DF65/DF95 Winter Scratch Round 1

A small but keen contingent of sailors arrived for the first Winter Scratch session of the DF65/DF95 classes.
 
Our schedule was to rotate the classes about after 3 races each. We did have some spare sailors who weren’t sailing the 65 class, so Ray was happy to PRO those races (thanks again Ray). Unfortunately, A PRO for the day wasn’t found, so the DF95’s sailed without a PRO and with the first two over the line doing the scoring/recording roles, which worked fairly well – but that was with a field of just 10 boats. Any more than that and someone will be needing to sit races out if we cannot get a PRO for the day.
 
It was fantastic to see a few newer Sunday Sailors along today in Andrew Roberts, John Penman and Richard Wylie. I hope you guys all enjoyed the day and will be back again soon on the Sunday scratch days.
 
The first stanza of three DF65 races started under A Rigs with quite a few gusts coming down the dam. Stuart put on a master class, winning the first three. I was a distant second, with all 2’s with Richar Wylie in third with a few 3’s and Simon Delaney also taking a podium in the third race.
 
We then swapped over to the DF95’s for three races. Most had A rigs on and some numpty’s (ie me) went for a B Rig thinking there were more gusts than calm spots which was ultimately proved wrong. Stu made it 4 in a row, taking out the first race. Ray finally took the top podium spot off Stu in the second, but he fought back and re-took the top on race 3. After the first three, Stu in the lead on 4, with Ray in second on 5 and Rod Marshall third on 12 points.
 
Back to the DF65’s and we ended up with a fairly equal split between A and A+ rigs. I had a blinder through much of the 4th race, before a gust on the last beat to the finish had the A+ uncontrollable and Stu (A Rig) strode through for an easy win again. The last two races again dominated y Stu and Kyle but the close fights were in the other places, with Phil Turnbull and Andrew Roberts sailing so close to each other – one 4th, the other 5th and vice versa throughout much of the day. Only to be separated by countback at the end of the day. Some really close sailing in trying conditions.
At the conclusion of 6 races, Stu was clearly in the lead on just 5 points (with a drop of 2), I was in second on 9 points and Richard Wylie in third on 17 points.
 
The second stanza of the 95’s also had a mixed bag of A and B rigs. Stuart proving that B Rigs was the right choice with a third and two wins to close the 6 off – again winning clearly with just 6 points. Ray sailed every well also, having an A Rig on and very over-powered at times, taking second on just 10 points. Third place went to a fast finishing Richard Wylie – taking a 2nd and 3rd in the last two races – on 19 points.

In Silver Fleet, it was a very close day. Rod Marshall winning today on 9 points, one ahead of Richard Wylie in second on 10, with John Penman in third, on 13 points.
 
By this time, most sailors were ready to call it a day, and so it was with just 6 races per class today.


The Committee will be keeping an eye on the success of the mixed fleet days like this. If there is not continual support of the format, we will be reverting it back to a single class day as it does become unfair on those who sail just the DF95’s and sit about half the sail time if the DF65 side of it is not supported enough. Same that happened with the A Class and Marblehead Classes with lack of attendance forcing the reduction of scratch format days in those classes.
 
Coming Up
Wednesday is IOM Mid Week Handicap at the dam, starting at 1030
Next Sunday is IOM Scratch at the dam, starting at 1000