DF95 Winter Series at East Kent Radio Sailing Club - Week 6

Port end bias, 1 second to go. Mike Weston (Gold 11) followed by Peter Jackson (Blue 211) and Dave Adams (Yellow 65). Rob Owens (479) returning from an early start - DF95 Winter Series at Barton's Point week 6 © Mike Brand

14 boats competed for the 6th East Kent RSC DF95 Winter Series event on the Isle of Sheppey. Ralph Wilkinson was race officer and Peter Jackson course setter in sunshine and a steady easterly perfect for A rigs.

The first five races each had a different winner, Mike Brand, then Dave Adams, Peter Jackson, Mike Weston and Adrian Tomlinson. Mike then stopped the nonsense with 2 straight wins. But Adrian had four 2nd places to keep his nose ahead as Mike had no other podiums until a 2nd behind Dave's second win in the last race before lunch.

A close battle was developing for 3rd between Dave, Mike Weston and Peter Jackson, all with wins and multiple podiums. Rob Owens had a 2nd & 3rd to keep him nearabouts. Alan Hounsell scored one 3rd but was otherwise off the pace. David Tomlinson got two 4ths before a 3rd in race 10 but then faded to mid fleet. The only other podium of the day was a 2nd to Jim La Roche who struggled with electrical problems until the last 4 races, which also included two 5ths. Peters mysterious lazy rudder continued after new servo & receiver, but his 4ft radius turns were manageable. Dave also had electrickery problems, but far less manageable.

Adrian and Mike were at it hammer and tongs at the front, Mike scoring 3,1,2,2,3 before his delightful new transmitter announcer told him he was out of batteries in the last race. Adrian had been up and down, with 1,2,6,1,6, but, with Mike out, he only needed a top half finish to take the event win, duly done with a 4th. In the battle for 3rd, Dave's electrical problems put him out 3 races. He finished 3,3,1,1 but not enough to catch the consistent Mike Weston, finishing 4,4,4,3, or Peter Jackson who pipped Mike W for 3rd place in the event with a second win then a 6,5,2 finish.

Adrian's win over Mike Brand was by 3 points, Then Peter getting 3rd by just one point from Mike Weston, another 5 points ahead of Dave Adams. Rob Owens finished another 29 points adrift, three points clear of David Tomlison who's 7th in the last race held off Alan by just one point. Andrew Nichols scored one commendable 4th but finished behind Simon Thornton and arch rival Spencer Pope, ahead of Peter Glover who'd missed races 1-4. It was great sailing, well enjoyed by all who's boats behaved!

Day 6 Results: (top ten)

1. 30 Adrian Tomlinson
2. 10 Mike Brand
3. 211 Peter Jackson
4. 11 Mike Weston
5. 65 Dave Adams
6. 479 Robert Owens
7. 750 David Tomlinson
8. 380 Alan Hounsell
9. 665 Simon Thornton
10. 32 Spencer Pope

Full series results so far can be found here.