IOM Mid Week Handicap

A good strong, gusty Northerly was blowing down Risdon Brook Dam when we arrived for today’s IOM handicap racing. All up conditions were a bit similar to Sunday’s Winter Challenge but perhaps a knot or two lighter - just peaking over 10 or 12 knots, which made rig choice a real decision . By race time the wind had moderated a little and A rigs were chosen universally. Things strengthened a little in the last couple of races before lunch causing a few knockdowns and nose dives. A few skippers chose to suit down over lunch but the wind did settle again and the big rigs proved best for the afternoon’s conditions.
 
Lisa Blackwood brought her Nighthawk along but unfortunately brought the wrong ring box for it. She generously stayed on and took up PRO duties for the day alongside Phil Jackman. Thanks to you both for some great work today. Lisa’s course for the morning session involved a windward gate at buoys 7 and 8 which put an interesting extra decision element into the mix.
 
Similar to last Wednesday and Sunday there was no reliable best way to work the course. Sometimes going East was good as there were some good lifts off the shore but other times, particularly in the afternoon when the wind was trying to swing West, heading West was good. 
 
When Trout gave me the scoresheet at the end of the day I asked him who he thought had won and he said that he could not pick it which was pretty much what I thought too. It seemed that most skippers had a mixture of good placings along with some more forgettable races and there did not seem to be any skipper who dominated the podium. Adding up the scores at home I was surprised to find that the top three were separated by a single point. Ricky Price took out the day on count-back from Ray Joyce and I was a further point behind. Ricky and Ray were probably the two most consistent skippers in today’s fleet. Congratulations to them!
 
Coming up:
 
Sunday: IOM Scratch racing at Risdon Brook Dam. 10:00 button press
Next Wednesday: More IOM handicap racing at Risdon Brook Dam. 10:30 button press
 
Shorty