DF95 Spring Series at East Kent Radio Sailing Club - Week 9
by Peter Jackson 21 Jun 08:35 BST
18 June 2026
The best starts for Adrian (30) and Peter (21) on DF95 Spring Series at Barton's Point week 9 © Mike Brand
Barton's Point saw 12 members at the penultimate Spring Series regatta with 13 races in light and variable winds, with Ralph Wilkinson running the show and Rob Owens juggling the marker buoys.
Dave Adams, back from lighting up the TT circuit, hit the ground running with a win from the terrible Tomlinson brothers, David (DT) beating big brother and series leader Adrian into 3rd. Dave then joined Adrian in mid fleet discard territory as Mike Brand hit the front, with Jim LaRoche 2nd and DT 3rd. But that was Mikes only win of the day. Jim LaRoche then continued a small purple patch with his only win of the day, taking race 4 from the usual suspects Dave and Adrian.
The wind was showing what the forecast really predicted, patchy and shifting 60 degrees at a time, but the cream still came to the top in race 4 as Dave won from Adrian, with Mike Brand 4th. Peter Jackson started well but finished badly until leading from start to finish in race 5. Dave came in 2nd from DT before winning race 6, again from DT and Adrian, for a 2,1,2,1 string and comfy event lead.
But now Adrian got into gear, chasing down early leader Peter for his first win. Brother David stayed fast with a 3rd. The wind then did a 180 degree switch and increased so the course was reversed, but Adrian was now up to speed and won again, this time from Mike and Peter. Battle re-commenced as Dave hit back with a race 9 win with Mike again 2nd and Adrian 3rd. Then Adrian started making inroads into Dave's lead, winning race 10.
Rob Owens had visited the front of the fleet temporarily but carelessly ran aground twice, with best results four 4th places. Only Jim bettered that with five 4th places. Paul Woodward threatened but only Spencer Pope from the back half of the fleet penetrated the leading group with a 5th in race 11. This race saw the 6th winner of the day as DT finally hit to top step of the podium by sailing through Peters lee on the run. Adrian was 3rd as Dave slipped to 10th.
Adrian fought through for another win in race 12, with Jim scoring his second 2nd place, ahead of Dave, passing Peter on the line by a millimetre. Nothing was settled before the last race. Adrian now led the event from Dave, with a handful of points back to the tight battle for 3rd between DT, Peter Jackson, Mike and Jim. Dave had to win with Adrian 5th or worse. Dave duly won with Adrian struggling, these 2 finishing on equal points. Dave then took the event on countback. That millimetre also cost Peter as DT beat him by 1 place with 2nd in the last race to pip him for 3rd overall.
Mike Brand retired from the last race with a servo issue leaving Jim clear in 5th well ahead of Rob Owens and Paul Woodward. The 'Medway mates' fight between Andrew Nichols and Spencer was won by Andrew, with Spencer 2 points ahead of Ed Coxon. Dave and Peter now have 2 event wins each but Adrian's series lead looks safe with 1 event to go.
Week 9 Results:
1. 65 Dave Adams
2. 30 Adrian Tomlinson
3. 750 David Tomlinson
4. 211 Peter Jackson
5. 57 Jim LaRoche
6. 10 Mike Brand
7. 470 Robert Owens
8. 20 Paul Woodward
9. 613 Andrew Nicholls
10. 32 Spencer Pope
The full days results are now available to view on the club website, www.eastkentrsc.com/2026