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Race report – DF95 Summer Series – 29 June
Well, what a day for a bit of a float around, it’s been windy for what seems like weeks but upon my arrival down at Scotland Farm was met by a millpond and no wind. By 9.00 and only myself and Mike W, your Assistant Race Officer was there (who by the way had everything ready to go sailing, many thanks from Sam) it looked unlikely we would have any racing this weekend. However, a few die-hard sailors slowly started to arrive and eventually we numbered eight hardy souls, also a big thanks must also go to Paul who moved enough marks around for me on both the East and South banks to give us enough courses to pick from as the wind was going around in circles.
So, the first race on the South Bank got off to a good start on a beat, but this then went round and turned into a run, a reach and a beat again which seemed to set the tone for all races during the day. As positions changed often with the wind coming from multiple directions the mood down the lake was very good-natured with much laughter at each other’s gains and losses through-out the day. Five races were completed on this bank, before a bit of a respite from the sun and refreshments were required by all competitors.
Upon restarting the racing for the day, the option to race on the East Bank was taken for the remaining six races of the day with exactly the same shifts and holes in the breeze meaning all competitors were blessed with results of varying degrees of success or despair. This Snakes and Ladders sort of racing meant that the results/scores were some of the closest seen, with our resident score master Colin Helliwell quoting that (Don’t remember a day being packed together so tightly on points, doesn’t stop me being peed off with 7th though).
So, to re-cap the day as a whole look at the results to see how close the points were and to see how varied everybody’s results were without a race-by-race commentary, and a final thanks to all the help I received and for all competitors good humor and sportsmanship during the day.
Report by Sam Parker
Here are is the DF95 league table after this event:
DF95 Summer Series – 13 April 2025
What a treat of a day! Jen and Martyn filled in for Tim as ODs on a day that started off a little cooler than the last few, but the clouds thinned to provide warmth from the sun and the breeze did not disappoint! Roger was at the water early and did all the initial setting up which gave us plenty of time to assess the course requirements in a roughly WSW breeze which blew at an angle to the South bank. The South bank was chosen for racing and a single beat, spreader and downwind gate course was selected. This lasted us for the entire session, despite some interesting changes in the wind strength and direction. Roger and Jen efficiently laid the buoys to Martyn’s directions and a prompt start was made with nine skippers, all on ‘A’ rigs.
Richard Jutsum started out like he really meant business and stormed the first race. He was only just beaten by Sam and then Martyn in races two and three before a blip in his results followed by disaster striking with the failure of his winch elastic. This was soon fixed, but Richard oddly didn’t find form again. In the meantime, Martyn was cashing in with a couple of wins and Colin H found his mojo and became a front-runner after race two. Sam Parker too was in hot contention, and was frequently at the front. Jen finally found her settings (a bit late) on race five with a dramatic improvement in results. Kevin was sailing fast but somehow managed to lose his positions during racing.
By the coffee break, the competition had become fierce, often with little separation between boats at the finish line; and this was after two and a half laps! Roger Bowtle was thrilled by a win on race seven and reckons to be dining out on that for a while. Well done Roger! He then graciously took on most of the start line duties by choice! Colin Toll was not drumming up top finishing results but was a contender in the thick of it, and thoroughly enjoying himself, as were we all. Just a quick note here to acknowledge Alan who unfortunately suffered electrical problems and only competed in the first race.
We didn’t know it at the time, but the final winning result between Colin H and Martyn was down to the last couple of races. Colin compiled the results in HMS as usual and was the first to discover that Martyn’s final two wins had sealed the day. Colin promptly sent his congratulations!
We had a great day! The sportsmanship was top notch. The course worked well. The wind played ball. We got a sun tan. Great fun, just as it should be, and everybody acknowledged that. Looking forward to the next round!
Report by Martyn Aspinall
Results compiled by Colin Helliwell
IOM Summer Series – Round 1. 6th April 2025
A great turnout of 16 Lincoln skippers and one visiting skipper, Mike Drew of Fleetwood MY&PBC, for the first round of the IOM Summer Series.
