So we are here, stand set up, almost time for a beer or two! Stand W16, come and say hello.

DF65 Nationals 2015 @ Coalhouse Fort – Photo Sue Brown

Another important event for 2020, the DF65 Nationals, has appeared on our radar so we’ve built a page, added a lot of links to help you out and then posted the details here for you. We are good to you guys aren’t we! Check out the event page by clicking here.

We are also less than a week away from the 2020 Dinghy Show where the DF Racing UK crew will be out in force, the class association has a stand W16, there will be a DF65 on the MYA stand along with a spot the buoy competition and a chance to win a DF65 with radio and a B rig. As well as these great displays there is also Mike Weston in the Panorama Hall who will be running the have a go pool where you can try out a DF65 on the water.

Plenty of breeze lately here in the UK, C and D rigs seem to have been the order of the day…or week….well actually the whole month of February to be honest.

Our 2018 Dinghy Show stand…..2020 is bigger and better!

So we are a week or two on from our first DF Racing UK TT event at West Lancs and we’ve got plenty to look forward to over the coming months.

First up we have The RYA Dinghy Show on the 29 Feb – 1 March. The DF Racing UK crew will be there on stand W16, Mike will be there in the conservatory running the pool and the MYA will be there on stand J13. Lots of cool stuff to see both big and small. Mike could do with some help with the pool, you’ll get a free pass to the show for your troubles. Contact Mike direct to offer your services.

Next on the list is the Invicta trophy at Chipstead on 7th March, details here.

Rolling to the end of March we have a DF65 weekend at Gosport as part of our DF Racing TT Series, it promises to be a great weekend of racing at a club that has one of the largest DF65 fleets in the country. Get involved by clicking here.

So there are a couple of events that you can get involved with in March.

Looking further ahead there is the DF95 European Regatta at Campione on the shores of Lake Garda. Another amazing location with some fantastic sailing in prospect. Check out the detail by clicking here.

And finally, we have the full details of the DF95 Nationals which take place at the end of September over three days at Fleetwood MYPBC. Online entry is available and we will have regular updates on the preparations from the club. You can find out more by clicking here.

So voting has ended, results have been collated and you can take a look at the outcome by heading over to the AGM 2020 page.

We’ll have some exciting events news for you this week too.

DF95 start Sunday – Photo Sue Brown

So, a little later than usual I’ve written a report on last weekend’s great 2020 season opener at West Lancs YC.  I would have written it earlier but I’m only just starting to feel better after three nights on the beer before the event and another two nights during the event. Anyhow the report and overall TT results are available on the Results page

So this morning dawned a little grey but a lot less windy than yesterday. So much lighter in fact that we started the seeding races in A rig.

With the wind forecast to build and click round throughout the day it wasn’t long before the first course change and the first rig change of the day.

This was the order of the day, course changes and rig changes interrupted only by lunch.

Nine complete races ended with Tushy winning with Derek second, John Brierley third, Tim forth and travellers Chris and Chuck rounding out the top six.

Sorry about the upside down results, I’m tired and will sort it out over the next few days.

So we got a couple of races in after lunch, a short postponement due to it being too breezy saw us complete five races with two fleets.

Our two foreign visitors showed well finishing fifth and forth with a couple of good races between them. Tim Ling took third spot, Ken Binks took second with Tushy taking the top step.

Just six points separated second to sixth spot ensuring that the first DF Racing TT of 2020 picked up where the 2019 season left off.

DF95 racing tomorrow possibly in B rigs.

So the chilli at lunchtime was really tasty, almost as tasty as the breeze. It’s not the easiest of days to be sailing a DF65 but boy is it fun. During the lunch break we’ve had a gust of 42knts which is pretty extreme for any radio sailing class let alone one of the smallest. There are lots of smiling skippers and we are just about to start the afternoon session. Results later.

So we’re here and it seems that the wind is here too. We have had a few more entries since the last update and I think we stand at around 34 for both days, maybe a couple more than that on Sunday.

So the forecast looks like a cracker, mid twenties (mph) tomorrow and a little less on Sunday. We’ve also got two skippers heading in from the colonies to get the 2020 DF Racing UK TT series away with a truly international field as well as the usual mix of UK based skippers from all corners of the country.

Big winds will really require some concentration from the DF65 skippers tomorrow to get round the course cleanly, whilst dealing with the classic Southport “glare” should we see some sunshine…..which is entirely possible.

Meantime its beer o’clock and time to head to the bar.

Fancy a trip to the RYA Dinghy Show?

So the TT season opener is less than a couple of weeks away and we are getting on for 30 entries for the event, a little down on last year but there is still plenty of time to get your entry in to the organisers. Check out the event page by clicking here for the up to date entry list.

AGM, get involved, cast your votes and help us to continue to shape the DF UK Association.

RYA Dinghy Show – The Association will be there with a stand in the West corridor on a pretty cool stand. There will be lots to see around the show and our stand will be jam packed with DF Racing yachts, rigs and happy people.

Mike Weston has been asked to run the pool at the show and will be there with his fleet of DF65 yachts getting the general public involved in radio sailing. He could do with a couple of helpers for both days to man the pool. I’m sure you know how to get hold of Mike to offer your services. Obviously this will get you free entry to the show and you might even be able to get a look around the show too.

Catch you pondside soon!