Report from Darin ,

Thick fog and no breeze on the journey from Burton on Trent for the trip to Lincoln for Rd1 of the MDWS; well at least until we turned into the club lake, where we met with a nice top suit breeze and visibility from one side of the lake to the other. That was at 8.15am, by 9.00am a course was set by PRO Pete Walters and boats were on the water practicing. Just before the official start time a sea haze (!) drifted in and a fine mizzle replaced the breeze. Still the fleet of 16 had faith and  kept preparing. Come the start time, Pete was able to announce a course with a number of different options for the swinging breeze, something that would continue all day, although we later  settled on a course with a long beat which worked for the big shifts and differing pressure across the lake and allowed us to complete 13 races in a single fleet. Up and down the fleet skippers had tales of snakes and ladders with the more consistent finishing higher in the final positions, but almost everyone having at least one good race.

As usual at Midland District events everyone was made to feel welcome and questions were asked and answered throughout the fleet, with advice given willingly.

This was the first round of the Midland District Winter Series organised by Darin Ballington. It was also Round 3 of the Lincoln Winter Series and attracted six visitors and ten home club sailors.

Report from Martyn

Pete Walters was the OD, and also sailed, as is the norm for these events. He called the skippers together for a briefing in good time and explained how the day would be run, the safety considerations and also that changes in the wind direction necessitated another course to be set before we could start. Peter explained that he would perform the first line start and that we would then take turns but still compete in the races. Similarly, the finishing results would be compiled by the skippers of the boats coming first and second. There were six different race winners, so this duty was shared out reasonably well.

A slight mist hung over the water and the Northerly wind meant that a course had to be set with fairly distant windward marks. Visibility and distance meant that judgement of the furthest marks was quite challenging all day.

A course was set that looked quite daunting on the course board, with two windward marks and two laps. It worked out well however, with the majority getting to grips with the course quickly. Four races were run in quick succession generating three race winners with Pete Walters and Tim Hand both sailing noticeably well at this point.

After four races, a shift in the wind direction gave the opportunity to create a simpler course and racing re-commenced with a wind speed that had dropped considerably and a wind that had become increasingly fickle in terms of when and where it blew. This created a lot more variability in results and gave everyone the opportunity to be at the front. Having got there, staying at the front was another matter and the final result of the day reflected the consistency of the sailors in reading the wind. Pete Walters was the most consistent skipper and took first spot by quite a margin. Darin Ballington improved his consistency during the day and came through to second spot leaving Tim Hand, who was sailing a Proteus for the first time, in third.

The final race was completed just after 3:30pm in failing light due to a descending mist and a light drizzle. Prizes were presented to the first three competitors and thanks were given. Although this was quite a challenging day, the sailing was conducted in a sportsmanlike manner and it was a well-run good day of sailing. Thank you to all the sailors and particularly those who travelled, given the poor wind forecast.

M Aspinall

The top 3 were presented with prizes and everyone was encouraged to enter the next round at Manor Park Sailing Club on the 6th Dec 2026.

Only two pictures as everyone was sailing and Tim had left by the prizegiving so Jen took the chocolates. She said that she will pass them over!

See you at MPRSC for Rd 2 (6th Dec, If you have forgotten already).