to re-install the calendar, and had issues getting it back to the "agenda" viw as standard, however, with a bit of Google searching, we ahve finally found the solution and this has now been rectified - thanks to the University of Google :)


Shorty