Fine, sunny and fresh conditions today for Round 2 of the Marblehead Summer Series, with forecast winds to 40 km/h, it was more like 10 - 25 km/h on the Brook and a recipe for some fast Marblehead racing. Only six skippers turned up as well as Stu Harris and a few other familiar passers by. Stu kindly offered his services for PRO and kicked things off at 1:30, however there was a casualty already as Ray Joyce's boat's foredeck track tore off as he was tightening the forestay. With the fresh conditions and most skippers opting for C2 Rig, I attached the camera and recorded some pretty crazy at times video which I will post to YouTube soon. Anyway, the conditions were ideal for the F3 winning the first four races with Lisa Blackwood taking the second spot in those races and John Hall and Andrew Wardrop battling for third place. Lisa won Races 5 and 6, myself second, Andrew and John third respectively. The F3 took line honours again in Races 7 and 8 with Lisa Blackwood comfortably second and John Hall third.

After 8 races and 2 drops the F3 had a perfect scorecard with Lisa Blackwood in second place and John Hall third place overall. Next Sunday is IOM Handicap racing so hope to see a few more Wednesday sailors turn up. Racing starts at 11:00 (according to the sailing schedule I have).

Till then, wet sails.

Stuart Dawes

Conditions on Day 1 of the State Championships were rather bleak with grey skies, light southerly winds and forecast showers. Les Hanson volunteered his services as PRO for the weekend and ran the event efficiently and with authority, thankyou Les. Thirteen skippers were entered and a day of close racing was ahead. Past multiple State Champion Michael Hickman showed early dominance with two wins, and returning skipper Matt Gray, with a borrowed boat, on the podium for the first 4 races, including a win. Rod Jackman was sailing well in the variable conditions with a win and a couple of podiums. Ray Joyce found the groove in the afternoon with 3 wins, yours truly with a couple and Lisa Blackwood, also with a borrowed boat had a win as well . With 12 races completed for Day , Matt Gray held a comfortable 6 point lead from Michael Hickman on 37 points, 2 points ahead of Rod Jackman in third place on 39 points.

Day 2 and what a difference in the weather. Clear sunny skies and a light northerly to 5 -8 knots, plenty of shifts and the usual odd hole or two. The possibility of a sea breeze also on the cards in the afternoon. In the first six races before lunch there was 6 different winners and no one really showing any dominance although Matt Gray was sailing consistently well enough to extend his lead to 9 points ahead of Michael Hickman, who was 4 points ahead of Rod Jackman in third place overall. The sea breeze finally arrived after lunch and with a course change, the final session was sailed in good breeze with enough passing lanes to make racing interesting.  Nine different winners for the 13 races completed on Day 2. Peter Darcy won the afternoon with 3 wins, Lisa and Michael had a couple of wins each, David Jones, Ray Joyce, Chris Wood, Matt Gray and myself also notching up wins.

After 25 races the final standings went down to the wire with Matt Gray taking the title by just 1 point from a charging Michael Hickman in second place. Rod Jackman was the best of the rest, 18 points adrift in third place overall.

Congratulations to the Tasmanian IOM Champion for 2015, Matt Gray.

Next Sunday is the return of the Marbleheads for Round 2 of the Summer Series with racing commencing at 1:30 PM.

Till then, wet sails.

Stuart Dawes.

Another fine but cloudy day with a light southerly to maybe 10 knots on the Brook today for the Wednesday Handicap series. I had PRO duties today and after giving the 15 skippers their starting handicaps, got Race 1 under way with a southerly windward leeward  course. Bruce Rose won the first race with newcomer Robert Gavin second and Denis Lees in third. Race 2 was a slow affair giving the backmarkers time to catch the scratch markers. Rod Jackman battled it out with Darcy for first and second, both off 60, with the consistent and much improved Rob Cooney taking out the minor position. With more consistent breeze in the third race, Kim Potter, Denis Lees and Rob Cooney stayed off the charge of the backmarkers. Race 4 was declared Long Distance with a slight change in the course, leaving the #9 mark to starboard on the run down to the bay mark and to port on the way back before heading for the finish line.  Previous Long Distance races saw a blanket 50% addition to handicaps adjustments. Today I gave anyone with 60 seconds or more twice as long to start which allowed the scratch markers to take out the podium places; Kim Potter taking line honours with Denis Lees taking out second and Wayne Turner third. Despite his 3 minute handicap, Peter Darcy progressed through the fleet to take fourth place.

After 4 races and a drop, Rob Cooney lead the fleet with 10 points, Bruce Rose and Kim Potter were on 11 points in second and third, Dave Murfet in fourth on 13 points and Denis Lees and Robert Gavin on 15 points. The fleet was keen for another long distance so for Race 5 it was. Bruce Rose sailed well to claim his second win for the day with John Banks finishing second and Robert Gavin third. At only his second outing with an IOM, Robert is quickly getting the feel of the IOM and will be making room for his name in the results in the future I'm sure. The final race of the day was back to the standard short course and one for the scratch markers. Dave Murfet took the gun from Rob Cooney, again on the podium as too Robert Gavin.

