GP14 Southern Travellers Victor Trophy at Welsh Harp Sailing Club

GP14 Victor Trophy at Welsh Harp © Luke Howard

GP14 Victor Trophy at Welsh Harp © Luke Howard

Twenty boats contested the 2016 Victor trophy, 16 locals and 4 travellers. After a season of racing on ponds, rivers, tidal estuaries, and the gentle tidal waters of Poole harbour, the Travellers series would be settled with some inland sailing at the Welsh Harp. The stagnant atmospheric conditions of recent weeks had been pushed away by a chill, gentle Northerly breeze.

Difficult conditions for the OOD, Brian Jeffries. With the breeze across the length of the lake the fleet were set 3 short beats, two short reaches and a long reach back up the water to complete the course.

First to the windward mark in race one were Steve Cooper and Chris Lomax, their lead was maintained across the first reach and onto the short beat towards the North shore and mark no 3. In the lea of the trees a seagull perched on top of the orange buoy, considering its refection in the still water. The successful strategy! Go wide, and keep well away from the lead boat now marooned just shy of the three-boat length zone. The series contenders all sailed past. Richard Ham and Steve Browne continued to make good choices recovering from a poor start to win race one.

The short beats provided overtaking opportunities throughout the afternoon. Gains could also be made on the long reach up to the clubhouse. Attempts to protect one's wind took boats towards the trees and, for the leaders, into the oncoming fleet. Again, pursuing boats would benefit taking the opportunity to sail a lower course in clearer wind.

Richard Lord and Hannah Rose took the second race passing Cooper and Lomax on one of the tight reaches, when trimming two sails well was faster than struggling with the spinnaker.

The close competition in race three was for 2nd and 3rd. Winners Frank Pearce and Sophie Blanchard found a nice gap on the start line and starting with speed sailed over the boats stacked up to leeward. Finding good wind on the left-hand side of the beat they rounded the windward mark in first place with a lead they extended throughout the race.

Significantly for the overall result R.Ham and Steve Browne overhauled R.Lord and Hannah Rose on the final beat to grab a third which would give them the Victor trophy and the Travellers series.

The final beat of the final race! We look forward to next year!

Congratulations to all the prize winners and a big thankyou to all the volunteers at the Welsh Harp Sailing club for an excellent event.

Overall Results: