DF95 Autumn Series event 8 at East Kent Radio Sailing Club

Up to 34 knot gusts were forecast for the last East Kent RSC DF95 event of 2024. Ten members still attended and eight raced, mainly using C rigs, but with the odd D seen! The conditions took their toll with half the fleet failing to survive to race 16.

Series leader Dave Adams struggled to even get on the podium in the morning session, leaving the way clear for Adrian Tomlinson and Robert Owens to share the wins, slightly unequally as Adrian took 7 of the 8 races. Robert had scored a 3rd in race 1 and looked a threat, but after his race 4 win his boat succumbed to the conditions and he assumed judging duties.

DF95 Autumn Series event 8 at Barton's Point - photo © Alan Hounsell

A few boats unfamiliar with C rigs, including Peter Jackson and Andrew Nichols had them set up for the wrong (front) jib ring so were off the pace. Mike Brand broke his boat even before race 1 so missed the first two. Club chairman Alan Hounsell had no such problems, starting with two 2nd places. Peter struggled round for a 3rd in race two, then another in race 6, followed by a 2nd as Mike, Alan and Dave crashed and burned in the carnage. Mike recovered with five podiums from six races to sit a comfortable 2nd at lunch from Alan who had dropped down the fleet. Spencer Pope hit the podium with a 3rd in race 8.

DF95 Autumn Series event 8 at Barton's Point - photo © Alan Hounsell

After lunch it was all change. Mike got one more 2nd before retiring hurt with gear failure. Adrians run of wins ended at race 10 as Alan got the first of two wins, then Dave found his settings and mojo scoring 3 thirds, then 1,1,1,2,1 in the last 5 races. Alan won that penultimate race amid a string of 2nds, with Adrian having to settle for 3rds, but 3rds were all Adrian needed by then to tie up the event win. The battle was between Alan and Dave for 2nd. Alan kept ahead until race 12 but Dave's string of wins gave him the No2 spot from Alan by 3 points. Peter missed races re-rigging his jib, then tried vane sailing (switched off), jumped his winch then got weed, but salvaged 4th ahead of Mike, whose day was as bad or worse.

Event 8 Results:

1. 30 Adrian Tomlinson
2. 358 Dave Adams
3. 380 Alan Hounsell
4. 211 Peter Jackson
5. 875 Mike Brand
6. 32 Spencer Pope
7. 613 Andrew Nichols
8. 479 Robert Owens

Provisional 2024 EKRSC Autumn Series Overall:

1. Adrian Tomlinson
2. Dave Adams
3. Mike Brand

DF95 Autumn Series event 8 at Barton's Point - photo © Jim LaRoche