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At our committee meeting last Sunday, it was proposed that we alter the normal proceedings with DF scratch today with a mixed DF65 and D95 Scratch racing day. Admittedly, I was one of the ones who wasn't so keen as we had tried them multiple times in the past and the DF65 side of it wasn't well supported, but based on the large increase in DF65 sialing in the south (DSS, Bellerive, Puddleduck and Orford), we agreed to try a combined format again. Todays sail day was set up to sail 3 DF65 races, then 3 DF95 races. Then back to DF65 and 95 in stanzas of 3 until our 4hr session finished. In the end, we finished slightly early with 6 races of each class. We got word out to our neighboring clubs that it was an invite day, so non-members couls also sail in the day, and now having a month to enjoy sailing with us until they need to decide whether to join the club or not - more info for those sailors below. It was absolutely fantastic to see 17 skippers along for both classes. 13 sailed both classes on the day. We also had a visit from Mat Gray, who has not been able to come to the sialing in about 8 months now. Great to see him along to watch the day - along with Ken Dobbie, who also enjoyed the day watching the boats from the comfort of Garry's car. We had four visitors along today, but it was great to see that we had 7 members who are not regular sailors come along to sail, showning great support to the club. Quite unusual wind today, with an Easterly airstream to start with, pulling around to an ENE direction - making the setting of a course quite difficult, but I am pretty sure that we got some really good courses in. The DF65's had a reduced course today, basically half the size of our standard courses, with the DF95 a little longer - about 75% of our standard course length. We started the day on our largest suites, A+ in teh 65 and A in the 95, however, after the first three races in each class, sailors opted mostly for B Rigs (and some A"s) for the 65's - both matched quite well in the increasing wind, and B Rigs on the DF95's. As the day wore on, the rig choices became more and more stressed, but I am sure everyone enjoyed some fantastic sailing - and surfing of the waves heading downwind. It certainly was fun to watch. In the DF65's, Stu Dawes showed absolute dominance of the fleet and the conditions, registering 3 wins in the 6 races. Taking out the day with just 9 points. Second place went to our half Tasmanian, Peter Ross, with a great score of 23 points, winning the last race (apparently, your'e only as good as your last one). Third place - on countback - was Richard Fisher, just one behind Pere, on 23. In the DF95's, things were much tighter throughout. That said, Stu took home the daily double with 15 points enough to secure the win for the 95 class. Just one point behind, was Lisa Blackwood, on 16 points. Nick Connor took out third just three further behind on 19 points. For our Silver Fleet members, John Short took first place on 11 points. Phil Jackman was just one point behind in second place, on 12 points. Scott Brain took third, another point behind Phil, on 13 points. Overall, the day was a great success, and I am sure everyone had a great time sailing and joking amongst some good mates. What made the day for me personally, was Matt Bugg leaving after packing his stuff up, and thanking us for a great day - saying it was an absolute blast. We still have quite an amount of work to do at the point to help our motion impaired skippers, but we will get there with better control area access - something we need to focus on in preparation for the Nationals at the site, hopefully in 15 months time (more to come later). The day simply would not have happened without firstly the willingness of the committee to try somehting a bit different in order to get more skippers sailing on the day. I think they should all be commended for trying the day out. It also would not have gone ahead with out the two people stepping away from sailing to do the Pro work. Both could have sailied both classes, but sailed one only, so we could get a single person running each class. So thanks should go to both Ray and myself (aw shucks) for the efforts today as well. We are not fixed to sailing DF's in this way, or in any way at all. We would really like skipper input as to how the day was and if there are any reasonable suggestions to enhance the sailors experiences on the day. Does a combined day work well? Does 3 races per class work? Would it be better having two sessions defined by time for each class (ie DF65 for 2hrs, a 20 minute break and then DF95 for 2hrs)? - or are there any other suggestions that sailors would like to put forward? If so, please contact either myself, Ray, or one of the committee members to get your feedback heard. A final note and thanks to the committee for listening to the issues of hte rescue dinghy at the dam (not as stable as we would like), we (Ray) found a 2nd hand inflatable Rib, very similar to the one we have at MBYC, and was able to purchase it at a great price. We had Kyle, Stu, Ray and Bodge give it a good once over and clean on Saturday and relocated it to the dam, where it will be available for use this Wednesday. The Rib is an aluminium floored hull, and can be carried by two people. A great upgrade in assets for the club. We will now clean up the other two dinghy's at the shed and look to sell them to an interested person - let us know if you are aware of someone who might be interested in either of them. we al know hte green twin hull plastic boat. The other one is a glass tender, about 13' long and in reasonable condition. Certainly seaworthy. Photos of todays sailing, kindly taken by Grant Wise, can be seen at the RC Sailing Tasmania Facebook page. It is public access, so if you don't have a FB Account, there is no issue and you will still be able to see it by clicking on the link. Coming Up:
Kyle   
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