DF95 Metropolitan and Southern TT at East Kent Radio Sailing Club
by Peter Jackson 14 Jun 2025 11:10 BST
12 June 2025
Start 1 during the DF95 Metropolitan and Southern TT at East Kent Radio Sailing Club © Simon Thornton
16 boats entered and 16 races were run in marginal A and B rig conditions and warm sunshine. Half the entries were from East Kent who filled the first five places, Martin Crysell from Guildford being the top visitor with 2 podiums followed by Hampton Court's Peter Townsend who only just stayed off the 3rd step.
The top RO team of Jim & Debbie LaRoche, Ralph Wilkinson & Rob Owens kept good order.
East Kent chairman Alan Hounsell (380) started with a win, from Dave Adams(358) and Peter Jackson (211). Mike Brand (875) lost his jib, then bounced back with a string of four wins, with Rob Maunder (571) and Dave Adams sharing the places, all three using B rigs.
The A rigs struggled in the gusts and Peter Jackson led but missed the finish mark twice, a trick copied by Rob Maunder to throw away his only and easy win after switching to an A rig after lunch. But by then Dave, with a final tweak, had taken over from Mike, plugging in a row of three wins, these terrible twins from Broadstairs sharing the lead at the break.
As the wind eased most changed to A rigs and Mike got his 5th win, from Peter Jackson and Alan Hounsell. Then Alan, finding good settings for his new sails, got his second win, again from Peter, with Martin Crysell (52) 3rd. Then Dave got his nose ahead with two wins from Mike, with Alan and Rob filling the places.
Peter Jackson finally got his win as Dave and Mike hit bad luck in race 13. Rob Maunder grabbed 2nd from Peter Glover (26) with his first podium of the day.
Mike took race 14 from Alan and Martin Crysell with Dave 5th, leaving all places up for grabs in the last 2 races. Dave was having no nonsense and won both, with Mike 6th twice, giving Dave the event. Alan's 2,2,4, finish secured him 3rd as Rob Maunder got two 10th places. Peter didn't take advantage, scoring 7,5 to give Rob 4th by 2 points. Martin also failed to capitalise with 5,8, for 6th.
Peter Glover had a late charge with 3,2, for 7th from Peter Townsend (1), ahead of the Medway grudge match in which Spencer Pope (32) fended off Andrew Nichols (613) ahead of the Round Pond's Barrie Martin (49) after long pond range issues.
The next TT in the series is next month at Datchet.
Top 10 Results:
1. 358 Dave Adams
2. 875 Mike Brand
3. 380 Alan Hounsell
4. 571 Rob Maunder
5. 211 Peter Jackson
6. 52 Martin Crysell
7. 26 Peter Glover
8. 01 Peter Townsend
9. 32 Spencer Pope
10. 613 Andrew Nichols