Injebreck Winter Dinghy Series

Manx Sailing & Cruising Club have been given permission to run the popular and long running (40 plus years) Winter Series after a break of about five years on West Baldwin Reservoir.

Sailing resumed on Sunday 11 December with fairish weather and a brisk westerly breeze, but due to the north/south orientation of the sheltered valley resulted in a sailable flukey, but light patchy breeze.

Race 1, a fleet of nine was lead home on corrected time by Mike Pridham (Laser) with Dave and Emily Batchelor (RS 200) a close second behind by five seconds and Simon Pressley (Laser) a further twenty seconds behind in third.

Race 2 was convincingly won by Simon with Mike in second and followed by the vastly experienced Keith and Ted Holden (GP 14) by five seconds. At the other end of the experience scale Ben Batchelor (10 years old) in his Tera sailed steadily, really needing more wind for his tiny sail.

The second round of the Winter Series on the 18 December was held in bright sunshine and a north westerly wind, setting up a light, but variable breeze running down the valley. A slightly larger fleet was lead home by in Race 1 by Russell Collister (Laser), Simon second and Ffinlo Wright sneaking into third place in his Tera Pro.

Race 2 was lead largely by Mike Pridham, but in the last down-wind leg was 'Injebrecked' by the rest of the fleet coming down on the breeze and was dropped to second by Simon Pressley with Brian Quayle (OK) in third. Other noteable performances included Jim Whitelegg sailing his tiny Gull dinghy to good mid-field places.

Many thanks to Pete Hinds for OOD and Donald Edwards and helpers for safety boat. The next round will be held on Sunday 8 January 2012, start at 10am, for further information please call Ralph Kee on 817010.

For full results see MS&CC website and see also Dave Kneale's excellent pictures on Manxsailracer website.

Don't forget the Annual Frostbite Regatta held on Boxing Day (December 26) for the Quayle Tankard, mince-pies and goodies will be provided. Start will be at 11am finish approximately 12, an excellent way to blow away Christmas cobwebs!!

Many thanks to Pete Hinds for OOD and Donald Edwards and helpers for safety boat. The next round will be held on Sunday 8 January 2012, start at 10am, for further information please call Ralph Kee on 817010.

PS Don't forget the Annual Frostbite Regatta held on Boxing Day (December 26) for the Quayle Tankard, mince-pies and goodies will be provided. Start will be at 11am finish approximately 12, an excellent way to blow away Christmas cobwebs!!

Injebreck Racing – 8 January 2011

The first dinghy racing of the new year took place at West Baldwin Reservoir on Sunday morning.  A record fleet of 17 dinghies took to the water in light drizzle which within 10 minutes had stopped, the sun even came out for the second race!  The wind, having a bit of west in it, was gentle and flooky by the dam, as opposed to non-existent further up the reservoir which led to some very close racing both on the water and on corrected time.

In Race 1 Rob Cowell and Phil Hardisty (RS 200) built up a large lead by the end of the first lap only to sail into a bald patch and then watched as three others led by Mike Pridham (Laser) catch-up and overtake.  By the end of the race half of the fleet finished within 3 minutes of each other and after handicaps Mike Pridham came in first, Simon Pressley (Laser) second and in third place Andrew and David Williams (Aged 6) sailing in his first race.

In the second race it was Simon Pressley who managed to stay ahead on the first lap followed by Ali Hinds (Radial), taking time out from University team racing for Oxford.  By lap two Simon's lead was even larger, but at the last mark on the final lap he came to a virtual halt only to be completely swallowed up by the fleet.  Mike Pridham made the line first closely followed by Andrew Dean and Jenny Lantry (RS 200) with Simon Pressley in third.

On corrected time second, third and fourth were separated by 3 seconds.  Changing fortunes saw Owen Williams (Aged 10), racing at Baldwin for the first time, come in ahead of his dad!

Many thanks to Pete Hinds for OOD and Donald and Aifric for the safety boat, full results will be on the Manx Sailing & Cruising Club website.

Finally, we will post the full results for the series to date when Neil & Ralph sort out a spreadsheet incompatibility. Apologies. Prof

New club burgees are available from behind the bar, priced at £30. These are very good quality and would grace any members yacht.
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