The weather appropriately was brilliant sunshine all day with a moderate wind in a northeasterly direction, ranging from mid to top end of A rig in strength.
The two Rodgers had arrived early and had kindly prepared the dingy and starting equipment ready for the race officers. The wind direction coming from the northeast, diagonally across the lake, made it difficult to set a course for racing. The OOD Pete W, assisted by Kevin E, opted for a course of the south bank with a zig-zag beat from the west towards the clubhouse followed by a run downwind to a gate in the south west corner of the lake. The short windward leg, large fleet and starboard rounding of the windward mark resulted in some challenging situations.
Racing commenced at 10am with Darin B taking the first win followed by Tim H and Rodger C in third. Four races were completed before the morning coffee break with Darin and Tim sharing two wins each, Chris E getting two seconds and Pete W beginning to show some consistency with a second and a third.
During coffee break top skippers were noted giving advice and tips to others which helps promote the standards and skills throughout the fleet and promotes a friendly but competitive fleet.
After the break racing continued with a further four races up to lunch, Rob W, Pete W and Darin B scoring some good results but Tim H7 dominated with three wins. Tracey B, sailing with a new rig, showed improving results during the day as adjustments were made and Martyn A was stringing a series of good consistent results together.
As the day progressed the wind direction was more from the east and the course was changed to a single longer beat towards the clubhouse with a port rounding windward mark and wing mark, which proved to be a less challenging course.
After eight races a break for lunch was taken and a number of skippers left for other commitments and Rodger B decided he had walked far enough and volunteered to monitor the start line for the rest of the racing (many thanks Rodger). Chris E unfortunately sustained damage to a sail and had to retire.
The final five races continued with the same skippers at the sharp end of the fleet, Rodger C taking three wins and Tim H taking two.
DF65 Winter Series round 6. 23rd March 2025
Jen and Martyn arrived at Scotland Farm to find most of the set up completed by the (very) early arrivals. Thank you Roger Bowtle in particular!
The wind was blowing a light NNE which increased gradually and provided for a few duckings occasionally on the gusts with our A+ sails. What became apparent upon launching were the substantial wind shifts that took place largely unannounced and for variable periods of time. The leading boats were never safely positioned and the chasing boats always had opportunities. These were frequently cruelly curtailed though!
We were a little light on numbers for the initial races as Dave C had not arrived, plus Adrian and Roger were spending some time on their rig settings. The first two races gave the impression that it would be a day dominated by Pete and Mick as they streaked off into the lead and had epic battles, but with Pete coming out on top. How events can change in sailing though! Martyn found some form in race 3 and took three wins on the trot, with Jen getting two seconds. No team racing involved. Pete seemed to have gone off the boil and Mick found that his performance had collapsed due to a broken bridle which he never fully recovered from in the subsequent racing, despite making a temporary fix. Dave Rigby was always in the mix but was not favoured in the wind shifts and buoy roundings. He did walk away with race 8 though, demonstrating a dominating win.
Adrian, Roger and Dave C didn’t find full form, but Roger was finally enthusiastic about his boat performance after the break, describing it as ‘going like a train’. I’m taking that as being a good thing and it was lovely to see his satisfaction!
Fourteen races were completed in a friendly manner with great honesty and sportsmanship being demonstrated. Pete sailed with consistency and recovered top form to take the final three races (with Martyn usually snapping at his heels) and to take the day which cemented his pole position on the series leader board.
Final result; 1st Pete, 2nd Martyn, 3rd Mick.
Thank you to all for making it an enjoyable day and for assisting with the setup, line starts and the efficiently conducted tidy-up. Special thanks to Pete for his assistance with the course setting and buoy positioning.
Report by Martyn Aspinall. Results by Colin Helliwell.
Here are the final standings for the Winter Series – congratulations to Pete Waters!
Lincoln Radio Sailing Club 