IN THIS LETTER.
Regatta results
Thoughts for the future
Website updates
Sail measuring
Around the clubs
DF sailors visiting Australia
NATIONAL REGATTAS
With the DF 65 South Island Champs in November the other National and Island regattas for the 24/25 season are complete. Congratulation to our winners.
DF95
Nationals. 1. Graham Watson 2. Grant Nixon 3. Reuben Muir.
North Island champion. 1. Chris Wischnowsky. 2.Graham Watson 3. Nigel Sibun
South Island Champion. 1. Brian Bennett 2. Laurie Hope 3. Peter Jensen.
DF 65
Nationals. 1. Gary Dixon 2. Nigel Armitage 3. John Rountree
North Island champion. 1. Grant Lane, 2. Bill Bradley 3. Nigel Armitage
South Island Champion. 1. Hold your breath!
A thought for future national regattas.
A national championship regatta should have national representation.
While we have good attendance at regattas, few are crossing Cook Straight. Thanks to those who made the effort.
We assume the reason is that the cost is out of proportion for a two day regatta.
The Australians run a DF sailing week, where both classes run their nationals within one week. This could be worth considering.
How about:-
Saturday. Travel.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. DF 65 Nationals.
Wednesday Lay day.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday. DF 95 Nationals.
Advantages.
Owners could sail both regattas for one travel cost.
May encourage owners of one class to get the other as well.
With three days for racing, races could be held in afternoons when breeze has come in.
If you have thoughts on this idea, send them to my email(mjf.ure@xtra.co.nz). I will compile them and put them to the national committee.
WEBSITE UPDATES.
Recent feed back has been that many members are not aware of the new 95 website (65 one is underway). The new site is on the NZRYA site. Go to:-
www.nzrya.org.nz
Scroll to classes.
Click on DF 95.
Click on the dropdown menu on the blue line under the NZRYA menu for all your DF 95 info.
SAIL MEASURING.
All unmodified Joysway sails are deemed legal. For aftermarket sails, DF class rules require all sails to be measured and stamped by an official measurer.
Clubs holding major regattas would like boats presented for inspection to have stamped sails. Measurers may not be on hand.
The list of measurers can be found on the NZRYA website. Go to “Knowledge Base” then scroll down to measurers. You will also find the list on the DF 95 website.
The Class association has had sail templates made and sent out to the following clubs.
NSRYS, Quarry lake Takapuna.
NMMS, Wattle.
NPRCYS, New Plymouth.
NRYC, Nelson.
PRSC, Pegasus Canterbury.
CRYS, Cromwell.
It is most likely that the Template will be held by the club measurer.
The measurer does not have to use the templates, they just make it easier.
AROUND THE CLUBS.
Planning a road trip?
The DF classes are the perfect size to pack and carry in your car. There are active clubs and DF sailing venues from Whangarei to Queenstown.
The NZRYA website has a list of all radio yacht clubs in NZ.
Scrolling through it you will find the list of boats they sail, also race times and contact details.
Two 95 venues, at opposite ends of the country, while not clubs, have regular racing.
- Ruakaka has a very competitive fleet, including the national champion, Graham Watson. They don’t have fixed sailing days so If you are heading north contact John Upton 021 435 919 for details.
- Wanaka now has an active 95 fleet sailing off the yacht club Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Graham Watson turned up there as well. Contact Bill Trethewey 0274 202 729.
- The Southern Lakes area now has DF95 sailing at Cromwell, Jacks Point Queenstown, and Wanaka.
- 65 sailors have a new mid North Island site at the Prawn farm just outside Taupo. They race Saturdays 10 to 12. They have some biological requirements so contact the club Commodore Mike Smith LTRYC@%@gmail.com.
All the radio sailing clubs are listed on the NZRYA website. Most of the clubs have details of the classes the sail, and their contact details.
Planning an International trip?
Rod McKenzie went to Queensland and filed the following report.
I was fortunate to be invited to sail the club DF95 at Kiwana Waters , near Mooloolaba, a few weeks ago. The Sunshine Coast Radio Sailing Club (check out https://www.scrsc.org.au/ ) is a similar size to Pegasus, but has 4 classes – Laser, DF65, DF95, and IOM. They sail separate classes am and pm during the week and at the weekend. Handicap racing occurs twice per month. Each class has a race coordinator and their own starter box. There is a shared trailer with tinny on top.
The venue is a lake, with a narrow peninsula 5m high, providing a great vantage point and sailing courses. (They hope to host a world DF event there sometime!). Australian guidelines for DF are buoys to be a max of 50m away and races over in a max of 10mins. While there are permanent buoys out, these are adjusted as required.
They had 5 races, then a break (with cake) and a further 5 races over 2.5hrs. Top mark gates were used for the first 5 races.
Penalty taking (proper protest calls) and lakeside behaviour was good. Breakdowns and tangles occurred as usual!
I finished up 4/14, a very pleasing result. I felt the sailing standard was very similar to the Pegasus 95 fleet and with the warm welcome, I was very comfortable sailing with them. I gave away 5 hatch patches as prizes. Results were emailed out later that night. NZ sailors would be most welcome there.
COMMUNICATIONS
We have learned that many DF sailors are not receiving the Newsletters.
When you receive this, please ask you fellow sailors if they got theirs.
If not please ask them to contact the National Secretary, Jamie White at DFRacingNZ@gmail.com
Send Jamie an email with the following.
Your name.
Boat number.
Telephone.
Email.
That’s all for now folks.
Mike Ure.
mjf.ure@xtra.co.nz