Today sees the 2023 UK DF95 Nationals get underway down in Poole. It looks like a light wind affair and might produce a surprise result. Craig Richards has to be favourite to retain his title and seems to be on top form. John Tushingham won’t be far behind I’m sure.
Good luck to all skippers taking part it looks like a hot one!
The DF ICA have asked me, as the GBR rep on the ICA World Council, to attend a special meeting of the World Council in early October to vote on some class rule changes.
The changes that they are looking to introduce are those that they attempted to introduce earlier this year but reversed out when they realised that they had not followed their processes correctly, so they may look familiar.
The ICA Constitution requires me to gather the opinion of the UK NCA members before voting on the changes, so now I am passing the ball over to you.
Please take a look at this form which will explain all and give you the chance to vote. Rule Form – September 2023
Your opinion matters so lease can you complete the form by 27 September. Any submission after this may not be counted…..
If you want to go yachting with the top DF95 skippers at the Nationals in Poole in late September then please remember that the entry closes on the 27th August which is tomorrow, Sunday. With fifty odd entries it promises to be a great event at the Poole RYC. So, whilst there is still time to enter I suggest that you do just that, you’ll receive a warm welcome and plenty of help should you want it.
Some feedback from the DFICA over the recent rule changes and the scope of some of them. Phil Burgess (Chair) had the following to say.
“The DFICA met recently to address concerns about some of the recent rule changes.
The World Council meeting held at the DF95 Globals in Fleetwood unanimously approved the adoption of DF65 Rules version 1.8 and DF95 Rules version 1.4 that had been circulated to all members. These related mainly to keel box patches and sail numbers.
That meeting also addressed a new issue that had been identified at the regatta relating to hull, keel, bulb and rudder treatment that extended well beyond that contained in the rules. The WC members present at that meeting approved a Special Resolution for the Rules Committee to address Hull and Appendage treatment where a “gloss painted factory type finish” was required to keep boats equal and provide certainty for skippers wishing to decorate and differentiate their boats. The Rules Committee were given until 1st July to issue a further amendment.
In the haste to meet this commitment and publish the newly amended rules, there was a lack of time to seek broader consultation and the ability for member nations to fully consider the changes and their consequences.
The DFICA Executive Committee has agreed that more time should be provided for World Council members to consider the changes.
Consequently,
The content and details of a Special World Council Meeting, to be held on 28th August (UK time), will be communicated shortly.“
The rules committee have finalised the new revised class rules for both of the DF classes. The rules take effect from today, 1st July.
DFICA Chair Phil Burgess had the following to say –
“The DFICA Rules Committee finalised the latest rule changes overnight in time for the 1st July application.
The notable changes are the hull sticker as a preventative measure, larger sail numbers for the DF65 and banning some hull and appendage treatments. The hull has to be a factory finish in gloss paint but decals may be applied. This arose from the Globals where several boats had excessive fairing left unpainted of the hull, keel, bulb and rudder. Existing painted hulls will be grandfathered until 2025.
We requested a definition of the DF65 battery hatch size. The Committee’s response was that they don’t think it’s necessary to define a size. It’s description says its sole function is to cover the hatch, so if it is big enough to cover one of the bolt holes then it has gone beyond that definition. It would also be just another event measurement, which we don’t need. So, I think a patch that covers the keel box channel immediately adjacent to the hatch is permitted, provided it doesn’t extend over the keel box bolt holes or the keel recess.
Rule changes will always attract comment, analysis and criticism, so the consistent key message to all skippers should always be that the boats are required to be sailed out of the box under the spirit set out in A.5. If we start using “non-performance enhancing” justifications, it opens up a precedent for many changes where the rules would need to become very definitive and run into many more pages. Use the KISS principle.“
The new class rules can be found on the DF65 page and the DF95 pages in the menu at the top of the page.
We now have open entries for both of the DF Nationals. The 65’s are at Keighley in late July and the 95’s are at Poole in the first part of September. We have full details available on the Events drop down menu so take a look and get your entry in!
The wind was ok, the sun shone, pretty sure people drank beers, there was some swimming, what’s not to like!
The nice chaps at Manor Park have written a report for the weekend, I’ve copied and pasted updated the overall results and hey presto!
Head to the Results 23 page to take a look.
Well after all the lead up to and hype around the DF95 Globals it seems a little mundane to be telling you about upcoming UK TT events but here we go. First up we’ve got Manor Park this weekend, usual programme, 65’s on Saturday and 95’s on Sunday, not the worlds greatest entry list but a quality field.
Then in the second half of July we have the DF65 Nationals at Keighley which is sure to be a bit of a giggle both socially and will also be a great yacht race too.
For more details on both events head over to the Events page.
My head doesn’t hurt any more, I drank more than anyone but didn’t collect the complimentary Covid from the closing dinner. I’ve written a bit of a report based on what I remember.
Check out the Results 23 page for a read. You might need a brew and there aren’t any pictures because they are somewhere else! Enjoy.
So, firstly, if you are applying for a DF sail number over the next few weeks please do not expect a number to be issued until Monday 22nd May. Jen, our hard working registrar, is heading to Fleetwood for the DF95 Global Championships along with 77 other skippers. As such there will be no numbers issued whilst the Championships are running.
We should also take this opportunity to wish our Team GBR skippers the best of luck at the event. Defending champ John Tushingham has the advantage of knowing the pond but he’s got some seriously tough skippers coming to take up the Fleetwood challenge. It’s sure to be a great event and I’ll try and post as much as possible to the site during the event.
There is a Facebook site for the event which can be found with a search on that platform, most of the event media and results will appear there.
We’ve also seen that the NoR’s for the Manor Park TT in mid June have been posted on the MYA website, we’ve added an event page for this with all the details of how to enter. Click here to take a look.
DF Racing UK Class Association 
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