Dart 15 Winter TT at Datchet Water Sailing Club

Dart 15 Winter TT at Datchet Water © Dave Russell

For the first time in this winter series, the original scheduled date for the February TT was blessed with an entirely normal wind forecast that did not require postponement or cancellation.

Delighted to have a forecast that was not 1 knot or 30 knots, twelve sailors arrived at Datchet Water Sailing Club on a grey morning. The winds were a little lighter than expected but perfectly adequate for racing and it was good to see a decent turnout of the home club fleet for their Sunday racing too. It was also great to see George Stephen, long standing local fleet member, who popped down to watch the racing and catch up with old friends.

An early briefing from the Race Officer confirmed a square race course and every effort to minimize hanging around between races in the cold weather. Not least for the race management team themselves. The Race Officer then headed off to start the first club race. The plan was for our first start would slot in around the end of that race to minimize mixing of the fleets on the course. As any race officer will know, this requires some skilled timing to make it work, but they pulled it off very well.

The Dart 15s made their way out to the start area in good time and kept out of the way whilst watching the club fleet complete their first lap and head into their second one. Once they were well clear of the windward mark, the Race Officer set off race one for the Dart 15s. At least we knew exactly where to go because we had watched the club fleet go round already! Steve Sawford (Rutland) chose a port hand start, whilst the rest of the fleet went for the traditional starboard. The start line was sufficiently long enough (set for the larger home fleet) that Steve was able to comfortably clear the starboard flotilla. Jason Clarke (Marconi) and Jon Pearse (Marconi) tacked onto port about mid way up the course whilst Liam Thom (Shanklin) and Jenny Ball (Marconi) headed to the far corner, partly to avoid a near slow speed entanglement as George Love (Carsington) tacked onto port and then had to sail an almost 270 degree detour around Yvonne Pike (Shanklin) who was approaching on starboard.

Steve rounded the windward mark first with Jon, Liam and Jason close behind. Following the reach, Steve and Jon took a straight downwind line to mark 3, whilst Liam and Jason characteristically fought their own battle out to the right hand side and Jenny took a run down the left hand side. By the end of the first lap, the gap between the top three had definitely closed. Rounding the windward mark for the second time, Liam then managed to edge in front of Steve and Jason then also stole past into second place. Liam went on to take the win with Jason second, Steve third, Jenny fourth, Jon fifth and Ray Gall (Carsington) in sixth.

Dart 15 Winter TT at Datchet Water - photo © Dave Russell

By this time, the club racers had finished their second race and were safely on their way ashore. Given the breeze was lighter than forecast, the Race Officer very sensibly pulled the course in to create shorter legs for the following two races. He also quickly got the next start sequence under way, as good as his word. Another close start, with Jason just over the line but able to dip and recover quickly. Those who started at the Committee Boat end were favoured with a lift half way to the windward mark which enabled Jenny to round first but with a close chasing pack. Liam and Steve were working hard to close the gap and Jason was, in time honoured tradition, putting himself back in the mix with them both too. Jenny chose to bang the corner of the second beat and held on to take the win. Liam and Jason had got themselves neck and neck by the final leg and Liam just pipped Jason on the line being not much more than a boat length closer to the Committee Boat. Steve took fourth with George fifth, Yvonne sixth and Paul Tanner (Shanklin) in seventh.

Another quick turnaround and race 3 was under way. The wind lifted during the start sequence so those who had lined up by the Committee Boat had to hold up until those to leeward of them had cleared the line. Jason tacked early, Liam went about mid-course and Jenny banged the corner again but it was Steve who reached the windward mark first, followed by Jenny, George and Liam. Which is when the maths started - to work out who needed to be where on countback in order to come first, second or third overall. George may not have realized it at the time, but he was a key component of the mathematical equation as the race played out. Steve led at the end of the first lap and stood on to the Committee Boat end of the line whilst Jenny followed a header and tacked a little earlier for the line. Behind Jenny, George stood on to follow Steve and Liam tacked as soon as he could clear the pin end. By the time the fleet regrouped at the windward mark, Steve was still in front and Jenny and George rounded the mark together with Liam hot on their heels leading to a three way battle on the final downwind leg into mark 3. Liam put in a final overtaking manoeuvre on the last reach and whilst George, Jenny and Liam all tacked at different points for the finish line, they crossed the line very quickly in succession of Liam, Jenny and George. Ray came in fifth and Jason who, according to his own words, "spent the race unintentionally getting in everyone's way", came in sixth. The fleet headed home having had a great three races and very appreciative of the efforts of the Race Management team running such a seamless event. Also special shout out to all the competitors for having to listen to Jenny's hacking cough all round the race course which must have been a delight for them all. Thank goodness for the sound of the airplanes to drown it out.

Once ashore and well fed from Datchet's galley, the fleet dragged them away from the televised rugby six nations long enough for Dave Russell, chief Dart 15 Pit Crew, to do the prize-giving.

With only two points separating the top four places and countback applied to determine second and third - it was another closely fought Winter TT. Congratulations to Liam for taking the overall win and to Steve in second, Jenny in third and Jason in fourth. The next and final stage of the Winter Series is at Grafham Water on Sunday 9th March.

Overall Results: