Woodspring MSC IOM Ranking 5 & 6 11th and 12th October 2025 – Report and Results
The exceedingly dry summer placed these events at risk with the lake experiencing a very low level for much of the summer, but engineering works during September, although initially causing the lake to drop still further, resulted in the lake quickly filling just in time, and will ensure that the lake maintains a satisfactory level all the time in the future.
So, it was a relieved race team that was able to advise competitors just ten days before the weekend that all was good, and that the lake was now deep enough for the IOMs.
There was an excellent entry of forty-four skippers including many of the top ranked skippers seeking qualification for the “Worlds” next year.
As the weekend approached the previous weekends Storm Amy became a fond memory as a high pressure zone covered the South West, and the resulting winds were just a few miles an hour, and in a NNE direction which doesn’t suit the lake.
In preparation for the first heat on Saturday it was difficult to establish the wind direction because it was so light and changing around, so Bob laid a course which best suited the forecast, which ran the length of the lake with a mark and wing mark at the windward end, and a gate at the leeward end. The course had to be frequently changed during the day, but it was difficult whilst the wind at the two ends of the course was so different. The one consolation was that the marks were laid very close to the lake edge making it very easy for competitors, and observers, to judge starts, turns and mark room.
During Saturday it was Craig Richards with his Proteus who dominated with three wins out of the five (including the heat), often finding the best tracks up the windward leg to keep ahead. Second was Darin Ballington coming up through the B fleet after finishing fifth in the heat, and Rob Walsh was third having two tens one of which was discarded.
Conditions were tough, and it was difficult to make a clear start, maintain momentum on the beat, and rounding the windward marks where there was barely any wind, and most skippers found themselves relegated at some point.
On Sunday it was more of the same but this time it was Peter Stollery who dominated, always in the top three, and with three wins. Second was a consistent Josh King, and third despite dropping down to the B fleet at one point was Tony Edwards.
Craig, Darin, and Rob all suffered mixed fortunes on the second day, and it seems that it’s not a case of being lucky to win, more like not being unlucky !
Despite the challenging conditions everyone maintained an excellent attitude, penalties were carried out without hesitation, and a good atmosphere prevailed over the weekend.
Thanks to the Race Team: Bob Conner (Race Officer), Simon Evans (Asst. Race Officer); Keith Chaney (Observers Admin); and Alan Barnstable (Admin). The score sheets and fleet board were fantastically looked after by Judith Baldwin and Sharon Pleated. Damian Ackroyd supervised the HMS system, and Rob Owens was the Referee.
