RM Summer Scratch Round 1

​A great start to RM Scratch racing today. Fantastic to see nine skippers turn up. Unfortunately, one didn't get off the start line with a blown rudder servo, leaving eight to sail for the day.

Ten races sailed in all, with the first three in A Rig, before we all decided to change down for the B set for the rest of the day. South to South East breeze, from not much at all to around 20 knot gusts proved rather tricky to master, with most of us getting both good luck and bad luck as the day wore on.

It was fantastic to see (and the sailors are to be commended for the sportsmanship) with an amount of infringements being cleared with a prompt penalty turn without the need for any challenging - and on two occasions that I heard, where the skipper called their own infringement and started the turn with the yacht they infringed upon not even aware that the infringement was there. Fantastic level of sportsmanship that is what we want to see consistently when we sail.

After the end of the days racing, Ray Joyce came out on top. Four race wins and a worst counted of 4 showing the consistency that he sails week after week with the RM. Well deserved round winner on 17 points.

Second today, was Kyle Stewart - enjoying that jump up into B rig, reeling off a 1-2-1-1 after the rig change. Also very consistent today, with 4's as the worst counted scores for the day. Finishing 3 behind Ray, on 20 points.

Three points further afield, in third, was Stu Dawes on 23 points. Also 4th as highest counted score. Very consistent amongst the first three today.

In all, a very enjoyable days sailing. Big thanks to Les for doing the Pro work today. Les has been unwell lately and was great to see him up and about today. Your work as Pro is appreciated by all of us.

Coming up

Wenesday is IOM Mid Week Handicap, button press at 11am. We will be having a visit from Minister Nick Street, who will be having a look at our new dinghy and getting a bit of an idea what RC Sailing is all about. Hopefully it might also be the start of some positive communications in to the government with our future plans.

Next Sunday is DF95 Scratch, at the dam. Button press at 1pm.

Reminder also for everyone, that we have the next IOM Ranking Event coming up in a few weeks on 28th January at Lake Trevallyn. Entries can be made either by going direct to the ARYA Events page, or on our own Ranking Events page, which will link you to the same spot. It woul dbe great to get a good turnout to support our Northern friends in their first IOM Ranking event in many years.

Kyle