DF95 Autumn Series event 7 at East Kent Radio Sailing Club

DF95 Autumn Series event 7 at Barton's Point © Peter Jackson

On a grey December day with 12 to 15 knots 11 DF95 skippers turned up to East Kent Radio SC's Barton's Point Country Park, Ralph Wilkinson again did race officer. Most used A rigs. The wind was from the longest fetch of the lake, testing eyesight at the windward mark and kicking up big enough waves to also test tacking skills.

Podium places were spread throughout the fleet. Rob Maunder took race 1 from Dave Adams and Spencer Pope. Race 2 went to Dave from Adrian Tomlinson and Peter Jackson. Race 3 saw the first ever win for Andrew Nichols, staying clear of the windward mark scrums and holding his nerve well to finish ahead of Peter, with Paul Woodward 3rd. Paul had his settings right and then took 2nd in race 4, from Dave, with Peter 3rd. As the wind eased a little Jim La Roche joined battle near the front with a 3rd behind Dave and Peter.

Dave then completed a series of 5 wins in 8 races to build a lead from Peter, who stayed close with a 1st in race 6 and a series of 2nds and 3rds. Adrian got a second 2nd place in race 6 with Spencer Pope getting his second 3rd place. Rob Maunder was 3rd behind Dave and Peter in race 7.

Mike Brand had a torrid time until race 8, then scoring 2, 3, 2. Jim was 3rd in race 8, and Adrian scored his first win in race 9 from Alan Hounsell, at last making the podium with a 2nd place. Spencer got another 3rd in race 10, and Adrian another win in race 11, from Paul and Peter. A couple of boasts then tried the novel tactic of using port tack rights to take out the opposition, with some success. Peter countered this by staying clear ahead in race 12, so getting another win, this one from Dave and Mike.

By now the first 2 places were settled, with Dave Adams clear ahead of Peter Jackson, in turn clear of the usual close battle between a resurgent Mike, and Adrian for 3rd. Jim got another 3rd, as did Spencer, but Paul plugged in his third 2nd to lead the chasing pack. Peter was safe in 2nd place and went into cruise mode as Dave kept on the podium to build a 25 point lead. Adrian finished 1,4,3, to hold off Mike who finally made it to the top step in race 16 followed by a 2nd in the last race to Adrian's 3rd.

Only 6 points separated places 2 to 4. Paul was level with Jim 21 points back and took 5th on countback as Jim retired early to test his IOM. Spencer and Alan were another 3 & 4 points back, showing the currently close competition in the East Kent series.

Results:

1. 358 Dave Adams
2. 211 Peter Jackson
3. 30 Adrian Tomlinson
4. 875 Mike Brand
5. 20 Paul Woodward
6. 57 Jim La Roche
7. 32 Spencer Pope
8. 380 Alan Hounsell
9. 571 Rob Maunder
10. 613 Andrew Nichols