IOM Mid Week Handicap

There was a blustery westerly of 25 knots with gusts from both the North-West and South-West which made for difficult course setting and challenging sailing.
 
One of the starting buoys had moved from its spot due to the heavy winds over the last few days and needed repositioning before we could race. It was good that the rescue dinghy was not needed other than this as it would have found the conditions at its limits.
 
B-rigs were the universal choice today. Stuart Dawes did try the C-rig for a couple of races but struggled in the lighter patches.
 
A triangular course using buoys 10, 2 and 1 was used. Buoy 10 caused plenty of headaches as it seemed to be continually at the central calm spot of a wind vortex. This together with it’s distance from shore made it a challenge every rounding.
 
Winner’s today came from across the handicap spectrum with Andrew Wardrop claiming overall honours with six podium finishes including two race wins in his tally. Its great to see Andrew back in the winner’s circle.
 
Second place went to Rod Marshall who also had two race wins today.
 
And third was Phil Jackman whose Idiom really looked at home with the blustery and choppy conditions.
 
Finishing races today was quite a triumph in itself, so well done to all skippers today.
 
Coming up:
This Sunday is RM Scratch at Montrose. (Button Press at 1pm) 

Next Wednesday’s handicap at the dam will again be for IOM’s (Button press at 11:00)
 
John S