Contender Travellers at Bough Beech Sailing Club

Saturday 8th March brought by default the first 2014 Traveller Trophy event, hosted by Bough Beech SC deep in the weald of Kent. Dawn broke to a glorious spring morning and the mandatory Welshman asleep on the doorstep.

After coffee & bacon sarnies local Contenderer Jon Hill gave his consice briefing, Jon being off sailing due to mainsheet elbow was available to assist Rob Howell as race officer.

Race 1

Good wiring breeze for all with typically inland breeze into the mid-teens, glorious sunshine, slightly port end line and an unconventional right handed P course.

Clean start for those that got there on time. Big Tony Cook still bolting his 'out of the box Karsten Kraus with ever so sexy arrow glass outer skin' together as he rounded the pin and gave chase.

On the race track it was tight with plenty of opportunities for snakes and ladders. Martin Frary obviously in a rush to catch the postman rounding 1st with Chris(my other boat is in the container) Boshier close behind and local knowledge guru Brian Whitmey 3rd. New to the fleet Simon Turnbull from Neyland YC in Pembrokeshire now fully awake and showing good speed, Jerry Hone pausing at mark 4 to wash the Lancing salt off his sail. Local new Contenderer Guy Marks fell in on the reach and Tim Humphries Pevensey courteously dipping his mast on the gybe. Meanwhile at the leeward end of the course Big Tony's mainsheet knot undid with instant effect. Southern Water later reported a surge in pressure at the treatment works.

A cat & mouse games ensued in the front 5, in the end it was Frary, Boshier & Whitmey then Dives & Humphries 1st & 2nd losers.

Race 2

Similar breeze with a tad more west saw both ends popular, pin end group behaving impeccably but at the boat end Frary and Boshier were pensioner bashing, Dives had an episode and forgot where he was, which happened to be in front of the line.

The beat was tricky business again with Humphries noisily rounding 1st then Frary & Hone. Frary looking very fidgety in his boat downwind quickly assuming his normal position. Boshier picked his way through to take 2nd and Humphries managed a 3rd, Whitmey & Hone 4th & 5th.

Short intermission to enjoy the benefits of a robust, all inclusive lunch and much chat.

Race 3

Fleet arrived on station in the nick of time after wetting the gelcoat on Tony's new K&K.

Clean start on slight port biased line. Breeze now going south putting the windward mark in 'shifty corner'. Right looked good for some with Marks in a strong position, all he had to do was tack in less than 20 lengths, tack he did and rounded 2nd behind Whitmey. Once on the run a quick sprinkle of Frary dust and normal service was resumed at the front with Boshier pushing.

By lap 2 the fleet was noticeably split in 2, finishing Frary, Boshier, Humphries & Dives followed later by Whitmey et al.

Race 4

Wind now more southerly and obviously pin end tempting a Boshier & Frary flyer ducking Humphries wriggling over the pin, seconds later Marks & Hone were discussing rule 10 while leaning on the pin. At the 1st rounding it was Frary, Boshier, Humphries with Whitmey close enough to go low on the top reach and drop into 3rd. 2nd beat saw Humphries lifted nicely into 2nd for most of the race, however Silver Surfer Dives oozing past on the last run left Humphries flustered by the indignity thus rounded badly giving 3rd to Boshier, cruelly pushing Humphries into the journalism spot. Frary was unstoppable again, Dives took 2nd, Boshier 3rd.

Overall Results:

1 Martin Frary (Weston)
2 Chris Boshier (Thorpe Bay)
3 Pete Dives (Eastbourne)
4 Tim Humphries (Pevensey Bay)
5 Brian Whitmey (Bough Beech)
6 Jerry Hone (Lancing)
7 Simon Turnbull (Neyland)
8 Tony Cook (Downs)
9 Guy Marks (Bough Beech)

Furthest travelled: Simon Turnbull, by miles & miles.

Thanks to Bough Beech for what was a thoroughly pleasant day's inland sailing. Next event, Oxford 12th April.