Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

DragonForce 65 and DragonFlite 95 TT at Blithfield Sailing Club

by Alastair Reid 14 Mar 11:07 PDT 8-9 March 2025
DragonForce 65 and DragonFlite 95 TT at Blithfield © Alastair Reid

Blithfield Sailing Club held its third ever radio sailing event, and second TT event, over the 8-9th March 2025. The weather gods were kind and greeted the 37 competitors for DF65 and 36 for the DF95 classes with unseasonable but very welcome sunshine and a good breeze offering up to 18 knots on both days.

To supercharge the weekend from the outset, Darin Ballington showed his Race Officer experience by constructing a course to not only provide a fair start line but also help launch the fleet further offshore to minimise the wind shadow effects from the shoreline. Both days saw a full and uninterrupted schedule take place with only minor delays as the home team sorted out a very single-minded and recalcitrant race mark (our lucky number is not 4). Ultimately put down to a steep gradient on the reservoir bed, it was eventually coaxed into staying put.

For the Saturday DF65 races, the wind came from the notoriously fickle ENE corner of the reservoir which filters its path around the clubhouse in a way that sees the wind direction on the bank subtly different from that at DF masthead height. As the day progressed, the wind built with a gust of 18 knots at lunchtime which produced some spectacular nose dives. Several skippers chose to change to A Rig for the afternoon session though the majority toughed it out with the A+.

A full complement of races was completed by 1530 and with nothing less than a second over eight races (how I long to be able to discard a second), John Tushingham was first with Simon Clark and Ken Binks second and third respectively.

The Sunday DF 95 programme saw a near identical ENE wind direction, proving the wisdom of leaving the buoys out overnight. There was a little more breeze early on but the A rig was the choice of the day and no skippers were seen to change from that.

Just as in the full-size racing at this venue, if you think you are handsomely laying the windward mark in this wind direction, do not bear away too early, you will regret it! This was evidenced by the frequent cry of 'contact' at the windward mark.

The heats continued at their usual fast and furious pace throughout the day with carefully scheduled breaks to allow the full scale Club fleet to launch and recover. The day concluded at 1540 hours after nine races each. John Tushingham was again masterful (albeit he did have to discard a much more reasonable sixth amongst his scores) and came first with Peter Baldwin and David Burke second and third.

With a galley crew keen to show off their newly refurbished workspace, Blithfield's home team provided a quality option for both breakfast and lunch, designed to be served across a wide period of service to meet the unrelentingly quick pace of these races. To finish the day with a warm sunset and a refreshment of your choice just added to the impact of the location and occasion.

In accepting the winners prize, John thanked the club and race team along with a wish to return again to the venue.

The home team were grateful for the many plaudits from the visitors and their unmistakable sense of wishing to return to Blithfield.

DF65 Results:

PositionSail NoSkipperClub/CityR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8Pts
151John TushinghamKeighley & Dist MES Ltd2121201128
264Simon ClarkWest Cornwall RSC131010443318
383Ken BinksEastbourne & District44012213520926
4120David PotterBirkenhead12011615234427
512Buzz ColemanCoalhouse ort MYC6519630680127
663Peter BaldwinBirkenhead RS&PC510535868320
730David BurkeFleetwood MY & PBC7178131271237
845Jerry IbbersonROF WAC5937820161345
942Wayne StobbsGosport MYBC416188169105520
10154Paul PlestedBirkenhead RS & PBC212618713152155
1157Jim La RocheDatchet1161712914501657
1297Paul RobsonPoole RYC11251651112187620
1314Bob ConnerWoodspring MYC108991818131766
1466Martyn AspinallRotherham MYC2024141110392067
1553Clive WarrenBirkenhead RS&PC923284623111467
167Olly MurrayFleetwood MY&PBC207417147233869
17100Liz TushinghamKeighley & Dist MES Ltd13202314121014669
18302Chris MoreAskern RSC31411152031231073
19558Jonathon KnealeWest Cornwall RSC611152324161201878
20165David NickersonBirmingham131513201911172388
216Paul MiddletonFleetwood MY&PBC318272525241919108
2234Alan BarnstableWoodspring MYC1226719320192728110
23588Tim LearyPembrokeshire MYC1530292117252411113
2419Barry RolfeBirmingham MYC1027203622302815122
25663Neil ThomasPembrokeshire MYC813223829343222126
26920Bill HancockRudyard Lake MYC721313038172630131
27161Simon CornesRudyard Lake MYC1229212621292529134
28303Lisa MoreAskern RSC822262436383126137
29173Jay WilliamsonPembrokeshire MYC928342227273024137
3069Jen HandLincoln RSC2019242728233334141
31572Rob MathewsonWest Cornwall RSC1433303123262127141
3239John LeesBlithfield MYC2031332931152032146
33712Garry BoxManor Park RSC1535252834283431161
34140Ian GethinBlithfield MYC2032353230322933175
3540Justine DavenportAbersoch RYC1636373326333835179
360Alan SmithFleetwood MY & PBC1737363533383825183
37130David BakerBirmingham MYC1434 3435353838184

DF95 Results:

