Sunday dawned bright and still, but by the time boats were on the water a nice breeze had filled in from the northwest.  Accordingly Roger set out a course with 3 beats along the west bank of the lake for the healthy turnout of 15 skippers.  With the sun still shining, it was a perfect day for sailing and some good close racing ensued.  While close, the racing was good humoured with plenty of penalty turns being done without being asked and help being given by the experienced skippers.  A personal thank you from me to Darin and Roger who tweaked my Lintel and got it going very nicely. That just leaves the skipper to sort out!

Roger and Dave were both tweaking out the set-ups on new boats – a frustrating process at times. However both achieved top 4 finishes in the last couple of races, so it looks like progress was made. Darin had an excellent row of six straight wins in the middle of the session which helped him to first place, with Pete, Tim and Rob taking the other wins.

Unfortunately Tracey’s boat had an attack of the gremlins, but that did mean that we had the benefit of Tracey as an observer in our final race. (Yes, Mr Cooper, you did hit that buoy!)

As the morning drew to a close the skies darkened and the wind picked up, although still A rig. Then with perfect timing rain set in just after everything was packed away and skippers were heading home.

Stuart Jessup

With both the OD and Assistant unavailable this week Pete Walters sorted the course out on the South bank, a double windward leeward course. The forecast of 20kn gusting 40kn never really appeared the conditions were top end A rig however everyone being conservative rigged the B rig for the morning of 10 races. 9 entries, all sailed in a gentlemanly way with penalties being taken as required.a couple of boats coming together managed to get apart without rescue boat intervention. 
As normal the boat to beat was 98 Darin who won 6 of the 10 races, Chris Elliot taking two with Roger Crates and Pete Walters one. The fleet was really compressed with all boats finishing within a minute of the leader, a mistake took you to the back of the fleet almost instantly. Very close finishing throughout. At 1pm all helped in getting the kit away before the rain really set in as we travelled home. 
A great mornings racing,  no damage to any boats as far as I know. 

Pete Walters

14 skippers showed up to enjoy the penultimate round of the IOM Summer series including a visitor who we hope will become a permanent club member, ‘Peter Guest’. Welcome to Lincoln Radio Sailing Club, the home of hot competition.

The weather was a little suspect at first with a light, shifty, North Easterly breeze and wet weather gear needed. The Race Officer Roger C, with the help of Tim H, set a windward leeward course on the Easterly bank and it seemed to work well.

During the whole days sailing I think only one boat suffered with the dreaded weed (Lincoln is almost totally weed free), is it because you have a green boat Dave?

The drizzle did eventually stop but the forecast steady 9 knots never showed and reading the shifts, and finding what wind there was, was the order of the day.

The racing was, as always was very close, with three Skippers, Tim Hand, Pete Walters and Darin Ballington showing the rest of us the way as they each vied for the Series win. At the end of the days racing only 1 point separated the top 3!!!!

I am sure somebody is looking back and thinking, if only……

After much Watssapping it was decided to test out a new handicap system with slower skippers having the option to start on the 30 second count down gun.

Ask Mike Williams how he felt being out in front for quite a while with the top three hunting him down. I’m sure he enjoyed leading and I bet his heart rate got higher and higher the longer he stayed there. Well done Mike.

We also have to say, get well soon to the boats of Gen H and Mike C, both had mystery failures but I am sure they will both be back on the water soon.

Thank you to everybody for helping tidy away the OOD’s equipment and I hope to see you all in two weeks time.