Five DF sailors turned up in the wind and drizzle today, and looking out of the clubhouse window at the waves racing down the lake and over the causeway we wondered why …

Still, the rain stopped and the wind dropped (slightly), although a quick experiment with the B rig showed that C was a better choice.  Starting at the ‘yellow line’ of buoys, Andy shot off in the lead in the first race up to the top reds and back, romping home well ahead – a pattern that was to repeat, if someone (read Andy) got ahead, they tended to win by a good margin.  In the first race the others spread out in a gaggle behind, but as the day progressed there were some close finishes between the middle three boats.  Andy continued to dominate through most of the races, dropping only three wins out of the eight races sailed, these being shared one each by Ian, Peter Guest and Peter Iles.  Then Ian broke his mast stub, dropping the whole rig overboard, in race seven and the broken part couldn’t be extracted from the mast. As Peter Whiteside had to leave at lunchtime we did one more race to make the eight and called it quits.  Despite the mast failure Ian got a good second after Andy, followed by the three Peters, in the order Guest, Iles and Whiteside.

Wind shifting all over the place in the evening racing. fun competitive sailing.

Mark and Olly having a battle at the front of the fleet often having a “tack off” in the later races.

To sum the evening up in race 3 mark had a 30 boat length lead with a short beat to go before finishing 5that becoming becalmed

Ian S and Chris H mixing it just behind. Both pairs tying on points.

Andy and Peter both having moments of glory throughout the evening when the got the shift right.

Afternoon racing in a strong and gusty wind, four boats in A rig, but regretting it at times. Eight races sailed and a win to Gary Benson.
Evening racing saw the wind drop considerably, so a shorter course was adopted partway through, and we cut the last lap of race seven when the wind disapeared completely. Alan Taylor joined the other four (Eric, Gary, Walter and myself) with boat 51 and took first place by one point from Gary. Much fun (and X-buns) had by all but Walter, whose boat refused to cooperate at all, with self-sliding adjusters and dropped winch line.

Afternoon/ series have begun no wonder Olly won sailing his Sedici before anyone cracks that joke

Well, given the weather forecast I wasn’t expecting a huge turnout, but eight boats started the first race in choppy, 3rd rig conditions.  The wind was blowing almost down the lake, with a little bias to the seaward side, so we were beating from the yellow buoys to the top end and running back, twice.  Well, at least we were until race 4, when a dark grey cloud blew over and brought a squall line with strong gusts coming in most directions from the north and west, as well as a good spurt of rain.. That one was cut down to a single lap and then in for an early lunch.  It settled back down after that, and was back to its morning speed and direction for the afternoon’s racing.  The strength of the wind was able to find all the weaknesses in the boats, and several of us had to do running repairs during the day, but gradually numbers dropped with only four boats finishing all eight races.  Olly M won the day, with a tiny seven points total, but he was chased hard by Alan B with nine points, taking three wins from Olly.  Many thanks to Sharon J who started us and kept the scores. 

The next race in the Yachtsman Hotel Trophy series is on 11th April, but Tuesday afternoon/evening sailing starts before that on the 7th.  See you all there perhaps!

Despite continuous rain 5 skippers entered the above event. The wind was strong SW and most yachts were in 4th suit sails. One full round was completed. Thanks are due to Sharon for taking the Mates’ bank along with the bye boat skipper.

Results

1st   Olly & Beau Murray              18 points

2nd   Peter Iles                             13

3rd   Alan Crawforth                      10

4th   Tony Wilson                           6

5th   Harry Balderson                    3