A cool, grey, overcast morning and a very light westerly greeted skippers for the re sailing of the IOM Mid Winter Challenge today, and indeed it was looking like it would be another challenge to get any racing in, but there were enough zephyrs coming through to keep things moving and racing commenced after the usual proceedings of a ranking event took place, shortly after 10:30 AM. Principal Race Officer for the day was Les Hanson, ably assisted by the Commodore, David Murfet. Right at the start, a big THANKYOU from all the skippers to both of you for a well run event. Another thankyou goes to JB's Catering, but I will talk more on him later.

Nine skippers fronted the starting gun for shortened Race 1 in conditions that can only be described as PuffLotto (I might copyright that!). Ray Joyce started his score card of well winning from the Silver Fox (aka Peter Darcy) and myself third. Race 2 saw the John Nieuwenhuizen join the fleet to take numbers up to 10 boats for the day. Rod Jackman returned from his mid winter challenge to escape Tassie's winter, to take line honours from myself and David Jones with his new WHITE not PINK V9 in third. Bruce Rose continued his current form winning Race 3 from myself and Rod third. After 3 races,  I held a 4 point lead from Rod, Bruce and Ray all tied on 11 points. By now, the clouds were beginning to burn off as the sun shone through, bringing  hope for a little more breeze. New Team V9 rookie David Jones, sailed his new WHITE boat to victory in Race 4 with Darcy finishing second. Rod Jackman sailed his V8 into third place and first place on the leader board after the first drop, on countback from me and Bruce and Darcy tied for third. Bruce Rose scored his second win in Race 5 with Ray Joyce coming home second, David Jones third. Bruce now claimed the leader board with 11 points, on countback from me again, Ray Joyce claimed third place with 13 points, 1 point ahead of Rod Jackman, 1 point ahead of Andrew Wardrop who was 1 point ahead of Darcy in 6th position. With the breeze about to give up, lunch was called and JB's Catering provided the finest cuisine one would expect from such an reputable vendor.

By lunch end, the breeze had filled in a little, but more from the west which meant for a light airs reaching start. Bruce set up a hat trick winning Race 6 with Team V9's Silver Fox and yours truly in the minor positions. The Silver Fox denied Bruce his hat trick when he chalked up another bullet in Race 7 after he skirted the fleet on the run with his own personal wave of pressure. David Jones showed he is getting use to the new V9 with a second place and Ray Joyce sail consistently to claim third.  Bruce now led by 1 point from Darc and me on countback on 19 points, with Ray 1 point behind and Andrew in 5th with 22 points. By now the breeze had swung left with the first whiffs of sea breeze hitting the dam making for a more windward start to the southern bouys. I scored my first win for the day in Race 8 with that pesky fox in second and the Zero boat in third. The leader board changed again with Darc claiming top spot from myself on countback, both 15 points, Bruce in third place with 18 points, Ray fourth with 19 points and Andrew Wardrop in 5th with 22 points. David Jones took line honours in Race 9 with Darcy sailing consistently into second place and myself third. The hounds couldn't catch the fox in Race 10 with Darcy notching up his second win for the day from David Jones in second and Ken Dobbie making a podium appearance in third place. I scored my second win for the day in Race 11 with John Hall finally making the podium and the consistent Fox in third. Race 12 was the final race of the day and the Silver Fox removed all doubt who would win the day by winning the last in style from Ray Joyce and David Jones.

All in all it was a very pleasant day's racing with a few minor racing incidents that were resolved quickly and without fuss. All skippers must be congratulated on the manner in which they conducted themselves. Twelve races, seven different winners and more changes to the leader board than nappy changes in a maternity ward. The final results were beyond doubt with Peter Darcy sailing consistently well to win the day on 22 points from yours truly on 27 points. A 10 point cumulative error saw third place go to Ray Joyce and not Andrew Wardrop as announced after sailing. Sorry Andrew, the scorer's curse strikes you again.

