The fleet of 17 boats started the day with a light Southerly breeze, with sailing off the far bank, testing both the fleet and Race Officer with its pressure and direction changes. After 5 races the wind changed to become more from the South East and so the course was reset during a break allowing sailing from the near bank. This course was then used for the rest of the day.
Line honours in races one to eleven were shared between 8 different helms, with few helms managing to put in a consistent run of good results. Graham Elliott was one of the most consistent, which was further cemented by four race wins in the last five races. So at the end of Day 1 Graham is first, currently well clear of Tobias Laux in second and John Tushingham in third.
The current forecast for Sunday is for light winds and the potential of heavy rain for an hour or more in the late morning. I am sure that everyone will be hoping that the forecast turns out to be wrong.
Birkenhead RS & PC are holding two of their RG/DF65 racing afternoons over the next two weeks (4th & 11th September) as an opportunity to tune up before the Nationals on the 18th. Visitors are welcome to join in with the racing that starts at 13:00 and runs until approximately 16:30. Wind allowing, approximately 10 races will be run over the afternoon.
If you intend to come, please book a place for either day using the relevant “Upcoming Events” links on the home page of the Club website or via the following link https://birkenheadrspc.co.uk/?page_id=5193. This helps the club know and record the numbers and people attending.
The 2021 TT series consists of 5 events with 4 completed so far with 3 to count and just the Nationals to go. Overall positions have now been calculated and the results are shown below. Currently the top three are John Brierley on top followed by John Tushingham and then Peter Baldwin. That could easily all change once we get the results in from the Nationals. Not too long to go, so get your entries in.
After Round 3 on Saturday at Bournville, the show moved onto Watermead for Round 4 on the Sunday. Eleven sailors turned out with seven from Saturday joined by four new entries. Racing got underway soon after 10 following a briefing from Clive Bardell. Although there was more wind than Saturday at typically 5 to 8 mph (with significant lulls and some stronger gusts later), the direction was offshore creating a course setting problem for the race officer and a challenge at times for the sailors as well. At least the sun shone after lunch which warmed everyone up and no rain showers to dampen proceedings.
Although there were five different race winners during the day, the lions share of 7 went to the overall winner John Tushingham who had the ability to find the breeze and pull through the fleet even if he was buried in the pack at the start. Second was John Brierley (one win) only one point ahead of Dorian Crease (4 wins) in third. Peter Baldwin (2 wins) finished a close fourth only a further point behind. The final race winner was Vernon Appleton, who unfortunately lost a couple of races otherwise he may also have been in contention for a fourth or even higher placing.
A good days sailing with 16 races completed before the final cut-off time of 4pm. The club would like to thank all competitors for the friendly and sporting way that the racing was sailed – well done everyone.
Well, it was wet, but not terribly windy, what there was, was light and fitful. As it said in the beautiful game it was a race of two halves and it isn’t over until the fat lady sings.
So, let’s cut to the chase, a fleet of 11 boats started the day, varying designs and rig configurations, some swing rigs, others favouring conventionally rigged boats. Race officer John Burgoine set a sensible sized course for the conditions and the aim was to get 16 races, therefore three discards, in during the day.
It was nip and tuck between John Brierley and Peter Moore, John sailing an Uno and Peter a Scurry, with Peter leading for most of the day. John managed to pull away in the latter races to head off Peters challenge.
The other Peter, Baldwin that is always had third place very firmly in his hands despite a late charge from John Tushingham. The remaining section of the fleet had their own turf wars in the middle of the fleet and there it was any bodies. The weather was awful, starting off in light rain and no wind finishing in rain by the bucketful and a reasonable light breeze.
It was sailed in very sportsmanlike conditions and John B very capably assisted by his wife kept the event going despite the weather. Finally, enough is enough, you can have too much of a good thing, couldn’t get 16 races in so time to dry out and move on down to Watermead MBC for the next TT the very next day.
Race report and photos by Bill Green.
Winner – John Brierley
Second – Peter Moore
Third – Peter Baldwin“Action” from the early part of racing
The NoR’s have now been published for both TT Rounds 3&4 (21st and 22nd August) and Entries are open both accessed via the MYA website Events page by clicking here.
This weekend saw rounds 1 and of the RG65 TT series being held at the coastal marine lake of West Kirby in the North West of England.
14 boats made it to the start line with 8 different designs on display. the wind was from the favoured NW and blowing around 13knots with most boats opting for the reduced area B rig, some using swing rigs but most using a conventional rig.
The course was the normal windward/leeward gate with a distance of 120m from the gate to the windward mark that gave these fantastic boats to show off there exceptional speed. 15 races were completed on the day with race winners being Graham Elliott with 14 wins sailing his Brad Gibson designed Electronica and John Tushingham sailing his Scurry design, these two were joined on the podium by Peter Baldwin sailing his Dave Creed designed Pocket Rocket.
Round 2 on the Sunday started with much the same wind strength as Saturday even though all the forecasts predicted a significantly lower wind speed and all skippers once again opted for their B rigs.
During the day, the course was moved slightly as the wind direction had swung a little to the North but we still had that 120m length from the gate to the windward mark. By lunch time the wind did reduce in strength significantly enough for all skippers to move up a rig to the full area A rig.
By the end of the day and 14 races sailed on this slightly shorter day, Graham Elliott once again comfortably took the win, with Chris Elliott second and John Tushingham third.
Seven different designs were on display with race winners for the day being Graham Elliott taking 12 wins with his Electronica, Peter Baldwin with his Pocket Rocket and Chris Elliott sailing a Graham Bantock designed Argon.
Many thanks must go to all volunteers that made these races happen, especially after the late change of venue.
The TT series now moves onto Bournville on 21/8/21 for round 3 and then onto Watermead the following day for round 4 before we go to Keighley on the 18/19th September for the 2021 National Championships.
Unfortunately Birkenhead RS&PC have had to move the event location for the RG65 TT events on 31st July & 1st August due to toxic blue green algae. It is therefore not at the Birkenhead Lake as per the NoR but at the Marine Lake, West Kirby. Full details and entry via the Birkenhead website here
Due to the slow start to this years sailing and limited opportunities for travel over the next few months, the Class has organised a limited set of 4 traveller series events in addition to the Nationals in September. The current plan is as follows:
