The 9^th & 10^th January was a weekend of firsts in Yorkshire.

7 of the skippers who’d competed in Ripon SC’s first DF65 Open made the starting lineup the following day for Balne Moor’s first yachting Open (DF65 & RG65), including Dave Darwell (Balne Moor MBC) who got his DF from Santa two weeks earlier and has now sailed in his first two Open events.

A total of 16 skippers were blessed with a lovely sunny chill morning. A good breeze at the top end of ‘A’ rig all day made for some great racing.

After 14 races, John Tush ran out a clear winner with John Sharman an excellent second and John Bush, sailing a (borrowed) DF for the first time taking third place.

Big thanks to the race team for a most enjoyable day and with four more in the series as follows there’s plenty of opportunity left to enjoy this excellent new venue:

January 24^th

February 7^th & 21^st

March 6^th

For NoR and other details, please contact Balne Moor MBC

The first of the West Lancs winter series got off to a good start despite a real stinker of a day weather wise. 14 DF65’s turned out and completed ten races before the skippers declared enough and retired to the clubhouse for a cup of tea and a mince pie. John Tushingham took the win with John Brierley and Tim Lanigan in second and third spots. No photos as it rained too much but here is a photo of a damp results sheet!

This coming weekend sees two events taking place up North with an open event at Ripon Sailing Club on Saturday and the first of the Winter series at Askern lake near Doncaster hosted by Balne Moor MBC.

Details of both events and how to enter are posted on the Events page.

So as you’ll see from the dates below we haven’t done much to the website for a few months as we’ve had quite a bit on our plates.  However we’ve still been registering new owners and issuing sail numbers and we now see our numbers heading towards 900.

There will be a few updates over the next few days giving details of the early season events for the DF65 of which there are quite a few!

We look forward to seeing you at an event in 2016 and if you haven’t yet taken part in an open event then make this coming season your season to take the plunge!

We have had the following message from the rules committee this evening. Updated Class Rules on the Class Documents page

“It has become evident that the latest casting of the DragonForce 65 keel bulb has has a much smaller diameter and depth of bolt hole in the base. This is a result of Joysway having to produce a new mould to address an issue with bolt length. Unwittingly and out of a desire to improve quality they adjusted the hole size without realising the class rule implication regarding covering the hole with a sticker. This was a genuine oversight, but has resulted in a smaller hole but the average weight remains the same and within factory tolerance. As these bulbs are already in circulation it seemed sensible to continue with the new design and change the class rules (new version 1.5) to allow the bolt hole to be covered with a sticker. The new wording of Rule D.4 does make it clear that hiding additional ballast weight behind this sticker is a clear contravention of Rules A.5 and A.5. The new Rule Version 1.5 comes into immediate effect”

Issued by the DragonForce Rules Committee on 28th October 2015

Since the last set of rules were written and posted back in February 2014 there have been several questions and queries that have been asked and answered by the rules committee who have now got to a point where these items have been incorporated into an updated set of class rules.

Essentially the restricted class rules remain unchanged but there have been a couple of updates to rules C4 and G3 to cover newer production boats, a change to rule F7 to allow any bowsie to be used instead of just the Joysway supplied bowsie and an addition to section H to allow and define the use of telltales and wind indicators.

Check out the updated rules on the Class Documents page.

We have a few dates already set for 2016 including the “Dragonfest” event which is being held at West Lancs in May and the Nationals which are being held in July at Fleetwood.

What we’d like to do however is try and repeat what we did this season and have an open event or two in each district taking us from March through to October, if you think that your club can help please get in touch and we’ll try and organise something to suit your club and its calendar.

Another splendid day up north in Fleetwood on Saturday with 28 entrants including at least 4 DF65 newcomers. A mix of wind and weather made for an interesting day’s sailing with 13 races completed.

There is a report on the results page.

Don’t forget that there is a second DF65 event up at Fleetwood on the 22nd, tomorrow. There are quite a few entries from all over the country, including Brighton, Wales, Yorkshire and possibly even a visitor from Scotland and a new DF fleet skipper,truly a UK wide event!  If you haven’t yet entered but fancy joining in pop along to the Fleetwood club for a 10am start and get involved.  There will be plenty of help and encouragement for those of you who are new to the fleet.  The racing promises to be good and the banter will be likewise!

Results for the recent Eastbourne and West Lancs events have been posted on the results page.

A bit late to the party but for all those of you in the Midlands and the North there is an event at the very good West Lancs YC on Sunday the 16th of August. It is being sailed with the RC Laser fleet so it will do your close quarters sailing skills a great deal of good, during the winter series there were sometimes 30 boats on the water.

More details on the Events page.

If you are based in the South remember that there is the open event at Eastbourne on the same date, the closing date for entries is the 12th August so if you are umming and ahhing about it youve not got long left!

Notice of race and entry details on the Events page.

We’ve had a bit of confusion lately about how and where you go to register your boat, the form is still on the Class Documents page where it always has been, however to make it really simple we have added the link to the main menu above. Click the link, complete the form, click submit, get your number!

Don’t be alarmed if you experience a short delay in being issued with a number, it won’t be more than a couple of days and remember we all do this as volunteers whilst running businesses, going sailing, looking after families etc.

Thanks.