DF95 Manor Park RSC pre-National “open” race report

Sunday last saw 14 DF95 skippers ranging from the first-time competition skipper to the more experienced sailor gather at Manor Park RSC for their first “open” DF95 race.

The weather forecast was showing a high of 33C with a gentle southerly wind through out the day. At the briefing Colin Walton (Pro) welcomed everybody saying that the entry would sail as one fleet as the club volunteers would do the observing and start and finish line duties. The format to start with would be 2 races back-to-back then we would take a break to assess the course and give everyone time for a tune up.

The club had added a gazebo to their 2 long benches, and with plenty of water readily available the aim was to run the event at a steady pace so the skippers could rest up between batches of races.

Racing started at 10:05am with a light ESE breeze and the windward and spreader mark to the left side of the island, whilst the leeward gate was adjacent to the landing stage. Observing the difficulty most of the fleet were having at the spreader mark, we decided to bring it closer to that the boats could reach to the mark. After the second race the boat crew of Simon and Rob moved both the windward and spreader marks inwards by about 10 mtrs, this reduced the number of skippers either missing the mark or being called for contact.

Race 4 saw the wind straighten and increase slightly to a more southerly direction, and by race 5 it was SSW which needed a complete course change, so Colin called an early lunch whilst the boat crew did the new course. We continued with this until 15:45 when Colin called that the next one would be the last race for the day, having completed 16 races and everyone starting to feel tired in the hot weather and some having a long drive home it was welcomed by all including the race team who had sat out in the sun or under the shelters all day.

With the scores calculated and the prizes, 2 bottles of wine and 2 umbrellas’ (parasols) presented to the winners, Colin tanked the race team and wished the skippers a safe journey home, hoping to see them at the MYA National Championship.

The winner was Rob Radbourne of Manor Park RSC, and he was heard to say that this is his first “open” event win. For all the other places the score sheet is here: Manor Park RSC DF95 pre national Open results