Wow , The forecast looked good all week but the 30 skippers got some of the very best conditions ever for Radio Racing, hey it was 2nd February , it could have been mid summer, The club had visitor’s from far and wide, a 3 hour trip each way for some , and we are pretty sure the drive home had them smiling. The breeze started a little East of South and so the seeding for both fleets was sailed on the South Bank, Darin B was great in the boat and got a course set in no time, Winners of the seedings were Martyn A sailing his Brit Pop and Roger C 30 with his heavily modded Venti. a short delay while our scorer Colin H sorted out the fleets and we were off , still on the South bank, but a change in breeze was imminent, B fleet completed , and we moved to the favored East bank, Race two was won by Robert Mcintosh, followed home by Dorian Crease , third going to Ben Wallace sailing his Rockstar.

The racing was incredibly close and the conditions nigh on perfect and with three long beat’s and runs you had a chance to get back should a minor error happen. Mick C the OOD for the day kept things moving and the superb race team worked well together. and the racing just flowed. The behaviour on the bank was superb after an earlier incident,( just handbags ) and a pattern was beginning to form as it usually does, Class generally show’s , but the battles all thru the fleet were a delight to watch. By 3 pm the breeze fell away slightly and the skill factor really came into play, the wins being well spread and nobody having it all their own way , in fact we manage to do 8 races , that’s actually 16 heats, Robert Mcintosh sailing his V9 came out tops ( the Lincoln lads heard he was good ) he took two wins, Our very own Darin Ballington was second , 1 win, Tim Hand another local in third with 1 win, Dorian C 1 win, Brian S 1 win , and Paul Kelly 1 win and he will be delighted as he was sailing his new V 10 I had heard that some boats had changed hands after the event, this is such an exciting class to race in, so guys very well done to the top three , in what was a very competitive fleet, In fact very well done to all skippers taking part and many who travelled, you are all a credit to this great sport. Also the race team Colin H , Mike W , Richard J, Mick C , Ed W , and Both Jen H and Darin B who did so much behind the scenes as well as on the day . Hope you all have safe journey home and your all welcome at Lincoln any time .

Picture quality not great sorry .

Typical Winters day , storm “Eowyn” had passed but more was promised. As we arrived it looked ok and we were all wrapped up warm, 7 skippers started , and Young Colin Toll came down to do his duty despite not having a boat ” Bless him” and Adrian had got the course sorted on the South bank, and we were good to go. Pete W 65 was on it from the start with Martyn 66 in hot pursuit, Mick 46 I believe was over at the start and then proceeded to go the wrong way round the second mark narrowly missing others and then to cap it all hit the weather mark not once, but a second time whilst doing his turns, seemed to have left his brain at home. Apparently Mick 46 found his brain it was in his pocket and he duly found it and went on a streak to win the next four races, funny thing the Brain . All skipper’s started on A + rig and apart from Adrian who changed down to a lower rig , the steady increase in breeze, we only had a rare bit of nose diving on the run and only really in the last two races, Richard needed to retire after race 5 , but the racing was all pretty close, Pete was having problems early on , but got it sorted by race 6 and was back in the hunt , Riggers Rigby 180 had some good consistent results and will be pleased, the battle between Martyn and Jen , who shared the car ride to the lake , was finally settled with Jen in charge ( it was her car ) Adrian 63 finally took the bullet in the last race with his B rigged boat, and to be fair the A + riggs struggled.

A great mornings racing I don’t think anyone was cold in fact I was like toast, Just a shame that more members ( we have 29 ) don’t come and join in in this class but hey ho it is there choice, and I have to say there loss.

Many congratulation to winner Mick who was sporting his 5 year old Icarex sails, made by Nigel at Cat Sails, In fact well done to all who turned up, your bank side manners were impeccable, and also thanks for helping put all the stuff away.

A quiet morning as far as the breeze went, But hey ho . Darin and Tracy arrived early as your OOD’s and Darin was quickly in the dingy setting out a course on the East bank, with the breeze just West of South it was going to be a long beat and run, basically,, straight down the lake. We welcomed visitors from far and wide Fleetwood way up in the North West, Manor Park down Staffs way , Two Islands ( Milton Keynes) and our old friends from Huntingdon, so a lot of travel for some, lets hope everybody had as much fun as I did. This was always going to be competitive, it always is, and in truth we could all have done with a bit more puff, but it is what it is, and after a short briefing from Darin, who also took time to explain the perils of starboard weather mark rounding ( in detail) off we went to the start line for the first race. I’ve got to say from my perspective it was not going to be an easy line to start , it was plenty long enough but with the light breeze you had to be on your toes to keep the boat moving, Rob 97 and Pete 65 did very well and took first and second respectively with one of our superstar visitors Dorian 60 taking third spot, a brief retune and we were back for more and with two good long beats you did have plenty of chance to recover if you start was a little less than perfect, This time Darin took the win and Chris with his newly refurbed Brit Pop took second spot and Pete normally a slow starter got the third place with his very quick Venti.

Scraps were going on all thru the fleet in what was a good natured control area and every body showing respect for fellow skippers. Pete 65 then went on a thundering run taking three bullets in succession followed home by Darin before the tables were turned in race 6, I believe a few were finding the light fluky winds a little tricky, but as they always say the cream seems to rise, and so it was with three ex dingy racers on the podium after a great day of racing Our youngest visitor from Huntingdon was Hayden sailing a robot had some good races and we hope went home happy, A good fleet of 19 skippers proving that an extended day every now and again works for the club , and with the National championships coming up over the Easter weekend it gives skippers an opportunity to savour venue and meet the locals.

Very well done to the podium Darin , Pete, and Dorian , and in fact to all skippers for a most enjoyable day, only eleven races but they were long , Brit Pop with Darin still has bragging rights, and the Venti still has work to do, 8 different designs on show today, and I have to say if you are thinking of making the move to Radio Racing then Lincoln could well be your first port of call .

Just a quickie ref our extended hours informal I.O.M event at Lincoln this Sunday the 19th , Weather looks great , wrap up warm, and just let Darin or Mick know your coming so we can judge numbers . It will give you a chance to try out the the lake and it’s little nuance’s, prior to the National Championships over the Easter weekend , Do not also forget there is a Midland district event at the club on the 2nd February , entry for this is here https://bit.ly/3E5Xox8 and With 15 entries already in, this also could be a great event to hone your skills and race against some of the best skippers West of Grimsby , Get entered now .