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Day 2 of the DF95 State Championship started similar to day 1. On arrival, it was pretty calm, but on starting the first race, everyone was on B Rigs. We started on time nicely - and completed another 11 races today. Rod and Ricky again on site keeping us all in line. Again, quite variable winds, and got well in to C rig again, before going back to B after lunch and then A for the final few races. What you want for a championship, the use of all the rigs over the weekend in order to find the best of the best in the fleet. We had a couple of big movers today, with Stu Dawes having a great day - once he got past the disaster that was the first race, with a not at fault incident finishing the race early for him. Once fixed back up, he was near unstoppable. Similarly, in the Silver Fleet, Nicolas Leluan had a much better day today after finding the heavy conditions on the dam quite a challenge yesterday. He came back and put in a great performance today. John Hall also had a great day today, on top of yesterday, relishing the heavier condiitons and continuing his fine performances in the DF95 class. At the end of racing today the leaderboards had changed in both overall and Silver Fleets. Stuart Dawes fanatstic run today managed to secure him his first DF95 State Championship, winning with 38.9 points. Lisa Blackwood, came in second, 9.1 behind Stu on 48 points. Ray Joyce took out third place on 76 points. In Silver Fleet, Nicolas Leluan came out in first posiiton on 107 points. Ian Hey took second, 6 behind on 113 poinys. Nick Connor took third place, a further 5 behind on 118 points. A big thanks again to our PRO's over the two days, Ricky Price and Rod Marshall. To take two days out of the weekend so we can sail is really appreciated by us all. Coming up Wednesday sees IOM Handicap at the dam, starting at 11am Next Sunday is the MBYC Opening Day, and we are part of the program over there. Sailing will start at 10am, and we are likely to see some interest from other clubs who will also be on site for the Come Try Sailing Day. Next week will also see the start of the DF95 and DF65 National Championships in Adelaide. Tasmania has a strong contingent of six sailors heading over there to compete. Best of luck to everyone travelling and I am sure we will be a very competitive team while over there. Kyle    
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On leaving home this morning, I wondered if we would be sailing. Seemed close to 40 knots of wind up on Bournville Estate. On arrival at the dam, it was lucky to be 10 knots on the watre, but that was probably the least wind we had all day. Joint PRO's Ricky Price and Rod Marshall completed the day's briefing and got us under way on time. At that stage, we had around a 16 knot Nor Wester to contend with. Courses early were very good, allowing for multiple passing lanes and opportunity to progress through the fleet. That said, with five sailors on the weekend hoping to be at the pointy end of the DF95 National Championships next week, the quality in the field this weekend is really quite extraordinary. We sailed four races (I think) in B rigs, before the call was made for C Rigs to be put on. Almost evertyone changed down rigs for the next few races, before the B's were called for again, and then C again a few after that. We closed out the 11 races today back on our B Rigs, but hopelessly over-powered at the end of the last race, with spray being lifted off the surface - gusts hitting around 40 knots, which made both upwind and downwind legs very diffucult. Overall, the bahaviour amongst the fleet was very good. That said, we do need to remember that we do not need to be called to do a penalty turn, and the onus is on us to make sure we exonorate any contacts etc by completing our tack and jybe as soon as possible - without the need to be called. After 11 races today, the top three positions seem to be developing - the order may be up for discussion tomorrow though. Lisa Blackwood it the overnight leader, sitting on 18 points. Ray Joyce is in second place, 4 behind, on 22 points. Stuart Dawes is in third, a further 5 behind, on 27 points. Silver Fleet has Ian Hey in front overnight, on 50 points. John Short is in second, 7 behind on 57. Nick Connor is in third, a further 6 behind on 63 points. Looking forward to tomorrow. Be prepared for more of the same tomorrow, with the wind at its height at around 1pm, so we may be in for some delays early pm with 40 knot gusts again predicted. Kyle  A very nice change today. A great warm 20C for the day and good 12-20 knot breeze throughout most of the day in a WNW direction. Pro for the event, Stu Dawes got the briefing under way and shortly after, an on time start for the first of 15 races for the day. Course generally consisted of our normal start at 3/4 and up to 10, down to 2 then 1, back to 10, return to 2 then 1 and finishe between 3/4. Later changed for first lap to conclude at 3 then 4 instaead of 1/2. The course giving lots of opportunity to strategise beats, chase lifts - leading to some great racing throughout (as well as enough frustrations as well). The first four races featured four different race winners, showcasing the closeness of the competition. A warm welcome for new sailor to the Club, Gary McCarthy - hailing from Qld and just moved to Tassie. A very welcome addition