Category: Uncategorized

Chile has submitted all relevant applications to join the DFICA and the Executive Board has approved those applications. Pursuant with the DFICA Constitution and DFICA Regulations , the Board now posts for public viewing and comment on the Chile proposal to join DFICA.

As you’ll no doubt be aware the DFICA has conducted some consultation to get the class rules for both DF65 and DF95 up to date in a manner that included input from all member nations.

The new class rules are now online and are effective from January 1st 2024. There is also some rationale from the Rules Committee so that you can see the reasoning behind the changes.

Edit-For those that can’t find them the new class rules are under the relevant class heading on the main menu.

Have a great 2024 racing season.

At this years DF95 Globals we made some new friends who have expressed an interest in helping out on the DFICA committee. Details below.

The DFICA is pleased to announce the appointment of 2 new committee members to the team. Two members of the current Executive will be looking to stand down before the next AGM, and these appointments will add strong candidates for election next year and further diversify the representation on the Executive.

David Booth from South Africa brings a wealth of sailing experience and administration. Among his long list of significant achievements are, Vice President of the Optimist Class Association for 11 years, helped set up the Cape Radio Yacht Club, a National Judge, Regatta Organising Chairman and PRO at international events.

Chuck Millican from Florida USA is the current President of the American Model Yachting Association and has a very impressive list of multiple national championships, a member of the US Olympic Yachting Committee and Bermuda Olympic Executive Committee and is highly credentialed in sailing administration and race results.

DFICA Chair Phil Burgess said “We are extremely fortunate to have both David and Chuck join the team. Both are willing to spare their time, experience and skills to further develop our sport and ensure we have a strong succession plan in place for the future of our Classes.”

The current DFICA Committee is:

Chairman – Phil Burgess (Australia)

Vice Chairman – Chris Dance (Australia)

Secretary – Russ Gardner (USA)

Treasurer – Wayne Stobbs (UK)

Media – Tim Long (UK)

Manufacturer’s Representative – John Tushingham (UK)

Committee Member – David Booth (South Africa)

Committee Member – Chuck Millican (USA)

The Rules Committee comprises:

Chairman – John Tushingham (UK)

Member – Chris Dance (Australia)

Member – Russ Gardner (USA)

Member – Buzz Coleman (UK)

Round one and two place offers have been sent out and there has been good uptake on places. We have now had loads of information from the hosts about the event and have put this information on the Events page of the website.

Please click here to take a look.

It’s been a while since we posted here and there are now some important matters to get out to you guys and girls. The first is an update on the rules and upcoming events from DFICA Chair Phil Burgess.

“The DFICA World Council met on 30^th October to address these issues:

Rule changes – All changes were approved with Option 2 (painted hull allowed) selected for hull treatment. The new rules will apply from 1^st January 2024 and the Rules Committee will soon issue the new versions to be posted on this website.

Voting was as follows:

DF65 vote results

21 votes by 7 nations

Section C carried (100%)

Option 2 selected 17 for, 4 against: rule change approved

Section D carried: (100%)

Option 2 selected 21 for, 0 against: rule change approved

Draft stripes carried (100%): rule change approved

DF95 vote results

25 votes by 9 nations

Section C carried (89%)

Option 2 selected 16 for, 9 against: rule change approved

Section D carried (89%)

Option 2 selected 19 for, 6 against: rule change approved

Elastic carried (100%) : rule change approved

Draft Stripes carried (100%) : rule change approved

The new class rules for both classes will be published over the next week.

2024 DF65 Global Regatta – Round 1 offers were sent to all 19 member nations. 33 entries were received so Round 2 offers will now be sent mid-November to fill the remaining places. Any unused places will be allocated to the host nation to support local skippers. Ten wildcard entries are available for allocation by the DFICA and skippers who may have missed their nations’ selection, can request consideration. Applications must be notified to the DFICA by your national representative by 15^th December.

2026 DF95 Global Regatta – Bids have been received from 3 Clubs to host the next champs – 2 from South Africa and 1 from Texas. The DFICA will consider these at their next meeting and expect to make an announcement early next year.”

The DFICA rules committee have taken note of the situation that arose a couple of months back and have now come up with a couple of solutions that your country rep will need to vote on at an upcoming council meeting.

For full details of the proposed changes and the rationale behind them from the rules committee please head over to the Class Rules page where you’ll find the information.

The DFICA met this week to address concerns about some of the recent rule changes.

The World Council meeting held at the DF95 Globals in Fleetwood unanimously approved the adoption of DF65 Rules version 1.8 and DF95 Rules version 1.4 that had been circulated to all members. These related mainly to keel box patches and sail numbers.

That meeting also addressed a new issue that had been identified at the regatta relating to hull, keel, bulb and rudder treatment that extended well beyond that contained in the rules. The WC members present at that meeting approved a Special Resolution for the Rules Committee to address Hull and Appendage treatment where a “gloss painted factory type finish” was required to keep boats equal and provide certainty for skippers wishing to decorate and differentiate their boats. The Rules Committee were given until 1^st July to issue a further amendment.

