IOM Long Distance Round 3

There was a mixture of A and B-rigs on the water for the first couple of races but it was the A rigs which proved superior and all skippers changed up. The wind did back to the South West as the morning proceeded. It is never easy to set good courses for Westerly conditions on the dam and the wind turned our Long Distance course into what is predominately a reaching affair. I was however surprised how different skills came into play on the longer course. Some skippers sailed the shortest route buoy-to-buoy while others sailed well out hunting wind gusts and shifts. Similarly when a gust hit you need to make the decision of whether to easy your sheets and run with it or to head up and bank some windward ground. 
 
Eight races on the long course always makes for a fitness challenge but Buzzy Behrens and Phil Turnbull made it an adventure marathon. After getting hooked together right at the top mark their boats drifted well further up the dam. The had to go cross country, retrieve the boats without the prodder pole then complete a long walk home carrying their boats. Top effort boys!
 
Peter Sylvester claimed third place overall by virtue of count-back. Peter did well on the run up the dam by choosing to sail a straight point-to point course and was often leading at the first mark rounding. Second place went to Ray Joyce with a good consistent scorecard. Ray’s efforts are particularly notable as he sailed the first three races well under-powered with his B rig. Today’s winner was Gary McCarthy who after winning the opening race sailed most of the day with a huge handicap. Gary often sailed a wide course on the return back up the dam. It was Sydney-Hobart race style. He covered more distance than anyone but came out ahead of all. Congratulations Gary, Ray and Peter.
 
Coming up:
Saturday: David Murfett Memorial IOM Woodies event at Risdon Brook Dam 10:30 button press. Dam gates open at 10 with Park Run on prior.
Sunday: IOM Scratch racing at Risdon Brook Dam. 10:00 button press.
Next Wednesday: DF95 handicap racing at Risdon Brook Dam. 10:30 button press.
 
Shorty