There where murmuring's to form a lynch mob after JB's Catering took off with the post race beverages, but after considering the fine job he did of feeding and watering us at lunch, we decided he could live.

Next week is Round 1 of the IOM Summer Series with scratch racing in the morning and handicap racing in the afternoon.

Til then, wet sails,

Stuart Dawes

Not ideal conditions for sailing today with cool and overcast conditions and a very light, very funky hole with a bit of wind here and there. Good to see the return of new members Alan McKenzie and John Deegan, and also David Jones with his new V9 and A sails made from that Code Zero stuff (it's proper name eludes me at this point). PRO for the day was Peter Sylvester and after administering the handicaps, marshalled the 13 skippers and their boats for Race 1.

John Deegan must have had a grin on his face after notching up a win in his first ever race at the Brook. John Banks was second and Bruce Rose third. Stu Harris took honours in Race 2 with Wayne Behrens second and John Banks on the podium again with a third place. Race 3 was won by backmarker The Silver Fox (aka Darcy) for Team V9, followed by the red dragon Andrew Wardrop and Stu Harris again in third. Another winner in Race 5 with backmarker Ray Joyce finding the fastest way home as did Stu Harris and Tony Brewer. There was enough breeze around for Race 6 so a long distance race was gambolled and handicaps adjusted accordingly. Stu Harris managed the condition the best winning the race from Rob Cooney and Darcy for third.

Two Plonk Trophies were up for grabs today; 1 for those starting on 20 seconds or less and 1 for the rest to squabble over. John Banks won the B Fleet award and Bruce Rose won the A Fleet award and a healthy addition to his handicap to place him in the fleet where he should be! Second overall was Rob Cooney and John Banks third.

Today was also the virgin voyage of the camera boat. I have installed an action camera on my Marblehead and sailed around with the fleet as they were racing. With only the B Rig on and the light conditions it was a struggle to keep up with the IOM's when it was really light but the vision is very good and after editing will, I'm sure, make for some interesting viewing. Stay tuned.

Next Sundays scheduled All Club Invitational has been cancelled due to L.O.I. so the IOM Mid Winter Challenge will be re-sailed. Briefing at 10:15, racing from 10:30 AM. All boats to be weighted prior to launching.

Till then, wet sails,

Stuart Dawes.

Yet another fine spring day at Risdon Brook today with a light nor-wester and the usual puffs and shifts. PRO Stu Harris got racing under way with 11 boats hitting the water for Race 1. The master of Risdon Brook, Lisa Blackwood, took an early lead on the leader board winning the first two races, with John Hall and myself in the minor positions in Race 1 and Andrew Wardrop and myself in the minors for Race 2. I took line honours in Race 3 with Ray Joyce second and Lisa third. Once again, Lisa won Race 4 followed by Ray in second place and Peter Sylvester in third place which he used as a warm up to win Race 5 with Andrew Wardrop in second and Lisa third. Race 6 saw Wayne Behrens step up to the podium along with Peter in second and Andrew in third.

The wind was almost gone after Race 6 so lunch was called. Racing resumed with a very fickle breeze with a bit of north to north east in it at times, so a shorter course was set.  Lisa's domination continued in Race 7 with John Hall second and myself in third place. Race 8 saw Ray Joyce take the win from Andrew Wardrop and Wayne Behrens. Lisa gabbed another bullet in Race 9 from myself and Andrew in third. Ray Joyce took another win in Race 10 followed by Lisa and Andrew. I scored my second win for the day in Race 11 with Lisa and Andrew filling the minor spots. The domination continued in the twelfth and final race of the day with Lisa getting the nod from John Hall and myself in third.

Final results saw Lisa win the day streets ahead of the rest of us on 16 points. Second place went to count back between Andrew Wardrop and myself, my two wins enough to secure second spot for the day and Andrew third, both almost double the score of Lisa, on 30 points.

Next Sunday is scheduled as a Combined Club Invitation day, but there was talk of resailing the IOM Mid Winter Challenge instead. I'm sure the committee will advise us if this is the case.