In the haste to meet this commitment and publish the newly amended rules, there was a lack of time to seek broader consultation and the ability for member nations to fully consider the changes and their consequences.

The DFICA Executive Committee has agreed that more time should be provided for World Council members to consider the changes.

Consequently,

1. DF65 Rules Version 1.8 and DF95 Rules 1.4 will be effective from 1^st July 2023 – these are online now.

2. The proposed hull and appendage changes set out in DF65 Rules version 1.8.3 and DF 95 Rules version 1.4.3 will be deferred until this consultation process takes place.

The content and details of a Special World Council Meeting, to be held on 28^th August (UK time), will be communicated shortly.

Please direct any enquiries through your national class representatives.

A month on from our last communication and following on from the DF95 Global Championships we have received the revised class rules for both of the DF classes.

DFICA Chair Phil Burgess had the following to say –

“The DFICA Rules Committee finalised the latest rule changes overnight in time for the 1^st July application.

The notable changes are the hull sticker as a preventative measure, larger sail numbers for the DF65 and banning some hull and appendage treatments. The hull has to be a factory finish in gloss paint but decals may be applied. This arose from the Globals where several boats had excessive fairing left unpainted of the hull, keel, bulb and rudder. Existing painted hulls will be grandfathered until 2025.

We requested a definition of the DF65 battery hatch size. The Committee’s response was that they don’t think it’s necessary to define a size. It’s description says its sole function is to cover the hatch, so if it is big enough to cover one of the bolt holes then it has gone beyond that definition. It would also be just another event measurement, which we don’t need. So, I think a patch that covers the keel box channel immediately adjacent to the hatch is permitted, provided it doesn’t extend over the keel box bolt holes or the keel recess.

Rule changes will always attract comment, analysis and criticism, so the consistent key message to all skippers should always be that the boats are required to be sailed out of the box under the spirit set out in A.5. If we start using “non-performance enhancing” justifications, it opens up a precedent for many changes where the rules would need to become very definitive and run into many more pages. Use the KISS principle.“

The revised class rules can be found by clicking here.

There has been some conversation over the last few days around the publication of the amended class rules for both DF65 and DF95 classes. Please find below a note from the DFICA Chair, Phil Burgess,

“At the 2023 Fleetwood World Council meeting the proposed rules changes were voted on and approved.

However, there was also a Special Resolution approved to address hull, keel, rudder and bulb issues identified  durimg the independent measurement procedure at the event. 

Therefore the release and adoption of the new rules has been delayed until 1st July 2023 to allow time for the Rules Committee to return home and prepare recommendations around these issues for inclusion in the new rules..

When finalised, they will be presented to the DFICA for ratifying. They will then be released for publication as soon as possible.  In the meantime, the current rules will still apply.”

So, we are now a week and a couple of days out of the back of the epic event that was the DF95 Global Championship at Fleetwood MYPBC, and I think my head has just about recovered enough to write a short report.

It started on the 10^th May really with a quick jaunt up to the NW of England and the historic town of Fleetwood. Arriving fashionably late I met up with Derek, Chuck and Brig who hurried me to a pub (there’s a theme here) and made me drink Gin and Tonic and then more people arrived and we went for some food.

Thursday was a busy day at the club with lots of setup going on and more competitors arriving from all corners of the globe via various means of transport. There was lots of activity on the water with boat tuning and messing about but by the time we got to the official club racing there were very few takers as the pub was, once again, calling. Plenty of us then descended on the popular Italian, Pacino’s, where we ate lovely food and drank lovely wine.

Friday was a pretty similar affair even down to the choice of restaurant, food and wine!

Saturday was a continuation of Friday with registration and measurement continuing to ensure everyone’s boat and rigs were compliant. There were a couple of issues which were sorted quickly and easily thanks to competitors compliance and the useful RC Yachts outlet that was based on site.

The evening was splendid, the wind dropped off nicely and after a brief opening of Timmy’s beer truck we were treated to the opening ceremony for the event. The club commodore gave a welcome speech as did MYA President Derek Priestley, we also had an introduction to PRO Peter Baldwin and judge Gordon Davies. This was followed by each country presenting the club with their National flag. This was followed by an International buffet, food from around the world, an amazing feat by each country to provide a speciality of the country for the rest of the world to try. There may have been some beer and wine, we may have retired to the pub…….

The next morning it was time for most of the fleet to get serious and start the racing. I started the day with a bacon sandwich, some coffee and some left over rum punch from Team Bermuda, and that set the tone for my week!

Seeding races were held, these were a little longer than the normal races to allow the cream to rise to the top should it have had a poor start. Predictably the races were won by good skippers, Craig Richards, John Tush, Mark Golison and David Potter.

Race two saw Potter take a second spot from DF95 designer Mark Dicks with Craig Richards in third spot, an all GBR podium. Race three saw USA take the top two spots with Golison and Sean Fidler with Tush third.

