Lincoln Radio Sailing Club

At 0830 the sun was beating down but the lake was as flat as a… very flat thing….

Mike W had most of the kit set up … we just needed some competitors… and some wind.

The competitors arrived … fresh faced and eager to race…. But still no wind. So we waited….

After a while it filled in a bit from NE which was a bit worrying as all the weather apps were showing light SWlys but Hey Ho and off we go with a very short course on the East bank.

Sam was quickly into his stride taking the first two races but Paul had other ideas for the third and grabbed top spot from Micky.

That took us to 11 o’clock and the wind was still very light and fluky so we had a break.

Taking a break was a good decision… the wind picked up a little and went SWly (as advertised) so we just reversed the course and set to again. Mike W liked the SWlies and took the next race and so did Micky who took 4 of the remaining 6 with Paul and Sam adding one each to their 1st Place honours.

So what started out as an unexciting prospect ended up as a good day of interesting and very good natured competition.

The whole thing was very much a team effort… everyone pitched in … and it worked…so thanks to all.

Ron.

Somewhat down on the usual numbers owing to many helms either competing or helping at the IOM worlds, 10 hardy souls still turned out on what was a cold and grey Sunday. Sailing was to be on the east bank but owing to the wind direction the beat was to be in two parts with a dog leg in it, this was then followed by a run before beating back to the finishing line, these short races allowed the race officer to get in thirteen races. With the first race of the day going the way of Mark Nicoll in his Alioth the bulk of the wins went the way of Rob Wilson and Mick Chamberlain, the only others to take a win were Sam Parker, Paul Kelly and Richard Jutsom with Richard only failing to take a second win in race six being passed in the dying stages of the race. The way to the front on the day was to make a good start, with most wins coming from a good start in clear air and rounding the windward mark first. Jeff Clarke in his (new to him) Venti also appeared to be getting to grips with it, improving race by race until coffee time after five races when he snapped the underdeck sheeting, putting him out for action for the rest of the day. Another victim of the dreaded string failure was Ron Austen, when his jib tie-down failed before the start of race eleven, putting an end to his day. The racing was good natured all day with penalties being taken when required and start line duties being done by everyone based on the order you signed on. Also, many thanks must go to Ron Austen who stepped up again to do assistant race officer duties, and to everyone else who helped pack up at the end of the days racing.

Sam (Race Officer)

The DF 95 had round two today , but just before it started Jen H mentioned that she had won something sailing wise and asked if Martyn had mentioned it , no I said , not thinking anymore. Ok so on to today, we had 12 skippers show up, a good fleet for sure, it was a blustery day from the North East , over the tree’s , but a decent top suit breeze for sure , we lost our first skipper who was in the dingy doing a rescue when a gust caught him of guard and into the water he shall go luckily no harm done and he decided to go home and sort himself out , ( he has been phoned and is AOK ) I can report , next to go was Mike W 76 when a block pulled out of the deck. Meanwhile racing continued up the East bank with very tricky and shifty conditions , to be sure, but the little lady mastered then to perfection and registered her 1st bullet of the day followed home by Kevin E 02 and Martyn in 3rd spot. I have got to say the beat was a nightmare ( for me ) and I guess some others, this was as always when the wind is in the North east, still it’s the same for everyone they say, trouble is some cope better than others. Martyn took the second win with Colin H 301 showing some big improvements from last time out, and Kevin keeping his powder dry with a great 3rd spot. Getting off the start line for most was not a problem , it was half way up the beat where it all turned to what we call ” Rats” but onward and upward, Sam P 59 in his cool calm way took the 3rd race in style, and you could see the smile it was a mile wide, race 4 was Martyn’s, but then Jen stormed back to take race’s 5 and 6 and I begun to wonder what the conversation was around the dining table !!!!!! Colin H 301 was pushing hard and took the next 2 bullets showing a little more aggression than in the previous two races when he got pipped on the line,, !!!!!! and please don’t be surprised but Jen H 69 won the day her calm and steady racing made this an easy win for her, and all she has leant up at ROWFAC has certainly been a huge benefit, of was it the flapjack’s , Hey well do Jen and well done to all for helping get the stuff put away, first class .

This fleet is pretty competitive , and our next round is the Martin Lambert which is at the end of the month when we welcome a few visitors to to test us .

Another good turnout for round 3 , 16 skippers came to the line including 1 prospective new member Jeff Clarke. The day was forecast to be a light affair with rain , luckily the rain held off till we finished racing but light winds was to hang around all morning, one of the reasons only 6 races got completed, never the less it was a very enjoyable morning for all and great behaviour, by all skippers, This was to be the last race at the club before the Worlds in just over two weeks time, and for our two selected skippers a time to shine. The first race was won by Roger C 30 not with his Venti as stated ( that has gone to a new home) but with a woody, 2nd home was the ever consistent Tim H 134 followed home by Kevin E 87 with another Brit Pop. It was a shifty day and there were no guarantees you would pick the right side of the beat, as a few found to their cost, racing was on the favoured East bank, and it was a great course , set up by the OOD’s ( Darin and co ). In race two Tim got his only win of the morning, and a win I must say was pretty hard to find Darin managed to get two bullets’ Matching Pete W 65 who took the last two races, with his Venti, only six races so only one discard and you needed to make every race count. The racing up and down the fleet was very competitive, we had six Brit Pops out ,four Venti’s ,and surprisingly a design that seems to be gathering a bit of momentum the Alioth, and there was four of them out racing today, and Martyn won the battle of the Alioth’s, Richard J is still getting the hang of the Viss but is getting it sorted. Probably skipper of the day was Rob W with his quiet unassuming skill he managed to get a well deserved second place on the day only two points behind our winner “Tim the Chippy Hand ” and he did not manage a win but certainly owned 2nd place in the last four races. Darin was having a disappointing day, and appeared to be concerned about bread crumbs, not sure what all that was about , but the club are right behind Darin and Tim who will be representing the club in the up coming Worlds in a couple of weeks. Well done to all for an enjoyable Mornings racing

Pics are a mix of Jen H and Mick C .