IOMMDWCS 18-19 R2 Market Bosworth RYC Results.

12 midland IOM skippers turned up at Stanton Lakes the home water of Market Bosworth RYC, the conditions were perfect with a strong top suit blow and 10-12 mph gusts. The wind was from the north west which is a slightly difficult direction for the lake, but then is that not always the way when visiting skippers turn up at your event.

The bank edges had received a lot of work over the previous three weeks by the owners and there is now a row of picket posts at the waters edge and these are being back filled with hard core, unfortunately this left the edges a little uneven, but it will greatly improve the lake access when it is complete.

After a quick chat amongst the home race team it was decided to change the position of the buoys and so Laurie B and Steve H got in the boat to set an almost square course, the start line was at a slight angle to the control area bank with the windward mark being almost directly away from the control area.  Obviously, we could not put the mark too far away as it would have become an eyesight test. A spreader mark was added which then allowed a direct downwind run to the port end of the start line, later as the wind picked up this proved a decisive leg as boat control was at a premium. Any loss of control and you quickly dropped back several places.

The fleet settled into the first race and half way through it was noted that Nancy’s (22) rig needed some major attention. So, at the end of the first heat Laurie B called a short break and Darin B helped Nancy with her rig setup. Meanwhile Laurie and Steve conferred and decided the course was OK, so the next two races would be taken back to back.

Race 2 saw Tracey B (08) get a fantastic port end start that almost allowed her to cross the whole fleet, just getting turned back by both Darin B (98) and Chris H (21). These two went on to have a great battle with no more than a couple of boat lengths between them the whole race.

Race 3 and Chris H got a lift and was able to make the most of it to draw clear of the fleet to win comfortably. Nancy was having problems with her shrouds and the boys loaned kit and helped put a completely new set on her number 1 rig, Steve H helping whilst the others started a new race. She was read to race again by race 4.

The sun made an appearance and it was a little warmer, so Jeff go his camera out and made the most of the opportunity. Pictures will be added to this post later in the week when he has had time to choose some from the couple of hundred taken.

A lunch break was taken after race 9, the leaders at that stage were.

1:            Chris Harris                         8pts.

2:            Darin Ballington                11pts.

3:            David Alston                       25pts.

4:            Rob Wilson                         29pts.

5:            Colin Walton                      30 pts.

Unfortunately, David Alston had to pack up at lunchtime to get a flight to Berlin during the afternoon, so would take no further part in the event.

Racing re-commenced at 13:15, after both Laurie and Steve had again been out in the boat to alter the course, the gusts were now coming more from the North Westerly direction and it was thought that the wind would continue to move round so lunchtime was the best time to do the change.

Race 10 started and during the down wind leg boat 48 and 98 got tangled which put Darin well back in the fleet allowing both Rob W (97) and Chris H to get away. Racing continued until a short afternoon tea break was called, some of the skippers then decided it was time to try out their number 2 rigs. I cannot say I had noted the subtle change in wind speed as at the time I was sitting in the car doing the scoring on the PC.

Tracey B (08) stayed with her No1 rig and as the wind went light during the race, she overtook most of the fleet but was not quite able to catch 21 & 98, but she got a cheer from the other skippers for having stuck to her guns and kept the top rig flying, well done.

Both Roy J & Nancy J pulled out at this stage both having learnt a lot from today’s sailing conditions.

Laurie B called a halt to the racing after 15:15 when we had completed 17 races, the scores calculated, and skippers called together for the prize giving.

A full set of race results can be found here: IOM MDWCS 18-19 R2 M. Bosworth RYC

The trophy for this event this year was the” Sears Trophy” and the winner was Chris Harris. Laurie likes to mix things up slightly during the prize giving in so much as he says the winners can take a bottle or draw a jib number from the box. All winners drew from the box, very generous.

Chris Harris drew out Chris Cook. Darin Ballington drew out Tracey Ballington. Rob Wilson drew out Les Cleaver.

We also took the opportunity to present both IOMMDCS shields for the summer 2108 series champions, so congratulations go to:

Champion skipper, Darin Ballington of Manor Park RSC

Champion club, Manor Park RSC.

Full details of the series results have already been published here: https://mya-uk.org.uk/districts/midlands/md-iom-champion-skipper-series/iommdcs-series-results/

The Market Bosworth race team were:

Laurie Brown Pro, Steve Haywood Rescue/course, Roy Green finish line, Geoff Postlethwaite pictures and race entry fees, Tony Pickering online race entry, Bert Whitehead parking control & Gordon Sears ARO race scoring.

Thanks to all those who gave of their time to make the event happen.

Merry Christmas to all, and don’t forget to put 13^th January into your new 2019 diary for round 3 of the IOMMDWCS series at Manor Park RSC.

The pictures below were taken by Jeff Postlethwaite.