2010 Mirror Southern Travellers Series

Autumn open meeting at Warsash © Eddie Mays

Autumn open meeting at Warsash © Eddie Mays

Autumn open meeting at Warsash © Eddie Mays

The final meeting of this popular series was held at Warsash SC on the 23/24 Oct with two very contrasting days weather. Saturday's racing was abandoned because of extreme conditions but Sunday produced a perfect day with 12 boats competing in cold Autumn sunshine and good winds. The report of that meeting is available elsewhere. The other races in the series were at Bosham SC 12 June - 14 boats; Chichester YC 13 June - 13 boats; Poole YC 3 & 4 July - 13 boats; Itchenor SC 5 & 6 Sept - 37 boats; Hill Head SC 10 Oct - 14 boats. This represents a good and consistent turnout with the travelling sailors giving the home club sailors the chance to enjoy larger fleets and stiffer competition thereby encourage more interest in developing Mirror racing in those clubs.

Fifty boats took part altogether, representing some 13 clubs, and all the events were blessed with excellent weather. It is particularly encouraging to see Mirror sailors racing together as juniors, parent/child and singlehander combinations - this is one of the appealing characteristics of the class which allows a wide range of experience and ability to come together and lets current and prospective squad sailors test their metal against some top talent.

Year 2010 saw the top prizes go to Nigel and Rob Thomas from Weston SC who took the overall prize and first parent/child combination. Second and third overall were the Watkins sisters Rosie and Anna from Poole YC each sailing with a younger sibling, Madeline and Harriet respectively. Clearly the Watkins family has something special in producing such talented sailing girls in the junior category. Fourth overall and best improver was Kim May-Papailiou, also from Poole where the large Mirror fleet is going from strength to strength thanks to their excellent training programme.

We are very grateful for the generous contribution to prizes from Optimum Time, Musto and Spinlock for augmenting the cup and shield trophies presented at then end-of-series prizegiving. Such quality prizes make the series attractive reasons for competing and are a recognition of the contribution the Mirror makes to bringing on really good junior sailors into the squad system. and as the seedcorn for growing into competitive adult classes. Thank you to all the numerous prize donors from the marine trade over the past eight years who have been great supporters.

Finally, as the originator of the Southern Traveller event in 2002, it is time to hand over to a new organiser and I am glad to say that Alastair Watkins (Poole) is taking on the mantle for 2011 with help from others. I hope all participating clubs' class captains will continue to give him the splendid support you have given me and that the 2011 sries is even better. I look forward to watching this series progress and the young sailors develop through their activities in the Mirror.

Overall Results: