Contender Traveller Series Round 4 at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club
by Martin Jones 5 Jun 2016 19:02 BST
28-29 May 2016
Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club hosted round 4 of the Contender Traveller Series on 28th and 29th May. A moderate off shore breeze and an exciting big swell greeted the 13 Contenders.
Race 1 started cleanly under a ripping tide, Carl, Mike and Richard found good boat speed using the tide to great advantage to secure there positions. Race 2 and the breeze increase saw Carl demonstrate superior sailing taking line honours. Nick retired from the race to change sails, Mike was 2nd and Richard 3rd.
Race 3 was started in an increasing swell and building wind. The Nob/Tag partnership battle continued around the course with Nick coming out on top this time to break Carl's winning streak!
Sunday greeted the fleet with calmer waters and a northerly force 4 with plenty of sunny skies. Race 4 and the boats that banged right came out best at the windward mark, Nick using his wavelength sail again came out trumps with Carl 2nd and Mike 3rd.
Race 5 and the rate of attrition due to the building breeze was starting to tell by this point. There were only 6 boats left. The fleet had some very close battles with Carl, Mike and Nick finishing less than 10 seconds apart. Race 6 and the fleet except Martin Jones and Pete Noble decided to go right, at the windward mark Martin took a comfortable lead but was pipped at the line by Carl.
Huge thanks to the Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club for their race management and their friendly hospitality and the beach recovery team!
Carl Tagoe, Mike Murley and Nick Noble now have equal points in the Travellers Series so exciting times for Restronguet which is up next on 18th and 19th June.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 2607 | Carl Tagoe | Oxford SC | 1 | 1 | ‑2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2nd | 2619 | Mike Murley | Weston SC | 2 | 2 | ‑5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 13 |
| 3rd | 2618 | Nick Noble | Portishead Y&SC | 6 | (DNC) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| 4th | 2347 | Martin Jones | Wilsonian Sailing Club | ‑8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 22 |
| 5th | 691 | Peter Noble | Broadstairs | 5 | 4 | 3 | ‑6 | 6 | 6 | 24 |
| 6th | 2505 | Peter Dives | ESSC | ‑7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 28 |
| 7th | 716 | Richard Franks | Weston SC | 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | (DNC) | DNC | 35 |
| 8th | 678 | Tom Hooton | RYA | 4 | 8 | 8 | 5 | (DNC) | DNC | 39 |
| 9th | 666 | William Hooton | Burton SC | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | (DNC) | DNC | 53 |
| 10th | 2522 | Chris Boshier | Thorpe Bay Yacht Club | 9 | 6 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 57 |
| 11th | 398 | Rodger White | King George SC | 11 | 9 | (DNF) | 10 | DNC | DNC | 58 |
| 12th | 704 | Colin Gates | ESSC | 10 | 11 | (DNF) | RET | DNC | DNC | 63 |
| 13th | 2509 | Tony Cook | Downs SC | 13 | (DNF) | DNC | RET | DNC | DNC | 69 |