East Kent Radio Sailing Club DF95 Spring Series Event 6 at Barton's Point Coastal Park
by Peter Jackson 11 May 06:38 BST
1 May 2025
DF95 Spring Series at East Kent RSC - Windward mark during Event 6 © Jim La Roche
With windspeed and boats in double figures exciting times were had by all. Ralph Wilkinson was race officer and Peter Jackson set a course that survived a veering wind that hit maximum A rig conditions with some broaching in the gusts.
Mike Brand returned sporting a new stint and was fast out of the box with clear wins in the first 2 races before being told he should join the fun with the rest of the fleet. The podium places went to Rob Maunder and Alan Hounsell, then Dave Adams and Peter Jackson.
Mike joined the fleet fun in race 3 with a 7th as Dave took a win from the two Rob's; Owens and Maunder, but bounced back with a win in race 4 from Rob M and Dave before the wheels fell off his wagon. Dave then scored 1,1,2,1 to get his nose in front for the event. Colin Honour got a 2nd place and Alan another 3rd, then Rob Owns and Peter Jackson filled the podium spots. Dave was being pushed hard by Peter Jackson with 3,1,2,1. Mike recovered from a stranding on a buoy then a dizzy spell after a few fouls to claim a 3rd, but then reverted to 6.6.6. John Nash got a 3rd behind Peter in race 8.
Peter then took full advantage of having no Adrian T to come from behind and luff, plugging in two more straight wins, first from Rob M and Alan, then from Dave and Rob Owens to draw level with Dave in the results. But Peter then suffered from senility and eyesight issues, hitting & missing marks to let Dave through and away to plug in 3 wins in a row and secure the event win. Rob Owens, after a torrid time with a badly behaving main and multiple fouls, finished 3,2,3,4,2 to haul himself back into contention.
Spencer Pope finally hit the podium with a 3rd in the penultimate race behind Colin Honour's second 2nd place. After a 7th Mike got back into gear with 1st in the last race, but Rob's 2nd place held him off for the 2nd spot overall by 3 points. Dave slipped to 4th in the last race but he'd done enough for the event win. Peter's 3rd place gave him a comfortable 2nd overall, holding off Rob Owen's late charge by 10 points. Rob Maunder was threatening Mike for 4th up to the last race but his 5th put him 4 points behind
Event 6 Results: (top ten)
1. 358 Dave Adams
2. 211 Peter Jackson
3. 479 Rob Owns
4. 875 Mike Brand
5. 571 Rob Maunder
6. 380 Alan Hounsell
7. 48 Colin Honour
8. 311 John Nash
9. 32 Spencer Pope
10. 86 Jonny Barker