INTERNATIONAL FLYING DUTCHMAN CLASS

OXFORD SAILING CLUB

SATURDAY/SUNDAY April 23/24 2005

This weekend was the start of the FD regatta season, returning to Oxford Sailing Club. Five races were scheduled in what was going to be a hard fought battle especially the Carbon v Alloy mast contest.

Throughout the weekend racing was tight, with no one boat having it their own way. In the end Tony and Colin won through and took the event, showing good consistency in very tricky and gusty wind conditions. Their down wind speed was particularly good and enabled them to gain and then maintain the lead in two of the races.

Peter and Richard took delivery of their new boat on Saturday morning and were soon in the thick of things, but lack of time in the boat caused a few problems particularly downwind. 

Keith and John took third overall. Having been absent for the majority of last year it was great to see them back. Sporting their new Carbon rig they showed good speed but were the first to admit there is more to be gained with time to refine the set-up. On Sunday they found their speed and led both races.

Vicky and Ben sailed very well with two 2nds on the Saturday and had a commanding lead close to the finish in race three but were unable to recover from an unfortunate capsize. 

Lucy and Jamie in their first regatta were a very creditable fifth overall and showed great speed upwind.

Saturday night saw most of the fleet enjoy what is now a traditional meal in an Oxford pub.

Race 1
Doran/Philips in 382 lead to the mark first in race 1 followed by the rest of the fleet. They lead until an incident at the leeward mark. The second place boat of Lyall/Burns took the lead by avoiding the trouble and over the course of the race extended their lead. Vicky Parry and Ben Stirrup in 383 came in second with Doran and Philips recovering to take third.

Race 2
In the second race Lyall and Burns got away form the pack with good off wind speed and were never caught and went in as overnight leaders with GBR 383 in second and Doran and Philips in third with 363 and 338 in 4th and 5th.

Race 3
The downwind speed of 385 proved devastating again in R3 and they were the eventual winners with GBR382 in second and a really close finish between 383 and Martin and Lansley in 363, the latter just getting it on the line.

Race 4
A fantastic start by 383 in R4 gave a lead that was unassailable until a mistake late in the race gave the lead to 363 with 385 in second and the Oxford Tankards Regatta.

Race 5
The last race was won by 382 after 363 had taken the lead on beat 2 but failed to see the shorten course flag, 383 was third and 338 in fourth

Our thanks go to all at Oxford for a great event.

Results

NOTICE OF RACE

 1. All boat owners shall be fully paid up members of IFDCO/BS.

   FD helms and crews who are not owners shall be fully paid up associate members of IFDCO/BS.

 2. The event will be governed by the ISAF RRS 2005-2008, the FD Class Rules and the Sailing Instructions and this NoR.

 3. Measurement Certificates and Membership Cards must be available on request, there may be spot measurements made.

 4. The event is Category C in accordance with Appendix 1 and FD Class Rule 119.

 5. Entry Fee £19

 6. The first race will start at 1300 on Saturday 23rd April.

   5 races are scheduled to be sailed.

 7. The Low Point scoring system will be used in accordance with RRoS Appendix 4. There will be one discard if four or more races are sailed. A minimum of three races must be completed to constitute a Championship.

 8. Penalties. RRoS 44.2 will apply.

 9. FD Class Rule 113 will apply (limitation of equipment).

10. In accordance with RRS 86.1(c), RRS 42 is not applicable and the following should be substituted:

"On a free leg of the course, the only action permitted for the sole purpose of accelerating a yacht down the face of a wave (surfing) or, when planning conditions exist, responding to an increase in velocity of the wind is the action of not more than three rapidly repeated trims and releases of any sail (pumping). There shall be no further pumping with respect to that wave or increase in wind".

11. Insurance. All boats must have a minimum third party cover of £2,000,000 for each incident.

12. The Oxford Sailing Club, IFDCO/BS, Race Committee or any other party involved in the organisation shall accept no liability whatsoever for death, injury or any other personal or material damage sustained by any participant or third party before, during or after races.

13. Prize Giving will be in the Clubhouse at the end of the Championship.