of knowledge, experience and humour. Gary got his first race win in race 3, with three other bullets during the day. By the end of days racing, a pattern had emerged with Lisa and Gary fighting it out at the top of the leader board, with Ricky and Ray close in behind, ready to pounce on any mistakes. In the end, Lisa emerged as winner of the event, with 32 points. A well deserved win today Lisa. Second place was Gary, with his new GC24 sailing very well, with some improvements still to come as he gets the little things sorted on it. Just 4 points behind Lisa on 36. Third place was Ray Joyce, making a welcome return to the podium, a further five points behind, on 41. The Britpop loving the heavier airs today. In Silver Fleet, Andrew Wardrop came out victorious on 23 points - also securing a 2nd place as well in race 11. Second place went to John Hall, 4 points in arrears on 27. Agreat days sailing. Third place was Ian Hey, a further 7 behind on 34 points. In all, a very enjoyable day today. Big thanks to Stuart Dawes for his efforts as PRO for the day. It was really appreciated. Upcoming Events
  The forecast was for a cool day with a moderate South-westerley but the Risdon Brook Dam seems to have a slightly different micro-climate and sometimes serves us up something a bit different than the forecast. So what we got was a quite warmish day and a good North-wester of 4 or 5 knots. The South-westerly change was trying to establish itself but only in the last race of the day did we see a genuine change in the wind direction. So all up good conditions for racing IOM yachts. Martin Svensen again had some electric issues with his servo and so took on PRO duties for the day. With some close blanket finishes it was great to have a dedicated PRO ready with the pen. Thanks for your work Martin. The closeness of today’s racing was reflected in the tight scoresheet. There was a fairly small difference in the total score even between first and last, several positions were decided by countback, and there were race wins and podiums recorded right down the table. With three race wins I was expecting Ray Joyce might have headed the list today but it was the consistency of the in-form Andrew Wardrop who took out the day with a race win and three second places in his mix. Second place to Ray, and third to Ricky Price who sailed exceptionally well in the morning session. Congratulations Andrew, Ray and Ricky. Coming up: Sunday: The IOM Travellers Challenge - scratch racing at Risdon Brook Dam. Enter online for this ranking event. 10:00 button press. Next Wednesday: IOM handicap racing at Risdon Brook Dam. 11:00 button press. And don’t forget to get your entry in for the upcoming DF95 State Championships which will be held on the following weekend (20th and 21st September) Shorty  The forecast description included cool, windy and showers for today's DF95 handicap event at Risdon Brook Dam and that is pretty much what we got with 15 - 20 knots of North Westerly and a brisk nip to it too. It was probably the most wintery Wednesday that we have had and coming right when winter is officially over! B-rigs were the obvious choice and were universally chosen by the twelve skippers fronting today. Andrew Wardrop and Phil Jackman attended to the PRO duties in their usual efficient manner and managed to get us through 6 races before the rain set in at lunch time. Thanks to you both especially given the conditions! My lunchtime conversation with Bodge started with: "Those certain skippers who left early when it started raining were definitely soft-core" but finished with "Do we really want to be out here in the miserable rain? Let's draw stumps!" And so that is what we did. Of course the rain did curtail pretty soon after we shut the gates but still we did get a fairly good sail out of the day. Boat set up is so important with DF95's when the going gets rough and Lisa is expert at setting and tuning her boat . Sailing from the back-marker position she had by far the most consistent set of results and won the day. Ian Hey and John Penman each had two race wins to their credit which is particularly noteworthy in a shortened program. They finished the day second and third respectively. Congratulations Lisa, Bodge and JP. And for those who are trying to figure out the handicaps: Normally those who frequent the podium often have their handicap penalty increased by up to 10 seconds while those who rarely got to the podium have it reduced by up to 10. Today Lisa's performance should see hers increased by 10 but that would take her to 80 seconds, which is greater than the 70 second maximum handicap. So instead she stays on 70 seconds and all others have their handicap reduced by a maximum of 10 seconds once their other benefits and penalties have been taken into account. This weekend the DF65 State Championships will be held at Thirlstane near Port Sorell. Late entries may still be made on-line. All the best to our club sailors who will be representing us at the event. Also next Wednesday being an IOM Handicap Shield day means official drinks after sailing at the Risdon Brook Tavern. Mark your calendar. Coming up: Saturday and Sunday: DF65 State Championships at Thirlstane. (11:00 button-press Saturday) Sunday: DF95 Scratch sailing at Risdon Brook Dam. (10:00 button-press) Next Wednesday: IOM Handicap Shield racing at Risdon Brook Dam. (11:00 button-press) Shorty  |