Tush and Craig were one two in race four with Swede Thomas Enwall taking the bottom step. The top two steps were reversed for race five with Thomas in third. He did better in race six and took the win from Peter Feldman with Craig in third.

Swede Michael Collberg took race seven from Tush with Craig posting another third spot. Craig bettered this in race eight with a bullet from Swede Magnus Bood with Golison in third spot. Feldman took race ten from Enwall with collberg on the bottom step.

Craig, Tush and Golison made the race ten podium, Feldman, Craig and Enwall were winners in eleven. Collberg, Tush and Feldman in twelve. Craig, Tush and Golison in thirteen.

Fourteen saw USA skipper Sean Fidler hit his stride to take the win from Aussie Chris Dance with Enwall in third spot.

Fifteen saw Craig Feldman and Tush on the podium. Sixteen saw Fidler at the top with Dance and Craig below him on the podium.

Seventeen and eighteen were all about Chris Dance, epic sailing and clean roundings saw him take both races, not to be outdone too much Craig to second spot in both races too, with Dicks and Fidler in third spots.

We are now getting to the nub end of the Championship and whilst there are some significant gaps at the top of the table it doesn’t take much to close them.

Tush’s bullet and Craig’s 21^st spot in race 19 made the point well for me, Collberg and Golison were second and third.

Craig soon bounced back and posted the win in 20 from Fidler and Feldman.

The final two races were Collberg with two bullets, Tush with two second and Craig with two third spots to round out the championship.

All down the board there were close battles between all of the 78 skippers, it was as hard to get out of D fleet as it was to stay in A fleet, or so I was told!

Every skipper I spoke with enjoyed the event immensely but felt they could have done better with the sailing. There was only one person that couldn’t have done better with his sailing and that was Craig Richards. Over the 22 races he counted nothing higher than a seventh place finish and he had six wins over the course of the week, a true champions race and ever so well deserved.

Tush finished second but was 19 points adrift, Feldman was a distant third with 102 points.

So, lets focus a bit on the social side of things, Sunday was a free night and after a tough day’s racing it was well taken and a quiet evening was had. Monday saw a Fleetood fish and chip night at the club with one of Derek’s famous quizzes, followed by a trip to The Mount pub.

Tuesday and Wednesday I dipped out of due to some family commitments I had to take care of, however, Wednesday was a lay day from the racing so many people went off and did many things, some ended up in Blackpool, some in the Lakes, some went and played golf whilst Mike Weston saw the beach at Fleetwood for the first time and then promptly fell over!

Thursday evening saw some of us eat at the Trafalgar fish restaurant, always a treat and the food was sublime.

Finally, Friday, and if you were still strapped in this was the big one. I started early after the racing and managed a fine session whilst enjoying the closing ceremony for the event at The North Euston Hotel. Speeches were made, thanks were offered and Craig was presented with his Championship trophy.

Over the course of the ten days we spent at Fleetwood I think we all made new friends and cemented friendships made at previous events. The racing was fair, the competition was tough, the attitude of all the competitors was amicable and fair. There were protests, of course there were, but they were handled quickly and fairly by Gordon and it was rare that they held up the racing.

So, now we need to thank some people, well, quite a few people really. Firstly to everyone involved, competitors, organisers, race team, club members and galley crew I’d like to offer my heartfelt thanks for an absolutely fantastically epic week. For you all to give up your time to come and help or race in such great numbers is really rather a cool thing. Right, that’s covered everyone so if I forget anyone please refer to the above!

Derek Priestley, David Rose and the Fleetwood MYPBC. Without your initial interest in running this event 18 months ago we’d be a poorer class right now. Your desire to run this event and run it so well is a credit to you and your club. The fact you have one of the best and most historic venues in the world just made it better!

Peter, Judith, Damian, Gordon and everyone else in the race team. Your dedication to getting us the best racing we could possibly have and the most number of races with the least amount of faff is amazing. Here in the UK we are lucky to have Peter and Judith offering their race team services on a regular basis, but for Peter to offer his time when he really should have raced is testament to his dedication. Thank you.

Galley crew, we couldn’t eat and drink without you, from a bacon butty first thing to a bit of cherry pie as a mid afternoon pick me up, you had it all. Maureen and Elaine as the backbone of the crew with daily helpers kept the fleet marching on.

Peter Isles – Boatman extraordinaire. Keeping the course right, rescuing boats and resetting marks, a whole week of being in that rescue boat is no mean feat, thank you.

Eric and the facilities team, there before you got out of bed to put up flags, there after you’d left to take them down and everything else you guys did to make the event colourful and fun, thank you.

Skippers, without you lot it wouldn’t have been much of an event. You travelled from all corners of the globe to Fleetwood so that we could have a bit of a yacht race, wow, thank you so much for making the commitment to take part.

If I have forgotten to thank anyone I apologise.

So, in closing, we had some yacht racing, Craig won it, we all had lots of fun but many of us could have done better.

DF65’s next year in Sweden if you fancy it…….

Timmy out x

Pictures and many more words than I’ve written on the DF95 globals 2023 facebook page.