​A bit of a hard day today, with winds gusting from B rig (just) conditions through to fully loaded up C rig conditions. As such, there was an amount of attrition through the day, with sheet breakage all the way to mast stub snapping during the racing.
We got a late start as we waited for the weather to decide what to do. Simply too much wind to start with and abandonment was considered for a while. Once away, three scratch races started, to warm the sailors up, and then moved on to the handicap racing. Four heats were completed prior to lunch, and then it was decided to call the day to a close with the amount of sailors unable to continue afterwards. Ray Joyce was to most consistent on the day, with two wins and a second, with David Jones close behind. Handicaps will sort them out for next month and bring them back to the pack…….
Results below for the week, along with the two rounds of the Kawana system for DF95’s.

​As promised an excellent day at the dam. Twelve yachts fronted the starter at 10.00 am for an hour of scratch racing with the honours being shared mainly between Rod Jackman and Chris Wood, who was sailing his plastic boat today. The breeze was top of A rig, shifted between NW and NE at times and even ventured into B rig conditions for some races.  
At 1100, the handicap series started, again in top A rig. Rod Jackman was sailing very well with Kim Potter and Tony Brewer also having a good day. Results below, along with final results for October. As predicted last week, Wayne got the bottle of wine. We may have mistaken last week as end of month for Weekly Handicap, but an extra sail day just crept in. Congrats Rod for today’s wine and Wayne for the monthly wine.
 
Thanks to David Murfet for undertaking the PRO duties today.
 
Next Sunday is IOM scratch at Montrose at 1.00 pm

​A little light on with competitors today, with two regulars duking it out in the NW in the RG65/DF65 Summer Series.

​A good day at the dam today except that weed must have migrated from Montrose and certainly had some effect on the results. A scratch fleet of 13 boats fronted for the racing at 10 am in a top of A rig breeze, which gave competitors some excellent racing.
 
At 11 am with the breeze moderating a little, 12 boats participated in the handicap series with some very close racing. Lisa Blackwood was sailing her Sedici and showing that a recent heart procedure in Melbourne hasn’t slowed her down.
 
Our newest member Paul Jewell was seen sailing a woody and we understand he is now looking for an IOM. If anyone has one thay are looking to sell, please get in touch with Paul or contact one of the committee to pass the information on to him. Col Johnson, who runs the excellent DF95/65 Tuesdays at Puddle duck was also seen sailing an IOM and he tells me that he has acquired a Bantock IOM, which he is refurbishing so we hope to see him on Wednesdays. Graham Lane also had his quick Blitz sailing well at times.
 
Despite a few challenges it was a very satisfying day.
 
The winner for today, and recipient of a lovely bottle of wine was David Jones, and his new V10. A new Monthly prize of a bottle of wine, for the monthly points score winner goes to Wayne Behrens – on count-back from David Jones. The Trojan is certainly sailing well under Wayne’s guidance.
 
Results sheets as supplied by Jammy’s magic box are as follows;

​Apologies for the late submission of results. I wanted to make sure of a few discrepancies and confirm these as the final standings on the day – which does differ a little from the provisional results.
 
Twelve skippers sailed at Montrose today in solid A rig conditions, with a Northerly breeze all day except for the last four races, when the breeze swung south east. Whilst the sailing conditions were excellent the day was marred by weed which effected and frustrated all competitors. However, all yachts sailed in the same conditions, so as usual the cream came to the top with Geoff Byerley sailing Stuarts idiom woody coming out as the winner on 32 points.
There was a tight finish between second and fourth places, just two points between them. Rod Jackman came through though, with second, on 42 points (certificate and voucher is coming your way Rod), and Chris Wood and his new Corby 5 one point behind on 43, with David Jones hot on his heels with his new V10 on 44 points.
Interesting to see that “Woodies” took out two of the top three positions on the day. Their designer must be happy.
 
Special thanks to Stuart Harris for being PRO in, at times, trying conditions. Without the help of our volunteers, our events would simply not get off the ground
 
On a personal note, from the time I was able to watch the races – it was fantastic to see the communication between skippers on where they were heading, prior to meeting up. Even when there was the odd moment of disagreement, it was all heard as being respectful and not heated at all. Sailing is a competitive sport and we do all get worked up at times, and it is absolutely fantastic to see the club really doing well in this regard.
 
I also called in to MBYC afterwards, once I was free, and the MBYC committee expressed their thanks for the support of the club afterwards at the bar. It was also very appreciated.

​ Overcast and humid conditions greeted the seven skippers who turned up for today’s racing. The winds which were extremely light with many windless holes allowed only 4 races, before we called it a day at lunch time when the breeze disappeared completely just prior to the rain commencing. Nevertheless, we had some close racing or drifting with all seven being at the pointy end at some stage. 
 
Thanks to those who made the effort. A positive was that we think we recruited a new member and a Mercury photographer turned up to take some photos.  

​Thanks to Andrew Wardrop and Phil Turnbull, who helped run the day today. The efforts are appreciated. Good close tustle between Mike Hickman and Rod Jackman for the day, with Mike (16 points) just edging Rod (17 points) out, with Wayne Behrens (21 points) just beating Ray Joyce (22 points) in for third position. 

Today was a great day of racing at the dam with a solid A rig southerly providing some keen & close racing. Kim Potter bought along his new (to Kim) V9 which was going very well until the winch failed - ask for a refund Kim! and Geoff Mathews was also going well until he fell to a jib swivel failure. Wayne Behrens had the Trojan wound up which proves I shouldn't have sold it to him and the two woodies had an intense tussle which I am sorry to say was won(just) by 88.
Nine handicap races were held after an hour of good scratch racing again using the Kawana Waters handicap system which again worked well. Unfortunately Jammy decided to fall over himself & suffered some unsightly facial damage which left a fair amount of Jammy blood at the dam but as a former footballer I am sure he is used to spilling blood. Speedy recovery Jammy. 
Thanks to Rob Gavin - he has a new flash German ebike & also John Banks for helping out with PRO duties to allow the usual PRO to compete in a few races.

​And Leaderboard after two (Kawana Waters Handicap System) Rounds

​Sorry, not much on the actual report today, as I was only there for the first two races and last two, but on all accounts, a very enjoyable day was had by all competitors. Sounds like a small amount of week affected most skippers at some point, and a few had mini disasters with equipment failing at just the wrong moment – but that’s sailing for you. The lunch break was extended quite a bit, with a lull in the gentle northerly breeze, with about 2hrs lost, so in the end, it was quite a creditable job by all to finish with ten races for the day.
                Thanks to our Pro on the day, Mike Hickman, as well as Les Hansen, for making all the financials were done and for scoring the entre day in some quite hot sunshine.
 
Congrats to Chris Wood, putting in a superbly consistent day, easily winning on 20 points, with David Jones storming back at the end of the day to finish in second, on 29 points, further on to Peter Darcey (31 points) in third spot by countback to Ray Joyce.