Bit of a grey day welcomed 12 skippers at the Farm today for this the final round of the series, the race team got set up on the East bank many thanks for that but it was always, going to be between both banks , and so we got started bang on time, and like a shot out of a gun Tim H 44 set off like lightening with Martyn A 877 and Mick C 46 wallowing in Tim’s Wake, the breeze I suppose was 70 % of top rig and it did increase all through the morning , but hey Back to Tim H, and for the first three races it was the same three in the same order. Peter C 110 was having a pretty good morning and pushed himself into the top three in the 4th race but was unable to sustain it Jen H 69 was also having a decent day, and after coffee when cake was offered due to one of our skippers ( Martyn ) hitting 65,,, he doesn’t look a day over 50 , ok most of the skippers do wear glasses, But I have to say his sail trim is spot on and he chased Tim all the way but never quite managed to beat him. As I said coffee went down well and we changed to the South bank which gave us a much better slant, by this time the breeze was up, but the fleet were in fact very close, which tells me everybody is improving , Young Colin H 301 mentioned he was having a job to get a good start, and I have to say the start was a major part of getting a decent result Sam P 159 got better after the cake break and had a morning he will be pleased with, Richard J 699 however was having a morning he may want to forget, Kevin E 02 was also struggling. The morning wore on with Tim H 44 showing what a great racer he is , and I may add was aiming to be unbeaten, with a perfect 10 races , however a Port and starboard just after the start spoiled his chance, but even so a pretty impressive performance from the youngster, Obviously he took the top step so very well done Tim and also well done to Mr 65 Martyn and they do say a good wine matures with age ,, say not more .

Well done to everybody who helped out especially to Roger Bowtle who gave up his racing to do a Stirling job as race officer, apart from the rain, the sailing conditions were perfect and gave us some great races, we now look forward to the Summer series that will start in April and before that the DF TT that is being held at the club on the 23rd and 24th March ,,, just two weeks time and we shall see the best skippers in the UK descend on Lincoln.

A Misty mirky day dawned with not a breath of wind at Lincoln, Race officers with help went out looking for some buoys, from different parts of the lake and as Darin emerged from the mist a shout went up ” hang on is this an illegal in a small boat” and it was only when he was fifty foot away we realised it was Darin with a boat full of Boys ,, sorry Buoys, many thanks Darin for all your help Mate

And so we had a very good turnout 14 skippers for round 9 of this series, we had a nearly new Venti in the hands of Richard J 12 going in for the first time, we also welcomed back to racing a couple of long term absentee’s in Gravesy and Adrian , who was race officer for the day, and even more importantly we welcomed back my old mate Mick Cooper, or Cooperman as we like to call him, great stuff Mick you look amazing. We had 8 different designs on the water and a fine blend of skills, The conditions we had were Mist , very little wind but in spite of all that we had a great attitude, one thing for sure was how well Roger Crates Wooden hull Little Wing ? design went in the majority of the races and most of the time leaving the fleet for dead , so very well done Roger. Race one was wone by Roger C 30 followed home by Tim 44 and Dave 57 taking up third spot, Race two Darin got into his stride, but all eyes were on Mick 39 with his Venti who led for a good two thirds of the race before Darin broke through, third spot was mister consistency on the day Tim 44 races three and four Roger 30 took the wins, racing was slow but at least you were moving and although being in the wrong place could be frustrating if you get up front it seemed to be more pleasing, ” well it would wouldn’t it ” Apart from Roger 30 Tim was showing good consistency as was Dave R 57, and these were races where you could go up and down like a yo yo, Richard j 12 with his new Venti will get better trust me, it will take a few weeks to get the set up correct , a much better performance from Kevin E which did include a second place, I do know that Colin H 20 with his Pikanto has been working hard off the water to get the right set up and I am sure it will come good. Tracy B 49 was top lady and top Brit Pop , and you will see from the scores there was pretty tight racing in Mid fleet , it was also great to see two past members Ed W and Geoff at lake side enjoying the racing . At the end of the day an emphatic win for Roger and the ” little Wing ” wooden boat who put some of the very latest designs to shame with 5 wins in 8 races, Tim did brilliantly , and Riggers Rigby sailed better than he has sailed for some time , well done , Just like to thank everybody for helping out especially at the end for packing it all away , very well done.

Wow what a fabulous day for radio racing , small fleet but perfect conditions, it was freezing first thing when you were leaving home, but by 10 am with the course set by our lone race officer Rob , with of course many helping hands, we were ready to go on the South bank, slightly hampered by only one useable jetty, the course was great, with two long beats and a shorter one to the finish. We started with seven skippers, but one of our number was having problems with his car and decided to get home while he could and left us at coffee break. hope you got home Alan .

Rob W 365 was off the mark and took the win in race one and Mick C 46 and Dave R 180 in second and third , fortunes were reversed in race two with Mike W 76 popping up in third, Peter C 110 missed a couple races dealing with a new dingy for his other club, but to be fair he was struggling from the start. Mick C 46 just seemed to have the edge in the speed department but was not always on re the shifts, and Rob was always there to take advantage, to be fair the racing was very close, and after a few adjustments on Dave’s boat he found his form in the last three races, 8 long races were completed giving everybody a couple of discards, fantastic racing using A + rigs with good humour on the bank with Mike’s dog ” Morgan” taking a liking to some skippers shoes , In the end Mick C 46 took the morning result from Rob W 365 and Dave R 180, I would just add that 3 of our skippers were away at an open meeting, and lets just hope they had as much fun as we did at the farm

Many thanks to all who helped out and made for a very nice Sunday morning’s racing. Looking at the calendar, it appears there is one more round to this series , but as I write I am not sure and this will need clarification.

What a great day it turned out to be. The signs were poor when race officer Dave R arrived in rain and a poor wind direction suggesting a zig zag course. Luckily the wind swung enough to confirm a course on the south bank. Dave set about moving buoys for a windward leeward course, thanks to Tim for his assistance setting the start line and gate.

12 Skippers signed in only to lose Stuart before the start with receiver issues. Kevin was also sporting his new Venti ,  and Colin taking over Kev’s Pikanto. The forecast wind was yet to arrive but the rain stopped and the sun graced us with its presence. Roger Crates made the most of the light winds taking the first two races with Mick C, Tim H, and Dave R in pursuit.

A short break was held for coffee and birthday cake which went down very well. The Birthdays were Gordon Bennett 89 years young and Mick Chamberlain who is old but not that old. Cake at the lake is a bit of a tradition , so if it’s your birthday , get the cake out .

Mick C became a casualty with rudder problems and had to retire from racing. The wind had now freshened and continued to do so reaching the top end of A rig. Any handling issues were severely punished as I found out to my cost. Tim H reveled in the windier conditions winning five of the last six races.

There was short break while Jen patched Dave R back together after cutting his finger badly on his keel producing a significant amount of blood. But the show had to go on thanks Nurse Jen.

The last four races were the Tim, Dave, Martyn, show as they took the first three places in all those races.

Everyone had their moments especially Jen who won race 3. There was close racing throughout the fleet with any error being severely punished. Congratulations to Tim H taking the day with Dave R second and Martyn A third.

I think everybody enjoyed the morning with racing being done in the right spirit making it very enjoyable for all concerned.

A big thank you to everyone who helped pack the gear away.