Hansa Class Travellers' Trophy Round 3 at Spinnaker Club

Hansa TT at Spinnaker Club in the New Forest © Robbie Forester-Addie

Hansa TT at Spinnaker Club in the New Forest © Robbie Forester-Addie

Hansa TT at Spinnaker Club in the New Forest © Robbie Forester-Addie

My first TT

The day started early with light winds and sunny skies – a relief after the high winds and heavy rain of the day before. By 8.30 am a team of volunteers had already rigged boats, cleaned and relocated pontoons and started directing vehicles to the relevant car parks.

Breakfast was available and the club house and the bacon butties, washed down with cups of hot tea or coffee were a great success. People were encouraged to order lunch in advance so their food could be ready when they came off the water.

The registration desk was busy with racers completing their entry forms for the four races of the day. Visiting racers came from Frensham, Tideway, Chesil, Chew Valley and Whitefriars. All were advised to make sure that their boats were ready to sail before attending the Welcome and Race Briefing held outside the club house at 10.15. With Rowena at the shore end of the main pontoon and Jonathan at the water end, 2 hoists and 3 volunteers per hoist, racers were quickly on the water.

A figure of 8 course was set for the two morning races with the start line at the north end of the lake. Wind was very light and changeable so it was quite testing. With a fleet of 5 Liberty dinghies first, 9 x 303 2-person boats, 3 x 303 1-person boats and 3 of the 2.3s (last as usual) a good turnout resulted in an enjoyable morning of racing, enlivened by the constant wind shifts.

By the afternoon the wind had increased with moderate gusts and more wind shifts. The sun continued to shine between the clouds. The afternoon course for the two races was set up with the start line again at the northern end of the lake and a long beat up to the windward mark at the southern end. Then came a run or broad reach to go through the gate, rounding one or the other of the marker buoys, before returning through the start line. The racing was much more exciting with the stronger wind and very challenging when powerful gusts hit!

Racers and volunteers returned to a lavish tea in Spinnaker Club's new, sparking club house, followed by the prize giving when Eric Blyth, our President, officiated.

Overall Results: (top three)

Hansa 2.3
1. Rory Morrison (NFDS)
2. Lindsay Burns (Frensham)
3. Lara Sturgis (Frensham)

Hansa 303-one person
1. Tessa Watkiss (Frensham)
2. Alison Grant (Frensham)
3. Leslie Phillip (Tideway-London)

Hansa 303-two person
1. Tim Scarisbrick and Anya de Iongh (Frensham)
2. Ian Clements and Tom Hole (Chew Valley)
3. Andy Sheath and Kate Lintott (Frensham)

Liberty
1. Melvin Kinear (Tideway-London)
2. Paul Philips (Frensham)
3. David Durston (Whitefriars)