DF95 Winter Series event 1 at East Kent Radio Sailing Club

DF95 Winter Series event 1 at East Kent Radio Sailing Club © Peter Jackson

With most of the UK snowbound with sub zero gales East Kents first DF95 winter series event had sunshine and 15 knots reducing to 10, NW backing West. Some from west of Sheppey dropped out but seven skippers didn't, with Jim La Roche taking over as race officer and wife Debbie scoring.

Wins were shared around the usual 'gang of four' Adrian Tomlinson, Dave Adams, Peter Jackson & Mike Brand.

Peter led race 1 until the wind went left with a vengeance letting Adrian and Dave past with Alan Hounsell who completed the podium. A Tomlinson benefit looked on the cards as Adrian won race 2, from Mike Brand and Dave Adams. But other winners then hit the front, first Mike, then Dave. But both from Adrian. Peter grabbed two thirds then, again when leading, fell to battery failure as Mike and Dave plugged in their second wins.

DF95 Winter Series event 1 at East Kent Radio Sailing Club - photo © Peter Jackson

The wind was easing by race 8 and Peter Jackson hit form with two first and two second places in a row. Alan hit his peak with a second, then Spencer Pope came into the frame with a third, followed by a third from Alan. Mike missed a race with a broken jib halyard, and Adrian and Dave hit the front again, each with two more wins. There were also more wins for Peter (race 14) and Mike (race 15) to make it three each and keep everything close-ish.

It all came down to the last few races. Adrian had got two seconds to Dave's two thirds to draw them level at the front before race 16. Adrian won it, from Spencer Pope, finishing strongly. Peter was third with Dave and Mike nowhere. The last scheduled race wasn't run as the sun was dropping and fingers were cold. Dave could have caught Adrian by winning that non-race with Adrian third, but Adrian's race 16 win gave him the event by 2 points with Peter 7 points back in third and Mike another 7 back in fourth, from Alan.

DF95 Winter Series event 1 at East Kent Radio Sailing Club - photo © Peter Jackson

Results:

1. 30 Adrian Tomlinson
2. 358 Dave Adams
3. 211 Peter Jackson
4. 875 Mike Brand
5. 380 Alan Hounsell
6. 32 Spencer Pope

DF95 Winter Series event 1 at East Kent Radio Sailing Club - photo © Peter Jackson