Mid Week IOM Handicap

The morning was sunny and a decent Southerly was blowing when we made our was to the dam for today’s IOM handicap racing. This wind was reinforced by sea-breeze effect and so after lunch it was was a nice 15 – 18 knots – excellent conditions for the IOM’s

It was great to have Kyle Stewart sailing today with the Wednesday group on a rare off the work roster day. Not a bad sail for Kyle too with three podium finishes for the day.

 It seemed that everyone was keen to sail and so we had at least five good scratch races before the main event. 

Before we started Lisa challenged us to see if we could, as a group, sail the whole day without a collision. As incentive there was a chocolate prize for anyone who could do so. There were, in fact, one or two bumps during the course of the day, but only one or two, and these were settled fairly and appropriately by penalties without discussion or dissent by the skippers involved. I have to say it made the whole sailing environment a much happier place and I think sets the tone for next year.

Working the shifts was the key for success today. Many races were decided by tacking duals in the long windward beat that we had to the finish line.

Third overall today was Mr Consistency – Wayne Behrens. It is always worth keeping your eye on which way Wayne is going when the winds are shifing like this at the dam. 

Second went to Andrew Wardrop. Another strong sail to back up last week’s emphatic win.

The winner by a fair margin was Phil Turnbull. Phil had a fairly generous handicap at the start of today’s racing but he showed real class by winning the last race even when sailing from a handicap of 40 sec.

Coming up:

There might be a few away for next week - 27th December (myself included), but there are still quite a few keen to sail and so there WILL be racing for those interested – but if you do want to sail could you please text Ray (0418 665 883) and let him know that you are coming. Sailing will only happen if there are enough starters.

Next year sailing will start on Wednesday 3rd January with handicap racing at the dam for DF95’s.

With that I wish to thank all competitors just for sailing during this year. I reckon that Wednesday sailing is something to look forward to each week. 

A Merry Christmas to all!


John S