IOM Mid Week Handicap and Scratch

The wind strength exceeded the forecast today and while we were expecting it to be a bit blowy we weren’t expecting it to be whitecaps on the dam and dust willy-wars in the car-park. A couple of skippers braved the B-rig but most opted for their C and by lunch time C-rigs were the only ones left on the water.  Those that had them enjoyed some thrilling sailing conditions and some great racing.
 
Thanks to PRO Phil Jackman and assistant David Woolley for getting us through a 6-race handicap series in the morning and then a 6-race scratch series in the afternoon. It was really efficient work given the conditions and a slightly late start this morning as we needed to organise the alternative rescue dinghy (‘Kermit’) as the RIB was being repaired. It was probably fortunate that we didn’t need to have a rescue today as I reckon that we would not have had a whole lot of volunteers putting their hand up for a cruise in Kermit.
 
An honourable mention goes to our new IOM skipper, Ant Mountain, who handled his B-rigged boat beautifully given it was well overpowered and won the second race of the day. Unfortunately Ant’s day ended early with a broken shroud. 
 
Third place in the morning’s handicap series went to Rod Jackman though the dais position was hotly contested with 4 skippers within a single point of the spot. Second place went to Al Short who sailed with good boat-speed. I managed to win the handicap series today. It was my first time sailing with a C-rig on the IOM and the Venti really loved it.
 
The wind did settle a knot or two for the afternoon session and was also not as gusty but the C-rig was still definitely the order of the day. You expect the cream to rise when scratch racing especially in demanding conditions and the results confirm it. Gary took third place and certainly was a contender for the overall win with two race wins a second and a third in the first four races but could not contest the last races today with gear failure. John Penman showed his class finishing the day strongly after having made some rigging errors with his boat in the morning. Ray Joyce won the scratch series. Ray’s boat-speed in heavy conditions is something to behold. I always love to watch Ray sailing up-wind with his sheets out and the Britpop tracking higher than most others. 
 
Coming up
 
Sunday: IOM scratch racing at Montrose NOTE SUMMER TIME SAILING TIMES.  2:00 button press.
Next Wednesday: DF95 handicap racing at Risdon Brook Dam. 10:30 button press.
 
Shorty