DF95 Summer Series Event 5 at East Kent Radio Sailing Club Overall
by Peter Jackson 6 Aug 2024 00:55 AEST
25 July 2024
DF95 Summer Series Event 5 at East Kent Radio SC © Peter Jackson
Despite holidays and a few missing skippers eleven DF95s arrived at Bartons Point Sheppey for Summer event 5.
19 races were sailed in perfect A rig conditions and flat water, with just enough shifts to keep all minds focussed. Winner of the last few events Mike Brand immediately found he had stiff competition only starting with two 3rd places as Adrian Tomlinson took the first and third races, with Robert Owens, back from Belgian judging duties, winning the second after a second place in race one.
Colin Honour, also a regular at Chipstead, took the first of three second places in race two. Peter Jackson & Alan Hounsell also filled early podium slots.
Then came Mike's fight back. Having given Adrian a lift from Broadstairs rumours were that Adrian may be walking home, but Mike took a string of four 1st places in a row to get his nose in front by race 7. Adrian replied with his third and fourth wins before Alan grabbed a win in race 10 from Adrian. Tony Knell, after a long absence, then got back in the groove to claimed first of two visits to the podium in third.
Tony only gave up 1st place to Adrian and second to Peter on the last leg for his second 3rd place. The seedings played out in race 11 with Adrian's fifth win from Mike, followed by a 1st from Mike with Peter in second. Peter then finally got a clean start and some helpful shifts to bang in a win, from Mike & Alan.
After another promising start Rob retired hurt from race 7 with no steering, taking over his familiar race officer duties. Adrian then had a winch issue and Mike took advantage of his extended pit stop to score 1,2,1 In races 12-14 and get back into the lead. Alan meanwhile completed a row of six podiums. But Adrian was far from finished. He turned up the heat with a row of four 1st places, punctuated with two more podiums, to finish Mike's challenge.
Andrew Nichols got a good 2nd place behind Mike and ahead of Adrian in race 17. Peter scored a second and third to put pressure on for third spot overall but Alan had done enough to secure it by a few points. Colin made the podium again in the last race and was a comfortable fifth, four points behind Peter. Four points was also what separated Adrian from Mike in second.
Top 6 Places:
1. Adrian Tomlinson
2. Mike Brand
3. Alan Hounsell
4. Peter Jackson
5. Colin Honour
6. Spencer Pope