Tag Archives: datchet radio sailing

Lipo and Life Batteries – So What’s That About …?!

If you’re just coming in to radio sailing, it’ll be about two hours before somebody mentions LiFe and LiPo batteries to you in the cafe! Baffling.

Well, there is a bit of a debate to say the least.

https://www.large.net/news/8eu43mr.html

This link above is quite a good description of what is at hand. I am still trying to nett it out, but I think it comes down to:-

  • LiPo batteries are a fire risk (gulp), but perform better apparently
  • LiFe batteries weigh a touch more for equivalent power/life/durability
  • RW says that LiPo can deliver different winch power on a surge.

My new IOM arrived with LiPo’s. They are definitely of the 2-cell variety. I notice also they come with a fire proof pouch!!

So I thought,…. use LiFe in the IOM and work within permitted minimum weights… but in the Marblehead use LiPo’s as we are mad about weight saving as there is no minimum weight rule.

Then I thought I would pop them on the scales and find out…..

The red battery is LiPo and the blue is LiFe… 92gms and 49.6gms respectively….NOT what I expected! There is obviously a physical size difference to consider when you buy!! By the way, I find you need a different charger (or a sophisticated universal charger) for LiFe batteries.

Race Report – Weekend of 23/24 September !

Results from the weekend… we had Tens on Saturday and IOMs on Sunday.


On Saturday we had 5 Tens for the first time in ages with a surprise appearance of Nic with his Diamond.  

Results were;
Phil 7 pts
Richard U 11 pts
Graham 18 pts
Nic. 21 pts. Winch failure after 6 races
Hugh 31 pts Servo failure after one race.
It was sailed mostly with top rig, except Richard who broke a shroud rigging, so sailed with his second rig.

We had several notable absentees who were away at the RG65s….so Sunday saw 6 IOMs sail 10 races in no 2 rig.  Richard J kindly acted as race officer for the day.  His new IOM has arrived but no rigs as of Sunday.  We were also joined by James Hadden from Gosport who wanted some practice before the Europeans in October.

Results were;
Nigel 10 pts
Hugh 15 pts
James 20 pts (Guest)
Peter. 26 pts finished with a broken Forestay🫤
David 28 pts left on domestic duties after 6 races
Les 42 pts.

I shall also take the opportunity to congratulate those after the RG65s at West Kirby. Good result!

The IOM Europeans in Spain are in a couple of weeks time. Nigel will be attending.

Also the very good news that Richard Jones has joined the Committee to front up publicity.  Watch this space😁

Marblehead UK Nationals 2023 – Really Nice Footage Showing the Boat Well …!!

The Datchet Team did very well indeed at the Nationals in Keighley, not only from the excellent results all round, but also for the strong representation within the total number of competitors.

Great video here, which shows the boat well in a breeze!