Storm AMY did its thing over the weekend, and gave the annual legendary “Clive Hand Memorial Race” and its 30 strong fleet some very exciting racing indeed.

An almost all female task force (Race Officers) controlled the racing with expertise and no nonsense!

Racing

The two seeding races got under way at 10.00 sharp and with skippers from all parts of the country it was a busy bank side. B rigs were definitely the order of the day, and it was glorious, bright sunshine on our backs and a fresh breeze in our faces. Lincoln was the place to be that’s for sure. The seeding races were won by Darin Ballington and John Tushingham, and the two fleets (A and B) got sorted with minimum fuss.

Racing was on the South bank with B fleet setting out first. Just to clarify the two heats constitute one race. The first race was won but last year’s winner Pete Baldwin with his BritPop, and interestingly second place was taken by John Tushingham sailing probably for the first time, his new design called Mint. I am sure you will hear more about this design in the coming months. Taking up third spot was the Vision design of Buzz Coleman, so we had three different designs in the top three in the first race. By now skippers had had plenty of chance to sort the tune out and racing continued at a great pace. It was a long beat followed by a short beat and a beat up to the finish line, and with the breeze full on, just about top end for B suite. The runs sometimes became hairy with one or two dives evident.

Race three had Darin B take the win and he repeated that in the following race and was beginning to make his mark, but it was not easy in this very experienced fleet of skippers.

We also had youth at the lake side – young Hayden Wallace 12 years old from down Huntingdon way, he was with his dad Ben and both were racing a ” Rockstar” design, (and there is a story there) yes Hayden beat his dad and is definitely one to watch for the future, he actually got two seconds, fantastic young lad, just check out his races.

Also just starting to get warmed up was Pete Walters an ex 505 racer from the Notts County Sailing Club, who has found model boat racing a fantastic challenge as have many others. He was pushing his Venti to the limit and from race three was accumulating some fine results as were one or two others, but to be fair the conditions were testing and both John T and Darin B were experiencing some gear failures that were not helping their cause. Mick Chamberlain was sailing out of his skin, a second in the seeding and he never looked back.

You can see from the result’s page how far many skippers had come to enter this fantastic event. After a short break for lunch and a sit down we were at it again, many fine nip and tuck races all through the afternoon, and the manner in which the event sailed was exemplary.

So to the results. We have a winner and many congratulations must go to Peter Walters who took the top step, 2nd place going to Darin Ballington, and 3rd Micky boy Chamberlain. Many thanks to the Race team who worked wonders as always, and of course to all the skippers who sailed their best, and finally to storm Amy who gave us the very best conditions for some superb racing.

During the course of the day a collection was made for the R.N.L.I. Thanks to all – there will be a donation on the way to them in the region of £150.

We are getting Pictures coming in this and fast and you can view them on the Clive Hand Tab on our website at you leisure. There will also be a write up in Yachts and Yachting that should get posted.

Wow Plenty of smiles here for sure, what a fantastic day of racing, great top suit breeze,. plenty of sunshine and some truly great racing, This was primarily a warm up for for a few skippers who will be going to the last I.O.M Ranking race, to be held down Bristol way in early October, which will be a last chance to qualify for the I.O.M Worlds in the UK in 2026. Thanks to OOD Darin racing got under way at 10 am sharp, on the South bank at Lincoln, a long beat and run with a dog leg suited everybody, and with a little oopsidaisy for one or two on the start line, Mick C 46 got clean away tacking on port and was never challenged and took the bullet Roger C 30 second and Darin B 3rd, a 5 minute break to check tune and make some minor adjustments and we were off again, the breeze I would say was around 80% of top suit and made for some great racing, Dorian 60 one of our visitors took the next win with Pete W 65 in 2nd and Darin 98 3rd, This was probably the first time we had a really good chance to see the Viss a Croatian design that won the Worlds in 2024 , and it was in the very capable hand of Nigel B 54, he took the next win, and the boat certainly showed promise with a series of great results. Tim H 134 was sailing very well bit like old times, and it was good to see , A short coffee break around 1130 and we were off again for more great racing a couple of races had us miss the dogleg as the wind had a slight shift, but we were soon back to normal. Darin B 98 was beginning to show his class with a run of fine wins, he was chased hard that’s for sure, but as they say the cream always seems to rise, and Darin took 7 of the wins from 15 races and was a clear winner on the day, as I have said before the racing was superb and I am sure everybody went home with a smile on their faces. Great thanks to all our visitors, many coming from far afield. Also our biggest vote of thanks goes to our very own Darin B 98 who took on the OOD role and in his spare moments found tome to do the results, brilliant ,Plus everybody who helped make the day a success, our thanks too you all ,. This POP up event will certainly be planned for in the 2026 calendar

Wow another great day at the lake , short on number’s with at least five away on other duties, and we lost Micky boy before the racing even started, The two Micks were OOD’s for the day and were gratefully helped out by Tim getting the course on the South Bank sorted. Nine skippers took to the water, and most were undecided which rig except Brian 21 who most definitely had top suit, or A rig, the rest were a little cautious on what the forecast was going to bring, it did promise much more, but it was not yet coming. Tim 134 took the first race in style with his B rig with Brian 21 taking 2nd and Sam 59 with his Venti was 3rd , Jen who I have to say as an observer, was sailing really well and won the next race and her performance improved as the morning wore on, Chris 74 got the result in race 4 just before coffee break, and with the breeze still not arriving it was a bit of a mad dash to change up to A rig have a sandwich and a quick slurp on coffee before the slave driver had them all back on the start line. Chris once again took the win, with Martyn 91 finally getting his act together with a second , and Jen third , The racing was good , it was warm , in fact a beautiful day, great breeze you could ask no more, 5 Venti’s out ,, 4 different designs, but once again the Brit Pops came out on top,

Well done to Chris and many thanks to all who lent a hand to get things sorted and put away.

next Event for I.O.M’s 21st September all day See MYA Calendar for full details

Wow what a great day of racing, breeze , a really nice firm top suit day, it started breezy and gradually got stronger, with one or two tasty moments in the last couple of races, Tim was there bright and early and had already sorted the course out on the East Bank ( Most’s favourite) with the prevailing wind. we had 10 skipper’s out, and really we all went home with a broad smile. Micky boy took the first bullet, and Martyn the second, The breeze even though good was still quite fluky and you needed to be on your toes to take advantage, going beyond the lay line was not a great idea, and on occasions a starboard hand lift near the bank definitely paid dividends. Martyn took the third , while Tim was not quite on it as he usually is, however he picked up a couple of seconds in race 3 & 4 , Sam P was strong putting together some nice average scores as was Colin H and of course these guys along with Martyn were keeping their eyes on each other re the final cumulative. Kevin was a bit up and down, and like most of us is seaching for that magic word that escapes my lips at the moment, My eye was noticed looking toward young Colin T , dont know why but his sailing was definitely on the up and he appeared to be sailing much better in fact he got a third in race 8, well done. Jen was steady as always, and Dave C or Clarky as he like to be called is steadily improving, but enjoying himself, It was quite a fierce battle at the sharp end, and with 9 races completed Micky boy , “yes I know he is getting on a bit ” , but he took five wins, and his green machine look pretty quick on the day, so very well done to him. I must say the lake looks in superb condition, and is a credit to the club, final thanks to Tim for getting the stuff out and of course for putting it all away,

A great day of racing once again at Lincoln. And many thanks to all who made the racing so pleasant.