On Saturday the 2nd of June Dartmoor Model Boat Club hosted the inaugural SW District Championship(reclassified) event for the 6 Metre Class. Ten boats assembled for the event on what was a somewhat uncharacteristic day at Shaugh lake as the sun shone, there was no rain and Number 1 rigs were used throughout the day. Racing got underway on time in a light veering Southerly wind over an Olympic type course. The Dolphin designed 981 was the first casualty of the day missing the first race start as the rudder system failed causing the rudder to shift 180 degrees. It could have been quick going backwards but was deemed to be a definite non- starter going forwards!
Early races (1-4) showed that racing was going to be keenly contested between the two Ravenna’s of Mike Ewart (12) and Keith Simmons (30) with Dave Kent (84) and his Revival in the mix as well. A course change was carried out by the ARO during the first break and this was to set a theme of multiple buoy changing prior to the lunch break. At lunch the scoreboard indicated it was Mike who held the lead over Keith but there really wasn’t much in it. However, Mike with more experience was out to win this year and capitalised on Keith’s lack of 6M experience especially on mark rounding, this was hardly surprising as Keith normally races DF65’s. Morley Varker with the Drisky (57) put in several top 3 places but was to drop out later in the day.
Lunch break saw a major wind shift on the lake requiring a complete reset of both course, start line and control zone to accommodate it. Just as this was being completed the wind gods struck and it veered back to almost where it had been previously. In its new heading the wind started to stabilise and increased in strength allowing for the last 8 races to be run without further change to the course. The rise in wind strength changed the pattern at the front end of the fleet with Keith now finding form to take the wins in races 9-to-15. Further down the field the racing was equally competitive as many were Dolphin designs and so were evenly matched. Several boats did not complete the 16 races offered due to very unexpected winch failures which dropped Dave Kent and Morley Varker (DRSKY 57) out of the running for podium places
Congratulations to Keith Simmons (30) DMBC who took the Championship trophy, with Mike Ewart (12) from APMYC in second and John Endicott (86) DMBC in third and the first Dolphin designed boat. Keith thanked Mike for travelling to Dartmoor and also the race team for their efforts on the day. A special thank you was made to other DMBC members who could not attend but loaned their boats for the Event. The day was brought to a close with a Devon cream tea for all who attended. It didn’t seem to matter that the cream was on top of the jam, because there were no scones left over!! A very good competitive racing day enjoyed by competitors and race officials alike. The lake sited on the fringe of Dartmoor NP was at its picture best with the 6’s on it, even the Red Arrows decided to do a fly by! Steve Watts (ARO)