Long Distance Handicap Round 5

Twelve skippers turned up today, in gloomy conditions and very light wind. Luckily the sky stayed gloomy, and did not rain on us, so we will take that as a win.

Four classes were represented, with the DF95's, IOM's, RM's and a 10R on the water throughout the day.

Welcome to Sunday racing to both Richard Fisher and Andrew Price. It looks like you both really enkoyed the day. Hopefully, we will be seeing much more of you both on the water in the weeks to come.

The handicapping today was a very difficult task, but our Pro, Les Hanson did a sterling job with it and getting us away for 11 races - especially since our lunch break was a bit extended with the hot savouries and scintillating conversation on offer.

We had regular groupings passing the finish line today. The DF's were given a reduced length course, but fought closely together as the larger classes tried to catch up to them a second time. The DF's did one full circuit of the long distance wcourse , and the other yachts had another smaller circuit added on. The larger classes got past them on the first circuit, but could not quite catch again while doing the second loop.

The IOM's all left fairly close together with their handicaps, with the RM's and 10R 1:40-2:00 behind at the start.

The final results don't do true justice to Les' handicap work but the people on site saw that it was regularly just 50m or so between the first and last yacht on many of the races, with the eception of the odd bonehead (yes, I am talking about me) hitting marks and getting stuck at times.

Winner today, with just 9 points from the 11 races (yes, he had to drop his two 2nd places....) was Richard Fisher. Close behind was our other new SUnday Sailor, Andrew Price, on 16 points. Third - the first IOM placing - was Peter Sylvester, on 40 points, Phil Turnbull 4th overall (2nd IOM) on 47 points. First of the RM's was Lisa Blackwood, 9th overall, on 63 points
 
Wednesday is the regular IOM Handicap, starting at 10 with some scratch racing, and the Handicap racing at 11am.

Sunday is the IOM MId Winter Challenge. We have some entries in so far, but are keen on getting as many as we can for the day. If you intend on sailing, please get your entry in as soon as possible. They close on Friday, however, for ranking events beyone next weekend, the entry close will be a week out from the event day.

Next Saturday, weather depending, we are intending on opening up MBYC for a DF sail day, from 10am. This is intended to give some extra sailing for the DF's in the leadup to the Nationals later in the year as well as get some good information back on possible courses, since we are gifted with three possible sail areas for the event.