Hansa Traveller Series at New Forest & District Sailability

Hansa 303s on the beat during the New Forest and District Sailability Hansa TT © Ron Sawford

Tom Harper winner of the Liberty Class at the New Forest and District Sailability Hansa TT © Ron Sawford

Close racing in the Hansa 2.3 Class during the New Forest and District Sailability Hansa TT © Ron Sawford

On 11th June, New Forest & District Sailability, at Spinnaker Club, Ringwood, hosted their annual Hansa TT event for the Southern Region. The weather forecast was very light winds and on arrival the lake was flat and calm, making people wonder if sailing would take place at all; but it was warm and sunny for a change.

Teams from Frensham, Tideway, Swarkestone, Whitefriars and Chesil joined the New Forest locals giving more than 20 entrants in the four classes. There was the usual frantic but organised unloading and launching of boats with the help of the efficient volunteers, who were also ensuring accurate registration, bacon butties, coffees and teas, safety boat cover and the all-important course setting and race management.

Race Officer Mike Robinson briefed the competitors, having set an essentially windward, leeward course with an offset mark giving a slight triangle. The leeward end was a gate lending a degree of variation and a tactical question for the competitors.

As if on cue the wind became strong enough to have a decent race. The pontoon volunteers led by Jonathan soon had all the sailors on the water ready for the start. The Hansa Libertys started first followed by both single handed and double Hansa 303's together then the Hansa 2.3s at five minute intervals.

There was close and excellent racing in all classes throughout the day, with four races for each class. The starts were crucial as usual and made more demanding by the starboard tack and race hut end being the shore side. It also shallows causing a couple of boats to go aground, admittedly inside the inner distance marker.

The lake at Spinnaker is notorious for shifting winds and this really made itself evident at the windward mark. Many boats didn't lay the mark and attempts to pinch past or shoot the mark caused entertaining congestion and no doubt a good testing of the rules. However, showing the sporting spirit of Hansa TT racing, no protests came forward. Positions changed frequently, particularly in the Libertys and single 303s: For the Libertys it appeared to be the upwind legs that made the most difference, although the choice of rounding mark at the leeward gate was significant in at least one race. With the bigger 303 fleet, the downwind legs were equally competitive, with bunches of boats developing giving plenty of scope for pinching wind, positioning on approach to the leeward gate for water and, again, choice of end at the gate.

In the first Liberty race Ric Cassell led from start to finish putting down a strong challenge to the others. However, Tom Harper won the next 3 races and Vince Barton achieved a consistent three second places. David Durston, the winner at New Forest last year, was not on his usual form, although did also have a technical problem.

The Frensham team dominated the single 303 class, taking the top 6 places except for Martin "Hurricane" Hadley valiantly splitting them in 5th place. Tessa Watkins and Paul Phillips were 1st and 2nd respectively with just one point between them.

The double 303 trophy was won by newcomer from Chesil (a new sailability centre) Dick Foyle, crewed by Bob Webb, also winning by just one point.

Lindsay Burns took the 2.3 class, being supreme enough to forego the fourth race having secured three firsts, despite the late entrance of a couple of experienced sailors against her.

Grateful thanks go to all the volunteers, who always make it a very enjoyable day for all. The prizes were presented by Eric Blyth, President, and Malcolm Bentley, Chairman, of NFDS, who were delighted to give Tom and Vince from NFDS the Liberty 1st and 2nd trophies.

Overall Results: