DF65/DF95 Show Day Showdown

​Following the success of last years innaugural DF Invitational Show Day Showdown, we repeated last years event with the same invitational format today. Building on the success of the DF65 fleets around the state, we were expecting a well supported event. Well, it was so well supported, we had to send out the SOS for more sausages for the BBQ!!

A fantastic field of 27 sailors came today. Unfortunately, two did not have results entered with a few issues, but still enjoyed the day.

The format of the day was a handicap styled one, given the large range of skipper experience in attendance, from newbies through to those who have just returned from a fantastic nationals campaign. First place was awarded a 15 second penalty, with second place given ten seconds, and third place five seconds. Everyone was to sail in A Rigs to keep things equal amongst all skippers - some of our visitors only sail A Rigs at their local club, so it was best to keep it simple and have the A's as the rig for the day.

Such a large field all on one start line, and there was hardly any issue at all, with all skippers giving respectful room early int he race with such close quarter sailing. Fantastic to see. We got in a fairly long first beat, which helped separate skippers by the time we got to the windward mark, further helping seamanlike roundings for us all.

Five skippers shared in wins over the seven races, which showed the competitiveness at the front of the field.

By the end of the 7th race, Stuart dawes had shown no come down from his nationals campaign, sailing extermely well, taking three wins in a row and a second, to come away as winner of the DF65 Invitational with 18 points.
Phil Turnbull had a great turn of speed with his DF65 as well, keeping Stuart on edge. Taking out second place, just 5 behind on 23 points.
Rounding out our top 3 was another returning Nationals competitor, Richard Fisher on 30 points.

Fantatsic effort to all sailors. Such a large field, and great sailing intelligence on display.

After the seven races, we took a break and BBQ lunch, while the DF95's got set up.

A further 19 DF95's made it for the second half of the day, and with a little extra wind about, we got in 8 races to finish the day off. This format was a scratch format, so we had pretty full start lines again. With that, there was just the one general recall, and I only remember maybe three yachts called over, so evreyone was putting in a great effort on the start line.

The racing was a little more frantic than the DF65's, but still very high quality and a lot of fun. By the end of the day, we had a few reliability issues and a couple of boats didn't quite make 8 finishes, but having 15 finish the last race was awesome to see.

Again, Stu Dawes had a great day with the DF95, podiums in 5 of the 8 races giving him a double win for the day, taking out the DF95 segment with 16 points.

Second place today was John Penman, six points behind Stu on 22.

Just one point further back, on 23 points, was Phil Turnbull on 23 points in third - also Phil's second podium for the day.

Thank you to all who came along today. It was great to see such big fleets on the water and has us seriously considering another invitational in the new year at some stage, as well as a certainty on re-schedulling the Show Day Showdown next October as well.

The day could not have happened without a great team of volunteers. Our Pro's today in Rod Marshall and Ricky Price - on behalf of all the skippers, we thank you for your work today. Such a big attendance made the calling of finishes and confirming starts etc quite difficult and you both handled it perfectly. I noticed a few people assisting them on the finish line - thank you for your assistance as well. We also had Andrew Wardrop preparing the BBQ as well. I will have missed other volunteers that gave up their time - I apologise, but it was genuinely hard to try to sail and keep track of the many people about, both watching and helping out.

Photos attached taken by Ray Joyce and myself.

Kyle