IOM Mid Week Handicap

Things didn’t look too hopeful for sailing when we arrived for today’s IOM racing at Risdon Brook Dam today. It was glassy smooth with mirror reflections. But right on our 11:00 start time a light North-Wester (0-5 knots) appeared and it held pretty well throughout the day. There were some giant shifts with a South-Wester trying to establish itself and some considerable voids between the competing winds as well. An ounce of luck was a valuable thing today but a bucket of it would have been really useful. Frequently a skipper would establish a good lead on the fleet only to be robbed by a cruel wind change.
 
Being the first IOM sail of the month today’s event contributed towards the Handicap Sheild.
 
Fifteen starters is a really good fleet and I think that it will build too over the following weeks as the weather improves and some of our regulars return from their mainland trips.
 
It was difficult to identify a stand-out winner today and the close points table showed that many of the skippers had a good share of the podium. It was John Cole-Cook who secured the overall honors and well done too as two race wins and a second place early in the race program meant that he was battling an inflated handicap for the rest of the day.
 
Ricky Price took second place with some good consistent sailing. Peter Sylvester, back today from a break in Queensland, took third with two race wins in his tally. Congratulations and well sailed Pete, Ricky and John.
 
COMING UP:
Sunday: Marblehead scratch racing at Risdon Brook Dam (10:00 button-press)
Next Wednesday: More IOM handicap racing at Risdon Brook Dam. (11:00 button-press)