RG65 Open at Birkenhead Radio Sailing & Power Club
by Birkenhead Race Team 18 Apr 2016 19:18 BST
16 April 2016
RG65 Open at Birkenhead © Bill Cullshaw
A cool morning greeted skippers from across the UK as they arrived for Round 2 of the RG65 class travellers' series with a swirling wind across the lake providing some pre-race angst in the car park. Fortunately by the time of race one the predicted NNW wind funnelled down the lake, albeit with a few light patches to get things underway. For the 26 boats of varying design, including a good contingent of Dragonforces, A rigs were chosen for the 2 seeding races with Ken Binks first to post a win in race one and Brad Gibson following suit in seeding 2.
With A and B fleets now sorted, the racing proper got under way where the front runners of Gibson, Binks, Dave Potter, Noel Donaldson and Mark Dicks enjoyed some hard fought races. Just short of the front group there were some great tussles between skippers looking to avoid the drop to the B fleet.
As the day progressed the wind straightened and strengthened further allowing PRO Bill Culshaw to square up the course for some fast paced racing with these small yet nimble well tuned yachts showing just what they are capable of at the top of the A & B rig ranges.
When our 4.15pm finish came around, a full 10 races of 2 heats had been completed without protest or problem skippers retired to the Birkenhead clubhouse to reflect on a great days racing where all agreed more of the same would be most welcome.
As for the scores, it was Brad Gibson who went on to record a strong win, from the fast and ever improving Dave Potter, with Phil Holliday edging out Noel Donaldson for the final podium place. First placed Dragonforce was Tim Long who was an impressive 8th overall.
Skippers roundly thanked the Birkenhead race team of Bill Culshaw, Judith Baldwin, Victoria Gibson, Martin Roberts and Jack Turner for a great days racing.
The next RG65 Open at Birkenhead on 23rd July 2016 forms part of both the RG65 Travellers Series and the Dragonforce Northern District Summer Series and looks set to attract an even larger entry.