​A fresh 2C morning greeted the nine hardy sailors this morning, for the IOM Mid Winter Challenge. Thankfully, the forecast very light to no wind had not eventuated, and we started the day with a gentle NNW breeze. Racing got away right on time, knowing that the breeze we had was likely to be the best for the day. A solid mornings sailing put tactics to the test, with the skippers working out what was the best option. Sail close to shore, go further out, best places to tack. It was really enjoyable. We decided to delay the lunch break as the breeze was really dropping out at 1230 and we wanted to get as many races in as possible. By the call of lunch at 1330, we had completed 14 races, and weren’t really expecting to come out after lunch.
 
That said, the very slight breeze did linger, having dropped to below 10km/hr from the WNW direction. Unfortunately, the last part of the day saw three skippers break down. The lighter conditions saw Ray Joyce step into top gear and turn his day around completely, but the day’s winner, Lisa Blackwood, proved just too consistent on the day, chalking up six wins on the day, to win on 26 points. Kyle Stewart also sailed well on the day, coming in second, with 40 points, with Ray and John Cole-Cook in a tie for third, on 49 points – Ray winning third place on countback.
 
In all, a really enjoyable day at MBYC, with some light, but consistent wind for the day. Big thanks to Rod Marshall, for taking on the Pro duties for much of the day, and to Andrew Wardrop and Anne Cole Cook, for taking over the Pro duties when Rod needed to be elsewhere.
 
Next week is Long Distance Day and BBQ, starting at 11am. If you could possibly let myself or John Hall know if you are intending on coming along, we can make sure there are enough sausages etc for the lunch break. Your committee will be represented there, so it is also a great chance to ask any questions or provide any comments to us.

Today’s racing started with a bit of a setback when four experienced members (we know boats) launched the tinny off the pontoon in fine style & then watched it float off into the bay as no one had hold of the rope. The only solution was to go back to the clubhouse & launch the rubber ducky for a rescue mission.
After things settled down a fleet of 7 IOM’s then enjoyed some great racing with B rigs in the prevailing westerly in flat water. A box course was set with a downwind start to 2 buoys half way to the Behrens, and then upwind where picking the shifts was the game to a set of windward marks off the pontoon.
Mike Holbrook paid us a very welcome visit bringing along his ex Alan Furmage Wedgie that he has refurbished with a great paint job & set of excellent A sails from Kyle. Unfortunately the A rig proved a bit much in the B rig conditions.
 
Link here to some photos that Mike took of the racing.  


https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1s18w27gIUc2OPsEWQx5GlaYhphCi59-E
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Nine hardy skippers fronted at MBYC this morning for a resumption of our mid week sailing series.
We launched the dinghy by taking it down the path & then down the gangway & off the end of the pontoon & retrieved it in reverse - a much easier system than launching off the beach near the jetty.
As there were only nine of us, we decided to set a course within the bay which proved to be very satisfactory in the light NW conditions.
The wind coming off the water was very cold but we stuck it out until 8 races were completed.
The races after lunch enjoyed a top of A rig breeze with some good waves giving excellent sailing conditions & despite the cold it was a great mornings sailing.
 
Winner today, was Chris Wood, sailing his Corby very consistently. Phil Turnbull, with his Blitz was close behind in second, with Rod Marshall taking third with his Woodie.

​Winter has certainly arrived, and for the intrepid skippers that came along, cold, wet and light breeze welcomed them. Welcome to Paul Jewel and Matthew Bugg. Paul to the RM class, and Matthew to the club. I hope the day was enjoyable as it was cold.
Eight races were completed, with some delays in between with the fickle breeze. John Hall (3rd), sailed his normal consistent self, placing in the right half of the field on most occasions, Rod Marshall (2nd), showed his local skills in correctly navigating the current in the river, coming an impressive second in the new Mantra 2, with Lisa Blackwood taking out the honours on the day with a very consistent day. Very hard to catch up with early on.
 
Next week is the Queens Birthday Long Weekend (thanks, Freddy Mercury), and there is no official scheduled sailing on – however, we are going to have sailing at MBYC on Sunday, starting at 11am (Log Distance Handicap time), with a BBQ intermission at lunch time. It was really enjoyed last week, so we thought we would repeat it for the interested sailors next week. No individual class of racing. Simply bring the yacht you’d like to race (or yachts), and enjoy some friendly competition and a sausage for lunch.
 
A reminder, that memberships are past due now, and Les will have to send the payments through to ARYA for our insurances – so we need them in as soon as possible. Over the next week, I’ll email yet to be signed up members individually to check up on them, to see if they intend on renewing this season (I really hope you do). That is to tally up those who are intending – for the ARYA payment, and also for those who are not intending to this season, so I don’t keep harassing you for subs (nobody wants that).
 
See you at MBYC hopefully next Sunday – first race at 11am.

8 hardy skippers turned up to Montrose for the third installment of the Long DIstance series for 2019.
Seven got a start in the first race, with yours truly forgetting the keel on the Indie - an omen that should have been listened to.
Strong NW winds meant everyone started on B rigs, with Lisa's Blade and my indie (when it got to water) on C rigs. With significant wave action throughout, the sailing was consistently challenging, but enjoyable.
Trying to steal the limelight, Lisa's yacht got de-masted at one point, and my Indie decided to turn into a submarine (note for everyone, don't be scared to have a lot of overlap with deck patches) and took on water quicker then One Australia in San Diego.
Back to where the attention should be - and John Hall proved way too good on the day, with a real consistent day with the heavier conditions, o 12 points, with Les Hanson coming in a close second on 15 points, and Peter Darcey rounding out the top three, just three points further back. Rod Marshall also scored very well, with two wins and a second on the day for him.
The skippers had a break at lunch time, and enjoyed a few sausages, some coffee and had a good chat about all things sailing. Quite a pleasant break. (Thanks Lisa for doing the BBQ for us all).

It is now coming to the end of the month, and a gentle reminder for those who have yet to pay subs, that they are due by the end of the month. I'll also send out individual reminders after the end of the month, for those yet to have paid.

Next week is RM Scratch at MBYC. Tides are favourable and the inside information is that we may be able to use the new floating pontoon for the first time.

​Seven sailors turn up to a top of A rig northerly which gradually  petered out to light  variable breeze.
Ray again dominated the racing, a hard boat to beat. Rod Marshall launched his new boat  and showed some promise and I  am sure
he will be very competive once he gets used to it.
Many thanks to jammy & wife Lyn for doing an excellent job running the racing today

​A good turnout again this week for the last week at Risdon Brook Dam for a little while, while Hobart Water drain another metre out of the dam, wait for the newly exposed ground to dry, before hitting the perimeter of the whole dam with excavators to remove all the unwanted weed – may be looking at a few months before this is completed and dam levels raised again.
 
Peter Sylvester had a fantastic day, easily coming out trumps in first position, with Ray Joyce comfortably in second, and Wayne Behrens in third, holding out Phil Turnbull and Andrew Wardrop.

​A reminder of things coming up;

• We have the RM southern Tasmanian Championships this coming Sunday at the dam. Entries to me as soon as possible, closing on Friday. If you’d like to compete, but don’t have an RM, contact me and I should be able to get you into a yacht for the day.
• Subs ($60) are due by the end of the month. Please see Les for payment when you can, or pay by bank deposit – but if you do, please make sure you identify yourself in the comments of the deposit, so Les knows who paid.

 
Kyle