It is the first full day of Autumn, but it’s clinging on to summer, hot and humid, We were expecting a  strong breeze from the SSE at about 14 mph, but what we got was very different.  We got gusts then calm, and many changes of direction. A very challenging day for racing but 11 members and 1 guest arrived with their boats for the skippers’ briefing which was given by Race Director, Rob Hill. Rob set the course in a normal anti-clockwise direction: South then north both taken to port.  Sometimes once around, sometimes with half a loop, and sometimes twice around. Just to add to the challenge of the wind. We had 12 races with our worst two scores thrown out.Our distinguished guest, Don Ouimette, showed us how it’s done and won 11 races!  Paul won the one that Don didn’t. (Don was third). So our 2021 DF95 Regatta Champion is Don, with Paul second with five second places and four thirds.In third place was Kim with four second places and one third. Well done all.The full results are on our website mhbmyc.org
The Soling Regatta was remarkable for the fact that eight boats started and eight boats finished.With the DF95 Regatta, twelve boats started but only seven were still running at the end. There were a number of reasons but the most dramatic event was during race 6 when Jim Kelly lost control of his boat and off it sailed on a perfect course across the Sakonnet River.  Jim went for a little drive and recovered it, but too late to resume racing. It was good to see new member, Sam Morgan come down to spectate and to see the arrival of the Paul Mercer fan club. Rob kept score until Wilkie stopped racing and took over the scorekeeping. Thank you very much. We all had a good time today. Well done everybody. And special thanks to Rob who organized the event to such good effectNext Tuesday, weather permitting, we’ll start our post-season fun races. Mainly for Solings, but we’ll be pleased to see any boat.  High tide about 2 pm.Stay safe, well, and happy,
Derek