Our Vice Commodore had the scales out today with some interesting results for some skippers.  I think Ray should do this more often.
 
It was good to see John Smith back sailing again after a long rest during the colder months.  
 
10 skippers fronted the dam today with a mild NW breeze on the dam. Some close racing in the scratch racing with David Jones sailing constantly out in front.
 
In the first week of the summer handicap series 9 skippers faced the starters gun with good honest sailing.  WE should have had 10 but John Hall broke a stay and that was him done for the day.  Kim Potter was the next retirement with steerage problems Just after the first boat started racing.  Phillip Turnbull and Geoff Mathews had problems and didn’t finish all the racing, hope all boats will be back on the water next week.
 
The first 5 races prior to lunch were sailed with A rig with the last 2 with B rid due to the strong winds in the afternoon.  
 
5 skippers had a win on the day and most races were decided on the last leg.
 
The winner on the day was John Smith with some good sailing and he won on a count back from Rod Marshall.
 
John Smith and Rod Marshall 22 points, David Jones 20 points, Ray Joyce 19 points, With Peter Sylvester, Wayne Turner and Geoff Matthews, 17 points With Phil Turnbull on 13 points.
 
Hope we can get more skippers on the water next week.
 
Good to see Stewart Harris there today even just to visit 
 
Regards 
John Banks
Wednesday Coordinator   

To all the members that didn’t sail today you missed out on the near perfect day at the dam. Mostly a 10 to 15 knot breeze with the odd squirt and a few light patches just to keep the skippers thinking.
 
Wayne Turner had rigging problems prior to the first race and had to retire for the day but he will be back next week.
 
With only eight boats left the sailing was very competitive from all the skippers with 5 of the 8 skippers getting the gun.  With 1 race left we had 2 skippers on 6 points, 3 on 7 points and 3 on nine points so it was all on in the final race with Peter Sylvester winning the final race followed by Rod Marshall then Kim Potter and 4th place going to John Hall.
 
The final point score was, Dennis Lees a DNS and finished on 6 points, Phil Turnbull and Andrew Wardrop 7 points, Ray Joyce 9 points, Peter Sylvester, John Hall and Rod Marshall all on 10 points with Kim Potter getting the wine with 11 points.
 
With the weather warming up and only a few weeks to the Summer series starting it would be good to see more skippers on the water.
 
Regard John

L​ 
It seems our handicap system is working ok at present judging from today’s results. 
Phillip Turnbull sailing his newly purchased IOM from Les Hanson won the day on 10 points. First time out sailing an IOM so well done Phillip.
Second was Ray Joyce with 8 points.
Third on 7 points Dennis Lees, Ted Laing, John Smith, Don Mac Loud and John Banks
Next Stuart Harris 6 points then Wayne Turner and Andrew Wardrop on4 points.
 Long Distance Racing next Sunday
We hope to see more members out sailing next week.
 
Regards
JOHN

 I am beginning to sound like a broken record but it was another great days sailing at the dam today. When I got there it was very chilly with a strong northerley. The comment was made that due to the conditions we would be lucky to get many starters but in the end 14 robust Taswegians including a couple of Kiwi refugees fronted the start gun for a morning of excellent racing. At the end of the day a Kiwi gentleman was triumpant winning the wine which just goes to prove that there is no nationality bias under our handicap system. So congratulations to Tony & Ted Laing in second & Wayne Turner third. In the photos below you will see a recent absentee has made a welcome return to Wednesdays. I cant quite recall his name but he sails a Britpop extremely well. Just a reminder that membership fees are now overdue ($60)
Next Sunday is IOM Scratch at the dam starting at 10.00 am
​Andrew

Excellent sailing at the dam today with  solid A rig breeze from the north flicking at times to the NE. A good fleet of IOM's with a couple of DF95's. Richard Barwick was sailing Kyle's Panko & got quicker & quicker as the morning went on & seemed to enjoy the IOM, probably best not to give it back Richard. Don Maccleod was also sailing well with his new sails & a bit more consistency would have seen a top result. At the end of the racing the day was won by Stuart Harris on a countback to Lisa. In recent weeks the backmarkers have dominated the racing so John Banks will be revising the handicap system to try & even out the results.
Tomorrow is DF95 at Montrose at 10.am. A few more new DF95's are are on order so the fleet is still growing.
​Photos below