​A sunny day at the dam issued the promise of summer ahead and with Northerly of about 5 knots blowing straight down the dam we looked all set for a great day’s racing. The wind did die a bit throughout the morning and we had our lunch break hoping that a sea-breeze would arrive for the afternoon’s sailing. Unfortunately we were left with the remnants of the dwindling Northerly and the sea-breeze did not appear until we were packing up. Never-the-less it was a good day for sailing and we did complete 7 good races.
 
With 7 races completed there is just one discard race allowed.
 
Third overall today was Rob Cooney who always threatens when the wind is light. Second place went to Ray Joyce who definitely has the ability to win races in any conditions even sailing from the maximum handicap.  Today’s winner was Commodore, Rod Marshall  sailing the wooden Blitz this week. No race wins for Rod but 5 podiums out of 7 races is consistently good sailing. Congratulations Rod, Ray and Rob.
 
Rod has organized the new club shirts and has begun their distribution. Very smart! See Rod if you have one on order – or even if you haven’t ordered yet as I believe there may be a second order.
 
Just a note on finishing time – I think it is important that we are all on the same page, as today some wanted to sail on but others were ready to finish the day. Let’s say that in future there will be no race started after 2:15. We usually have all our racing finished before this time and a ‘last race’ time means that skippers can plan other activities or appointments knowing that racing will be done.
 
Coming up:
Sunday: Marbleheads scratch racing at Montrose (1:00 button-press) Next Wednesday: IOM handicaps at the dam (11:00 button-press))
 
Shorty

It was cool and overcast with a 0 – 4 knot  Southerly at Risdon Brook Dam for today’s DF95 handicap event. Significant calm patches, gusts and shifts added challenge to the day. Ten skippers turned up which was not too bad considering the glum outlook for the day. Andrew Wardrop did PRO duties – excellently as always, and kept the day moving well. The wind dropped out almost completely after race #3 and an early lunch was called, but it returned nicely for more racing in the afternoon. DF95’s sail particularly well on days like today with a light breeze and flat water, and so even though conditions challenged the racing was enjoyable.
 
With light rain falling we called it a day after race seven. With just seven races completed there was only one discard allowed.
 
As far as the overall positions were concerned: Third went to Wayne Behrens. You can always bet that Buzzy will be in the mix if the racing is at the dam and the wind is a bit shifty or gusty.
 
Second went to Lisa Blackwood – no race wins but plenty of podiums.
 
And winning today by the big margin of 15 points was Phil Jackman. Trout’s all-podium scorecard totalled 0 points once bonuses and the discard were allowed. Congratulations Trout, Lisa and Buzzy.
 
Coming up:
 
Sunday: The Southern Tasmanian IOM Championships. It looks like a great fleet for this event which will be held at Montrose (10:15 briefing for a 10:30 start.) Late entries can still be made on-line.
 
Next Wednesday’s handicap at the Dam will be for IOM’s. 11:00 button
 
Shorty

​A wild, windy day today for our return to Montrose Bay Yacht Club to recommence the 2023 Summer program.

Ten skippers turned up, with 9 hitting the water - one has yet to build his C rig and wisely chose not to test his yacht out in the conditions. That said, five skippers used their C rigs for the first time on their new to newish yachts, and a great test it was.

But first, we joined with our friends at MBYC to celebrate the opening of the yacht club's 2023/24 season, with a BBQ and speech by Commodore Glenn Hardwick. Unfortunately the wind conditions were not conductive to dinghy sailing at all, and they will commence their season next week.

Back to RC sailing, and we got 9 races completed in the end. A spell in the middle for a rescue, but otherwise some great back to back races - really testing out the "C's".

Interestingly, some really strong tidal flow came through, making sailing to the finish line difficult to say the least, as well as the Mona Roma Ferry "Tsunami" making an apprearance on multiple occasions.

Five of the nine skippers scored wins today, and it was also great to see Andrew Price mixing it up with the others, scoring some really credible results as well as not being far off in many other races as well.

Unfortunately, there was some attrition towards the end of the day, but not too unexpected given the conditions.

Very tight at the end of the day, with first and second tied up, as well as 3rd and 4th.
Michael Hickman came away with the round win on 16 points with three race wins being just enough to edge out Mat Gray in second, same points but two race wins.
Third was Kyle Stewart on 22 points, edging out Lisa Blackwood also on countback, with Kyle securing one race win.

On Handicap, Kyle Stewart took out first place with 4 net points (that hurt the handicap), with Andrew Price in second with 2 net points and Michael Hickman taking 3rd with 1 net point.

Big thanks - as always - to Les Hanson for running the day for us today, and to Stu Dawes for hanging aound to observe for us after his day was finished early.

Coming up

DF95 Mid Week Handicap on Wednesday at the dam, button press at 11am as usual.

Next Sunday is the IOM Southern Championship at MBYC. If you have yet to enter but intend on doing so, please get the entries in as soon as possibe.

Kyle