IOM Midland District Champion Skipper Winter Series at Lincoln Radio Sailing Club - Round 10

IOM Midland District Series at Lincoln round 10 © Michael Chamberlain

Another great day of racing at Lincoln. 14 skippers arrived with a steady Easterly blowing around 8/10 knots and steady, OODs Mick and Rob arrived early and the course was set on the South bank and was to be a perfect beat and run course that would certainly stretch our legs.

There had been quite an orgy of boat swapping in the previous two weeks, with some new coming in and second hand boats being snapped up, and so what we had was very able skippers getting their hands on probably a better boat.

Racing got under way at ten sharp with Mick Cooper doing all the donkey work, as his brand spanking new Venti was not quite finished. Race one had two or three OCS, but Tim 134 was fast off the line ans never looked troubled to take the win from Chris 74 and Pete 65 taking third spot, race two had Roger 30 take the win with Pete 65 and Tim 134 keeping up his fine form by getting the third spot.

Racing was very close up and down the fleet with some very tight racing, and that is not surprising when you see the pedigree of designs on show, 6 Brit Pops, 5 Venti's, a very well sailed V 10 by Paul Kelly, a Vision and aa Sedici.

By race three we started to see winch problems with Pete's Venti that would see him retire for the day, Roger took his second win of the morning in race four and Rob 97 started a run of three decent scores, and Tim worst two races of the morning, Mick C 46 started to go a little better and Kevin E 87 managed a good win, but as always consistency is key, and the top three, especially Tim 134 had this well under control.

Jen Hand and Martyn were close at the end, with Jen just having the edge, Colin H with his newish Sedici will I am sure be well pleased for his first time out, and Sam 59 just needs a little more time on the water with his Venti, Adrian I guess the same, it does take time to get used to a new design.

One man who will certainly go home with a big smile on his face is Paul Kelly 144 who steered his V10 to a great win in the final race followed home by Chris 74 and Tim 134 the eventual and well deserved winner of the mornings racing, discarding two fourth places.

All in all a great morning's racing with a steady breeze, this fleet at Lincoln is getting stronger and stronger and with the National championships coming up over the Easter bank Holiday, what more can we say, except many thanks to all who helped get the props put away, and a very well done to Tim on his win, Brit Pops certainly rule the roost at the moment.

We look forward to round eleven, when we know there will be at least one brand new boat on the water, maybe two.