IOM Mid Week Handicap

Today’s forecast was for not much wind and a fair bit of rain. Upon arriving at Risdon Brook Dam it did look gloomy but there was a nice south Westerly of 4 or 5 knots blowing and a smooth surface on the Dam. Eleven skippers enjoyed good racing today, the rain held off well and the wind pretty much stayed with us all day allowing us to complete 11 races. 
We launched our new RIB rescue craft today. Kind of launched it anyway. Actually no rescues were needed and so it sat patiently waiting by the waters edge. This new boat should allow us to conduct boat retrieval in stronger winds and so adds an extra safety margin to our procedures. Thanks to those who organised the boat - especially to Ray who spotted it sitting idly in someone’s carport and to Bodge, Kyle and Stu for giving it a tidy up and getting it to the dam. With the aquisition of the new dinghy, the club will be looking to sell the green plastic dinghy and the older fibreglass rescue dinghy that was used many years ago. If there is someone interested or if nyone knows someone who is interested, please contat Bodge for detail.
A running start was used today which is never ideal but the alternative would have been a visit to ‘Andrew’s corner’ which often reduces races to whoever gets lucky. Given this was handicap racing the running start was not too bad.
The scorecard was very close today with tied results for 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and 5th and 6th. In fact there was not a lot of points separating the first 9 competitors and every skipper made the podium at some time today. 
Ian Hey had a real day out to win the event. He started the day on a handicap of 30 but quickly extended it and competed with the scratch boats for most of the day even scoring a second place   towards the end of the day while sailing with a big handicap penalty. Lisa Blackwood was probably a bit unlucky to take second place today as it was a count back decision, both skippers won 2 races and Lisa had one DNS where she put her boat aside to have a sail of Andrew Wardrop’s new Proteus. David Woolley and Andrew Wardrop tied for third spot but Andrew could not match sheets impressive scorecard which included 3 race wins. Congratulations Bodge, Lisa, Sheep and Andrew.


COMING UP! 
Monday  The Australia Day Shield for DF95’s at Montrose. (1:00 button press). Please note the change of location to the calendar (which has now been updated). This is due to the predicted Easterly conditions predicted for Monday, which will not be very ideal at the dam.
Next Wednesday. Super Wednesday Long distance sailing (10:30 button press and a slightly longer afternoon. Come prepared for last race at 3:00)


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