The wind was well shocking. In the words of the vane skippers the “hotel winds.” Very often the first beat became a stage race not requiring a tack.

Derek started strongly before taking a break to get warm. Paul Middleton overall winning the day with a strong finish.

Mark taking second after a fairly erratic day and Garry Benson taking 3rd with a strong performance on his return to the 95s.

As requested events currently in programme up to end of Feb

JANUARY
Sat 18 DF95 Winturn Shield Winter Series 3 11:00 Competitors
Sun 19 R6m Wyre Trophy Event 1 11:00 Competitors
Wed 22 Schooner Iceberg Trophy Event 14 12:30 Competitors
Sat 25 IOM Jim Rose Bowl Winter Series 3 11:00 Competitors
Sun 26 Laser Eric Nuttall Trophy Winter series 2 11:00 Competitors
Wed 29 Schooner Iceberg Trophy Event 15 12:30 Competitors
FEBRUARY
Sat 1 DF65 Bolton Trophy Winter Series 4 11:00 Competitors
Sun 2 Free Free Date Free (IOM pop up?)
Wed 5 Schooner Iceberg Trophy Event 16 12:30 Competitors
Sat 8 DF95 Winturn Shield Winter Series 4 11:00 Competitors
Sun 9 Laser Eric Nuttall Trophy Winter Series 3 11:00 Competitors
Wed 12 Schooner Iceberg Trophy Event 17 12:30 Competitors
Sat 15 IOM Jim Rose Bowl Winter Series 4 11:00 Competitors
Sun 16 R6m Wyre Trophy Event 2 11:00 Competitors
Wed 19 Schooner Iceberg Trophy Event 18 12:30 Competitors
Sat 22 DF65 Bolton Trophy Winter Series 5 11:00 Competitors
Sun 23 Laser Eric Nuttall Trophy Winter Series 4 11:00 Competitors
Wed 26 Schooner Iceberg Trophy Event 19 12:30 Competitors

What started in calm weather turned into a steady breeze towards the end of sailing.

A great turn out of 9 boats considering a few were on holiday, Xmas plans and away at Birkenhead with the IOMs

To the racing, champagne sailing, B rig down the lake. A good stuff breeze down the lake. A full lap of the lake was sailed from the top spreader down to the bridge.

Race 1 was edged by Gordon in a match race with Mark Gordon then proceeded to win the next four races with Marks sail winch line being temperamental meaning equipment issues costing him between race 2 and 5.

After getting the “other” hull out after lunch, Mark and Gordon restarted the match race sharing the wins after the lunch until Marks battery packing up in the last race when in the lead!

Gordon overall a worth winner, ahead of Mark and Peter Iles.

The middle pack performed well changing places throughout the 10 races.

Today was a race officers nightmare….. Mark standing in as RO for thirst hour helping Bob set the course. Bob stepping back from races after Race 4 to help the scores.

A reachy start and a sort of zig zag course to get some beats in making for some very difficult, tactical sailing.

A great turnout with a few absentees watching football or at the AGM 14 yachts hitting the water with a variety of hull colours brightening up the lake.

Racing was good and the fleet continues to develop so credit to everyone.

8 race winners across 12 races shows the level of competition developing

Ian Sinclair, banana number 11 sailed consistently through the day to take the victory with 24 points ahead of Terry Reed also performing well.

Peter Guest in third making up the podium, being pushed by Ian H

Notable performance by Paul Fishwick in fifth (banana 19), who finished an impressive fifth and is proof that practice is paying off.

Peter W and Sharons yacht seem to manage find each other no matter where they were on the lake. Rob J sailing in B Rig (00), let’s not talk about “why” Nice to see Garry back on the water!

Despite the alarming weather forecasts about “Storm Bert”, four skippers fitted their smallest sails onto their 36R yachts, waited for the rain to ease a little, then ventured outside to do some racing. Understandingly other skippers, who were hoping to attend, but living miles away, did the sensible thing and stayed at home.

The wind was from the South, making tricky sailing conditions, but was not as strong as the forecasts. However, the rain persisted so just one round was sailed. As there were no mates available we sailed one pair at a time per heat, with the other skippers manning the mates’ bank.  

Final Results

1st   Peter Whiteside          10 points

2nd  Olly Murray                  9

3rd   Peter Iles                      8

4th   Eric Austwick                3

We were pleased to welcome Peter Iles in his first event as a Vane 36R skipper, with his recently purchased yacht.

A pretty good turnout considering the time of year for the 65s in a good blow

10 yachts hitting the water with Olly completing a clean sweep of the 14 races sailed.

Steve Matt and Ian Sinclair making up the podium, with some close racing from second onwards.

Good to see the 65 fleet making a resurgence considering some notable absentees!

There were 7 entries for the above event. The forecasted wind direction was SE and there was hardly a ripple on the lake at start time. However we started on time and made the best of these tricky conditions. Three heats were sailed by lunch time but by about 3-30 pm the lake was flat calm after completing one board of heat 6. As Olly Murray hadn’t dropped a single point, including taking the run from 2nd place Derek Priestley in Heat 6, even if Derek could win the beat back he would still be 1 point behind Olly and Heat 7 was Derek’s bye. It was therefore decided to declare Olly the winner and stop racing at that point.

Thanks are due to Bob Jolly for manning the Mates’ Bank, along with the bye boat skipper.

Results

1st    Olly Murray          100%

2nd   Derek Priestley      85.1%

3rd   Peter Whiteside     68.2%       

4th   John Sharman       28%

5th= Peter Guest           22.7%

5th= Eric Austwick        22.7%

7th   Walter Audley       18.2%

Another great turnout. the fleet has grown massively this year and considering how many boats could have joined the party, we could be getting some big fleets next season. If anyone else is looking to join the class get in touch!

It looks like a competitive race between the top 4 boats.

John Sharman winning (Alioth?), pipping Paul Middleton with his new V11 and Derek P (Dead Reckoning) making up the podium.

Olly chasing them into fourth with his Sedici.

We welcomed Harry Balderstone to the racing (guest) and at the bottom, Rob beating Sharon 😜

Again big shout out to Bob for scoring – legend