PositionSallNoSkipperClub/CityR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9Pts
151John TushinghamKeighley & Dist MES Ltd11261223211
2172Peter BaldwinBirkenhead RS & PC113792714123
3330David BurkeFleetwood MY & PBC3331013362525
420David PotterBirkenhead32111181013631
512Buzz ColemanCoalhouse Fort MYC459266151933
683Ken BinksEastbourne & District2643314791134
76Paul MiddletonFleetwood MY&PBC51285818861352
8188Rod RadbourneManor Park RSC716585112151553
9877Martyn AspinalRotherham MYC4912164179141062
1097Paul RobsonPoole RYC6232226199410474
1142Wayne StobbsGosport MYBC101014157513212274
1234Alan BarnstableWoodspring MYC515181217101182278
1336Bob LafberyKeighley & District15715491518232883
14102Chris MoreAskern RSC11146192022375883
159Steve VenablesManor Park Radio SC221177142023121284
1645Jerry IbbersonROFWAC74131835275172286
17154Paul PlestedBirkenhead RS & PC881014181628182792
1862Simon ClarkWest Cornwall RSC1024111322223163797
1993Clive WarrenBirkenhead RS & PC8182911161934263101
20169Bill HancockRudyard Lake MYC6202222104173735101
21661Jonathon KnealeWest Cornwall RSC133428171513142014106
2214Bob ConnerWoodspring MYC15111920232922718112
23712Garry BoxManor Park Radio SC13331622252522197124
24118Steve ThomasRudyard122525362712221119126
25173Jay WilliamsonPembrokeshire MYC142827301211222916130
2657Jim La RocheDatchet91732242223163026137
27365David NickersonBirmingham MYC91930233030242230157
2869Jen HandLincoln Radio SC143023253126252817158
29100Liz TushinghamKeighley & Dist MES Ltd122633283224292723169
30563Neil ThomasPembrokeshire MYC162920312928263725173
31103Lisa MoreAskern RSC182724272832302524173
32519Barry RolfeBirmingham MYC113126292631273329179
33503Simon CornesRudyard Lake MYC162331322433353232190
34688Tim LearyPembrokeshire MYC173635343337322434209
35645Justine DavenportAbersoch RYC183236333637313131212
3613Alan SmithFleetwood MY & PBC173534353434333433219

Related Articles

Radio Sailing at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show
Four road bollards as marks in a 40' square pool I am always amazed at how a piece of water approx. 40ft by 40ft with four road bollards as marks with six DF65 craft sailing round in circles can provide so much entertainment to so many, both young and old. Posted on 1 Mar 2024
DF65 and DF 95 TT at Blithfield
The thoughtful inclusion of free hot drinks in the entrance fee added a warm touch Blithfield Reservoir emerged as the spirited host for a captivating weekend long DragonForce TT. The Midlands Area Club, known for its welcoming Clubhouse and expansive waterways, enthusiastically welcomed the challenge. Posted on 29 Feb 2024
RPAYC head to the DF65 Worlds
With fast growing fleet of DF65 racers The Dragonforce 65 (DF65) is arguably the fastest growing fleet at RPAYC. The RPAYC fleet started on 24 November 2022 with 10 boats and has grown to almost 40, with 15-20 racing each week. Posted on 7 Feb 2024
MYA RG65 Nationals 2023 at West Kirby
Graham Elliott wins the title on a challenging weekend Fifteen RG65 sailors finally made it to the starting line for the first race of this years RG65 Nationals being held at West Kirby Marine lake after moving the event from the Birkenhead Lake. Posted on 27 Sep 2023
DF Racing TT Rounds 5 & 6 at Eastbourne
A weekend of lots of model yacht racing, meals out and banter Let's begin of Friday, it was a lovely day, plenty of warm autumn sunshine and a great day for sitting at The Perch café opposite the club and chewing the fat with friends as they arrived. Posted on 12 Oct 2021
2021 RG65 GBR Nationals at Keighley
An entry of 17 boats with 9 different designs sailing The 2021 RG65 GBR National Championships were hosted by the Keighley club over the weekend of the 18th and 19th September and saw an entry of 17 boats with 9 different designs sailing. Posted on 21 Sep 2021
DF65 Nationals at Poole
56 radio skippers bask in sunshine and light winds After our last outing at Weecher back in July, the DF65 Nationals at Poole Radio Yacht Club would be the first run out for many of the UK's skippers since West Lancs way back in February 2020 before the world changed. Posted on 8 Sep 2021
RYA Dinghy Show Exhibitors' Model Yacht Race
Fast, furious and a lot of fun! On Sunday 1st March at the RYA Dinghy Show 2020 the YachtsandYachting com RYA Dinghy Show Exhibitors' Model Yacht Race was held at on the boating pool at Alexandra Palace. Posted on 13 Mar 2020
Radio controlled sailing at North East Clubs
Growing in popularity and becoming a positive pathway for retaining older members A club in north Yorkshire has seen radio controlled sailing growing in popularity and becoming a positive pathway for retaining older members and gaining new ones. Posted on 17 Feb 2020
Radio Sailing Pool at Southampton Boat Show
Free to all visitors in the heart of the Arena area Visit our fantastic Radio Sailing School feature in the heart of the Arena area of the show. Posted on 4 Aug 2019
Maritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTERPalm Beach Motor Yachts