DF95 Spring Series at East Kent Radio Sailing Club
by Peter Jackson 27 Apr 2024 06:35 BST
25 April 2024
The EKRSC Barton's Point venue 20 miles North of Ashford on the Thames Estuary has all facilities and is free of trees. Unfortunately, the wind veered 60° during the day testing race officer Jim LaRoche.
Early B rig conditions and rain soon gave way to perfect A rig conditions allowing 16 races. Dave Adams (358) started well with 2 wins, and chairman Alan Hounsell (380) continued his recent consistency to only count top 3 places. Mike Brand struggled to set up new sails, starting with a 7th and three 6th's. Peter Jackson in 211 took advantage with two wins and 7 podiums to put pressure on Hounsell, who responded with two wins.
New member from the Royal Temple YC contingent Paul Woodward (20) started with a 4th but learning the finer arts of DF95 tuning kept him down the pack. Medway's Spencer Pope (32) and Andrew Nichols (unlucky 13) both got 3 podiums but lacked consistency. Mike Brand finally got his tweaking sorted to score four wins and three 2nds but too late to get into the top 3. Hounsell finished strongly to secure 2nd. Jackson didn't so ended up 3rd, but Adams finished 1,2,1 to get back to winning ways and lead the series.