DF95 Autumn Series at East Kent Radio Sailing Club - Week 3
by Peter Jackson 17 Oct 16:57 BST
15 October 2026
The forecast SW 12-20+ knots barely exceeded 15 but B rigs prevailed. With 3 away at the Globals,13 competitors took part in the 3rd event of the East Kent club's DF95 autumn series, completing 16 races, started from the car park area.
Mick Speakman was promoted to PRO and did very well, calling 30 OCS twice. Rob Owens was rescue boatman and course setter. The wind veered to give a starboard bias, unusual for Rob but causing few issues.
Race 1 winner was Adrian Tomlinson, after a dice with younger brother Dave (DT) and Peter Jackson, with newbie big laser ace Max Hunt 4th. Peter then won race 2 from Mike Brand with both Tomlinson's down the pan. Another newbie, RC laser racer Mark Sanders was on the pace with a 3rd, but his only podium of the day.
But then, with Peter forgetting windward mark contact was allowed due to distance so doing extra turns, and no Adams, the Tomlinson family values took over, DT chasing big Bro Adrian home for 3 races on the trot. Mike Brand, with a new white hull, took two of the 3rd places and chairman Alan Hounsell the 3rd, with Rob Owens just avoiding the podium with two 4ths. Paul Woodwards boat got ever slower, until he found it full of water and took no further part.
In race 6 Mike Brand finally got a win, ahead of Adrian and Simon Thornton, who'd had a torrid time up to then struggling to make the top 10 but was now getting on the pace. To stop all getting bored Adrian had a bout of hitting other boats, on both tacks, and 'little' (taller) bro Dave took 2 wins on the trot, the first from Peter and Rob Owens, the second from Rob and Adrian. With the wind now increasing the last race before lunch saw Peters second win, from Simon and Adrian. Spencer Pope had got 5th at best with the only A rig as he'd forgotten his B rig, but Peter lent him a spare, just in time for the wind to ease again. Mike struggled with electrickery issues and joined Paul on the bench.
Normal service resumed after lunch, Adrian winning race 10 from Peter, with Alan Hounsell 3rd for the second time. Race wins were then swapped around between the top 3. Two more each going to Adrian, Peter and DT. In the minor places Simon Thornton finished strongly with 2,2,3,2, and Alan Hounsell remained consistent with 6,4,5,6, but stayed just behind Rob Owens despite Rob's 4,5,7,7. Max gets a mention in despatches with his best finish yet of 7th ahead of Spenser Pope. Mark Sanders increasing consistency got him ahead of Andrew Nicholls, who had problems in the last 2 races.
By race 12 Adrian had the event almost sewn up but stayed in the top 3 till the end to make sure. DT broke his forestay in race 13, which Peter won, finishing 1,2,4,1 to secure 2nd place 8 points behind Adrian. DT Borrowed Paul's rig to win race 15, but that and a 4th could only get him to 3rd overall, 19 points ahead of Simon, then another 14 to Rob Owens in 5th. Peter and DT both ended up with 4 race wins, to Adrian's 7. When Adrian avoided collisions Peter and his Joysway sails couldn't match him for pace, similar for DT and Simon.
Week 3 Results: (top ten)
1. 30 Adrian Tomlinson
2. 211 Peter Jackson
3. 750 David Tomlinson
4. 665 Simon Thornton
5. 479 Rob Owens
6. 380 Alan Hounsell
7. 963 Max Hunt
8. 32 Spencer Pope
9. 981 Mark Sanders
10. 613 Andrew Nicholls
The full day's results are now available to view on the club website, www.eastkentrsc.com/2026