DF95 Met and Southern Travellers Round 6 at Chipstead Sailing Club

DF95 Met and Southern Travellers Round 6 at Chipstead © Carl Targett

Nineteen sailors travelled to Chipstead SC lake to contest Race 6 of the DF95 Met & Southern Travellers Open Meeting. The Wind was from the North East not an ideal direction with its strength at the top end of a DF95 A rig.

A beat and run course was set by Robert Owens, whilst Peter Crisp welcomed the fleet and carried out the briefing. The briefing welcomed everyone, outlined the usual topics and emphasising the revised port tack rule regarding approach to the windward mark within the zone. Racing then commenced a few minutes after 10:00am.

With Robert Owens and David Martin on the start and finish lines. Race one started with a couple of general recalls and eventually boats over the line followed by our standard two laps with a beat to the finish. The wind strength with minor changes in direction made if challenging sailing with Nigel Barrow coming out on top followed closely by Chipstead SC Radio Sailing sailors.

Peter Crisp reminded all sailors about starting and that a black flag would apply after the second general recall. However the fleet managed to start well for the rest of the morning with five different race winners in the nine races. So when we stopped for lunch the top group consisted of Nigel Barrow, Dave Adams, Adrian Tomlinson, Andrew French, Colin Honour, John Caruana and David Lindsay. The point spread was fairly close so plenty to sail for in the afternoon.

DF95 Met and Southern Travellers Round 6 at Chipstead - photo © Carl Targett

Lunch was taken at 12:35 in the Chipstead SC Club House. To the relief of some competitors as it had been a tiring morning.

After lunch the strong breeze continued, fortunately in the same direction so the course remained the same.

Nigel Barrow managed to put a string of wins together but as the afternoon progressed Dave Adams, Andrew French, Colin Honour and Jim La Roche all managed to win races before racing was completed at Three Thirty.

Martin Graham had a number of collision and hooked on buoy rescues which he did without causing problems to the racing fleet.

Sailing was then over. Competitors packed boats and sails away, the race team packed the marker buoys and rescue boat away whilst the afternoons race results were entered in HMS.

Tea and cake was taken in the clubhouse and sailors chatted.

DF95 Met and Southern Travellers Round 6 at Chipstead - photo © Carl Targett

The prize-giving began with the Race Officer Peter Crisp thanking his race team of Robert Owens, Dave Martin, Martin Graham and Carl Targett. With other Chipstead SC Radio Sailors being observers. All the club volunteers did a good job throughout the day in contributing their time to make a successful open meeting.

He also thanked the competitors for the good spirit in which they had sailed all day. The starts and sailing had been highly competitive in the strong and sometimes variable winds.

Prizes were presented to the top seven helms. Nigel Barrow then spoke to thanks Chipstead SC Radio Sailing for running a good event thanking all those who had helped.

Overall Results:

DF95 Met and Southern Travellers Round 6 at Chipstead - photo © Stuart Ord-Hume