Final results saw the win go to David Murfet on 20 points, 1 point ahead of Robert Gavin in second place and Bruce Rose in third place overall on 22 points. This weekend is the IOM State Championship with racing from 11:30 AM Saturday and 10:30 AM Sunday.
Till then, wet sails.


Stuart Dawes

When I was first to arrive at the dam at 9:30 this morning I was greeted with a very steady 10 to 15 knot nor-wester blowing straight down the dam, definitely top end A rig , possibly B rig. sweet! Driving over the Bowen Bridge it was quite fresh and very northerly, so things were looking good for some good IOM racing for the Summer Series Round 2. Handicap racing was scheduled for the morning and scratch for the afternoon session.

First off, a warm welcome to Robert Gavin who arrived just after me, eager to get his newly acquired Mad Max (ex MH) on the water and get the feel of the IOM.  Les Hanson and Alan Furmage kindly attended to the PRO side of things and got the first race underway at 11:00 AM. Ten skippers fronted for the days racing and the handicaps were: Robert Gavin and David Murfet off scratch. Stu Harris off a generous 40 seconds, Andrew Wardrop and John Hall off 50 seconds and the rest of us off 60 seconds. The "New" course 1 was used but by the start the breeze had lightened and swung with a bit of west in it. Conditions were going to be tricky, staying in pressure and avoiding the holes, as well as being in phase with the shifts would be the key, nothing too difficult surely.

Stu Harris took advantage of his handicap and mastered the conditions to win Race 1 ahead of David Murfet in second place and John Hall third over the line. Race 2 was a battle of the Vickers livery with yours truly taking the win from Rod Jackman and David Jones, all off 60 seconds. Race 3 went to Andrew Wardrop with Michael Hickman and Rod Jackman hot on his transom. Rod took line honours in Race 4 with David Jones finishing in second place and John Hall on the podium again, again in third.
After the first drop, Rod Jackman was at the top of the leader board with 6 points, David Jones, David Murfet and John Hall all on 11points, Stu Harris on 12 points, Myself and Michael Hickman on 14 points and Andrew Wardrop on 15 points. Andrew was the only skipper to rack up multiple wins, taking line honours in Race 5 from myself in second and Stu Harris taking out third place. The Silver Fox was elusive in Race 6 and stuck his bow over the finish line in first place followed by Dave Murfet  and John Hall for his third 3rd. The final race for the handicap series went to Michael Hickman and his V8 with three V9's hot on his transom, Darcy finishing second and Dave Jones finishing third.

Final results saw Rod Jackman win the day on 23 points, 2 points ahead of David Jones in second place beating John Hall on countback. Only five points separated first to eighth and two boats were on 27 points and two boats on 28 points.

The afternoon session was expecting a sea breeze but the nor wester  kicked in again with even more westerly funky than the morning's conditions. Dave Murfet and Stu Harris pulled out but Lisa Blackwood made a re-appearance in the IOM fleet with a borrowed Cheinze from Darc, making a fleet of nine boats. Same course as the mornings racing.

Peter Darcy was the master of the conditions with four wins out of eight races, followed close behind by Rod Jackman with two wins and a couple of seconds. With 11 and 13 points respectively, Darc and Rod were miles ahead of the rest of us with third place getter overall David Jones back on 21 points.

Next weekend is the IOM Tasmanian Championship with racing from 11:30 on Saturday and 10:30 on Sunday. No-one is permitted to enter the ring road area before 10:30 due to the Park Run event.

Till then, wet sails.

Stuart Dawes.

Warm and sunny conditions on the Brook for today's Long Distance racing, with light to moderate  northerlies coming down the dam in puffs and holes, but forecast to strengthen later on then a late sea breeze. Only ten skippers turned up as well as Les Hanson who kindly offered his services as PRO for the day. Race 1 was a traditional long distance race with podium places going to backmarkers Rod Jackman, yours truly in second and Peter Darcy in third. A course change for Race 2 and something Stu Harris has been itching to try. Start between 1 and 2 leaving all the orange marks of the regular course to port, two laps. Ray Joyce took out the first win on this course from 60 seconds, myself also off 60 in second and David Jones off 60 in third. Rod Jackman took another win in Race 3 with Peter Sylvester finishing second and David Jones in third. Stu Harris claimed a victory in the first race after lunch, taking the win in Race 4 from yours truly and the Silver Fox for third spot. The wind was strengthening and some opting for B Rigs and others pulling out. Ray Joyce held his A rig to win Race 5 from David Jones and Rod Jackman . Race 6 was definitely B Rig and possibly C but Ray showed his heavy weather skills taking a double from Peter Sylvester again in second place and the consistent David Jones in third place. The final race for the day was a three boat affair in a very stiff breeze between die hards Rod Jackman, Ray Joyce and Peter Sylvester who finished in that order.

Final results for the day saw a tight battle between Ray Joyce and Rod Jackman come down to the wire and the overall victory, on countback, going to Ray, Rod Jackman second and Peter Darcy third.

Next Sunday is Round 2 of the IOM Summer Series with handicap racing in the morning and scratch racing in the afternoon. Starting times are 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM respectively. Alan Furmage is rostered to be PRO.

Wet Sails,

Stuart Dawes.