A very exciting day at Manor park , on Sunday 30th July , full race report will follow but here are the results for now . A very well done to Pete Baldwin for taking the top step , and I may add to all competitors, for making it such an enjoyable day .

With a rare gap in the club calendar, five DF95 skippers got together at the lake on Sunday for some informal racing. (A thanks to Mike W for taking the lead on co-ordinating it).

The course was set down the East Bank, with no need for any mark-moving. The breeze was top end of B, and often ‘plus a bit’ – which called for caution over last-second tacking off the bank, and elsewhere meant gybing round could often be more effective than trying to tack. 

One boat had an on-board camera – the footage will need some editing down (let’s just say it won’t include Colin H’s foul-ups…), but hopefully something will be shared on YouTube. 

Colin H lucked-in on a good setup and was able to stay consistent. Sam P put on his C Rig for the first time ever before the last race, and I think the phrase is “fast straight out of the box”!

Most stayed with the B Rig, but a couple changed down to C later in the morning and did benefit from some better speed and control upwind.

There were gear problems now and again for some, but overall everyone was able to get stuck into an absorbing and challenging 8 races.

Despite the date, there was no Pickles on-hand/paw to supply a trophy. But it was a morning for just laid-back racing and – always LRSC’s forté, on any day – having an enjoyable time with club-mates.

Report by Colin Helliwell

A wet day ,, but all arrived safely home, and thankful they were not racing in the Fastnet race, down South, .

Well what a cracking day in more ways than one, wind from the south west-ish very strong and gusty, rain early on but mostly dry apart from the last of 10 races, a couple of retirements due to breakages and water ingress. All started on A+ but most came down to B and one to C rig. Managed 10 races but very challenging Pete Walters mastered it though only Adrian stopping him getting a clean sweep. OODs were Adrian C and Alan E with the usual assistance from Roger.

Alan E

Wow a very breezy day, but hey it was super sunshine and warm, Because we had no OOD , Roger B had got all the gear out and Tim H jumped in the dingy and sorted out a great course on the East Bank, Other skippers helped out , you know the usual suspects . We also had like last week some visitors to the lake and one young chap may well be joining the club. The rig we all started with was B , and it was probably between 80 and 100 % for this rig depending on the gusts. We were very lucky that Alan E was on hand and I have posted a few of his pictures on this action packed day. Mick C 46 after a titanic battle with the V 11 of Tim H 44 just came out with the bullet, but roles were reversed in race two, with Roger B 58 getting a well deserved third place, Roger then went on to win the third race in fine style with his BritPop obviously a great set up and well sailed. Racing was going to be a bit hard on rigs, and the wind was going to find any weakness especially in the rigs and by race 5 we had our first casualty Tim 44 losing a shroud and despite changing to C rig that was to be the end of his day. I believe Roger 58 had the same fate in race 6 when the breeze was just about at its strongest , he put a new shroud on but also changed a little later to C rig, New member Martyn A 95 was sailing well with his Shiraz, as were a number of other skippers in the tough conditions, by race 7 we also lost the Venti of Mick Cooper 39. Jen H 69 sailed consistently well, but was no match for Dave R 57, Mike W 76 got better as the day wore on and gained a creditable 4th on the day, It was a difficult day for Kevin E 20 but he coped well with what is known to be a light wind boat, Mick C 46 took the top spot with a very consistent set of results never lower than 2nd, Yes we had some superstars missing due to other events, and of course a certain sunbed in Italy, . We did have a potential new member come to visit, Chris Vincent , and I have just been told he has brought a DF 65 and has paid his subs, Chris I am sure you enjoyed what you saw, and welcome.

Many thanks to Tim and Dave mainly for stepping up when needed, and many thanks to all skippers who made the day, fabulous racing it has to be said, and nice to have a great breeze, the rain held off until just on 1pm. M any congratulations to Mick C 46 for his win with ” The Venti ”