My memories of Alan stretch back to the early seventies when, as a raw school leaver Alan mentored and cajoled me through fours years of Enginnering theory.  His dedication and patience reflected the person he was.  After a stuttering final year, he was probably very relieved to get rid of me, we used to meet on a weekly basis in the Shore Hotel, me passing through to the flesh pots of Port Erin, Alan out for the weekly pint, he always asked “what are you doing now” and after telling him he used to respond in shock, “do they actually trust you to do that”.   

Through all these years Alan’s enduring passion was always sailing and he passed that passion on through his training courses and I know there are a large number of people out there today with sailing qualifications that look  back and say without Alan’s dedication, patience and expertise it wouldn’t have been possible.

For me Brown Trout not crossing Castletown Bay in the sumer is the loss of one of the Island’s sailing constants and I can only offer both mine, Tom’s and CDMYC’s condolances to Smiler, Alison and their Mum at this difficult time.  The sailing community in the South has lost one of it’s best ambassadors.

Well played Lilly …………. we’re always sporting in defeat, even when we’ve been clobbered.

Lilly 1 Grumpy old men 0

Lilly 2 Grumpy old men 0

However the race started with yet again an excellent turnout of 15 boats, but there were some serious issues raised before the race with Tom in Seletar being extemely concerned that he and his son only had 6 cans left each.  This proved to be decisive  as they abandoned the race after the first Triangle …………. the beer obviously ran out! 

Dilemma stormed off the line in the lead and never relinquished it, the change in helm is proving decisive and well played Lilly.  Fairly unsettling reports are coming in of Dilemma’s owner mooning to passing boats and the Bay in general resulting in a large number of Shag’s being collected from Castletown Beach by the MSPCA with a strange aversion to ever take to the sea again.  As one of the boat’s passing on the opposite tack I know how they feel.

But yet another great day out in Castletown; but no ESK!  For full results as usual follow the results tab.

Thank to  Mary Davies for these photos and more of Mary’s photos from earlier races will be uploaded in the near future.

Beat that for boats on the water!

Only scandal from today involves ………………………….. yes you’ve guessed it, 1 design’s.  Firstly a collision with a Drascombe, luckily both were able to start the race and another rumour has a black 1 design hooking the rigging of Esk, it just goes to show these boys know how to party!

that's loosened a few bricks

The culprit appears

if i get that sail out of the way i can see exactly what i'm doing

Rumour has it there’ll be Gladatorial bow sprit jousting at the Regatta.

However once round the Bell it was a different game on the close haul out of the Bay towards the Port, what were nice freshening winds suddenly became frisky strong gusts to 29 kts making the beat anything but easy.  Wombat decided better of it with young crew but the rest slogged it out some heading offshore but Rupert putting a tack in towards Fisher’s before the final tack to the finish.  All the rest took the seaward route coming up under Perwick for the final tack to finish.  Results will be up shortly. but 6 finishers, 1 DNF and 1 sunk, just another normal CDMYC race.

Sandy, do we tack now or bail?

But all ended well (ish) broken centre board, a few lost planks and some wet nuts! 

Congratulations to Mike and Brenda Pollard for an excellently organised BBQ and what was a typical eventfull CDMYC day.  Thanks to Sandy, you’re taking the pressure off us (JQ & JC)