Till then, Wet sails,

Stuart Dawes. 

Another fine day at Risdon Brook for the mid week Handicap Series today with an up and down gentle nor-wester to 5-8 knots. Last week's winner Ray Joyce was PRO and duly gave the thirteen skippers their required dosage of handicaps, on the usual 1 lap course. Anthony Castray returned from his sailing voyage to win the first race off scratch with Pete Sylvester off 20 seconds in second and John Banks off scratch in third. Race 2 saw the Silver Fox with his Chinze off a 30 seconds take line honours from John Banks off 10 seconds and myself off 1:10 in third. Pete Sylvester visited the podium again in Race 3 winning from Andrew Wardrop and Darcy. Race 4 was Long Distance with adjusted handicaps. Rob Cooney got home first off scratch followed by Bruce Rose off 30 seconds and Anthony Castray off 45 seconds. Pete Sylvester bagged another win off 30 seconds in the fifth race from Bruce Rose off 20 seconds and Dave Murfet of scratch in third.

Before the last race, Peter Sylvester was at the top of the leader board, five points clear ahead on 10 points. Rob Cooney and Bruce Rose were tied for second place on 15 points, John Banks on 18 points, Darcy, Anthony and myself all 1 point behind on 19 points. Second and third was up for grabs. I pulled a win out of somewhere with Pete Sylvester second and Anthony Castray third.

In the end, Peter Sylvester managed to with the day by the skin of his teeth, on count back from Rob Cooney. A win in the last rocketed me from 7th to take third place overall.

Next Sunday is the final round of the Winter Series for Marblehead class. with racing commencing from 11:00 AM.

Till then, wet sails,

Stuart Dawes

I hope all Fathers had a pleasurable day today. Not a bad turn-up for today’s Long Distance racing with ten skippers rigging up, seven with IOM’s and three with Marbleheads.  A pleasant sunny spring day with a light but puffy breeze with a lot of north in it and a lot of holes to fall into as well. I got volunteered to do PRO duties so gave everyone their handicaps for Race1. John Neihwenhuizen (sailing his new, my old Pikanto) and Ron Barret were off scratch, Peter Sylvester off 30 seconds, Stu Harris, Darc, David and Wayne off 60 seconds. Andrew Wardrop, Ray Joyce and myself with the Marbleheads of the minimum 3 minutes. The course was the long distance course but leave the inside bay mark to port.

Peter Sylvester took honours in Race 1 with me in second and Stu Harris third who suggested a new course for race 2. Handicaps adjusted, Race 2 was to leave all marks of the regular course to starboard, 2 laps. The Marbleheads cleaned up in that race and that course was ceremoniously forgotten. Back to the original course and the IOM’s counter attacked in Race 3 with David Jones in 1st, Stu Harris 2nd and Darcy in third. Darc sailed well in Race 4 to take honours from Ray Joyce’s Marblehead in 2nd and mine close behind in 3rd. Ray was off 3:10 and I was off 4:20. The Silver Fox took the podium again in Race 5 with Ray in second again and David Jones in third. Stu Harris won Race 6 off a 2 minute handicap from Wayne Behrens off 1:20 and myself off 4 minutes in third. Going into the last race, Peter Darcy had a 4 point lead from myself and Jammie 1 point behind in third overall. I started last off 4:40 as the rest of the fleet were getting frustrated further up the course. There was constant wind on the western shore of the lake so that’s where I headed and sailed right around most of the fleet before the top mark, and it was plain sailing home from there, pardon the pun.

Seven races, six different winners, the IOM’s mixing it with the Marbleheads. First overall was the F3 Marblehead after Darc gave it away with a shocker in the last race, but still good enough to claim second and David Jones sailing well to take out third place.

Next Sunday is IOM racing with handicap racing from 10:30 to 12:30 and scratch racing from 13:00 to 15:00. Peter Darcy is rostered PRO.

Wet Sails

 

Stuart Dawes