Andrew Donkin takes the day
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IOM Scratch Racing
We had a great turn out for the Sunday IOM racing. 7 starters for most races! Unfortunately Ray lost his fin, luckily right on the jetty, so he didn't have to go for a swim.
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DF65 Scratch Racing Results
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Warm, sunny 24°C conditions with a gentle Northerly breeze.
We set up a course using the IGA side shelter and in true Austin Lakes tradition the breeze swirled and bumped around the trees on the north end creating a very challenging race course. There were a few channels that were brisk but if you fell outside of this the boat stopped and you were passed by most of the fleet.
3rd June: Donks wins DF95 Scratch
Another fun day out on the lake with 9 friends challenging each other with these fast little boats. It was an overcast day with a slightly chilly south westerly breeze that turned more southerly during the afternoon. The breezes varied from calm to 5or6 knots enabling the fleet to complete an amazing 14 races. I should mention that we stopped after 4 races often to rest and adjust sails, have a drink, etc.
We set up the course along the northern lake end and for the most part it was close to straight up and down the wind zone but after the challenge became more port biased. This lead to some very interesting starts where skippers tried to tack onto port on the gun and race directly to the top marks, only thing that goes wrong in this plan is were boats on starboard still heading up the line and nearly everyone either caused or was tidied up in the chaos of this wild starting maneuver. Even downwind there were plenty of races where 4 or more boats tried to pass through the bottom gate at once.
Nowadays there are usually 4 or 5 skippers who can win any race which is great, these boats are so evenly matched for speed that the advantages are minute. Making errors like touching a buoy or another boat can cost you a race. By the time you do a quick 360 degree turn puts you out of the lead position. This puts pressure on all skippers to race fairly and to know the rules so you are not put in that position. It should be mentioned that 5 different skippers had an individual race win and 7 out 10 had a race podium.
Our winner today was Donks who just got lucky but was fast. Sailing very well were Graeme, Kim, Mark and Greg with Mitch getting into the action.
