Hansa TT at Oxford Sailing Club

Lindsay Burns wins the 2.3 class in the Hansa TT at Oxford © Richard Johnson

Andy Sheath and Kate Lintott win the 303 2-up class in the Hansa TT at Oxford © Richard Johnson

This was the final event and prize-giving for the 2016 Hansa National TT Series, the Hansa Southern TT Series and the Northern Hansa TT Series.

A warm day and blue sky encouraged everyone to try and master the strong (18+ knots), very gusty (25-30 knots) winds at the last Hansa event of 2016. Difficulty using hoists to board the boats caused a half hour delay and the first start was a bit chaotic because the 2.3s were overpowered and only one out of 3 - Lindsey Burns - started. Violent gusts caused many broaches and wipe-outs but good tactics, as fleets split up the beats, paid off.

The 303s were struggling but everyone reached the finish and the Liberties coped best, despite showing their keels in the gusts, with Paul Phillips looking fastest. To be safe, the 2.3s and 303s were sent ashore, leaving just six Liberties for the second race, which was dominated by Monique Foster, going flat out up the beat with sails perfectly set and coping easily with the conditions.

After a good lunch the course was moved nearer to the East wall where there was more shelter and the wind was less gusty. It was still too windy for most 2.3 sailors but 303s and Liberties had two good races under sunny blue skies and enough wind to make them fly.

Leslie Phillips from Tideway looked particularly comfortable, dealing well with wind shifts near the wall and winning both 303 single races. Martin Hadley and Steve Kitson from New Forest kept their 303 driving for a 1, 2 score but Andy Sheath and Kate Lintott, with a 2, 1, plus their morning win, survived some spectacular gybes and secured first overall.

All competitors had been tested to the limit by the conditions despite short races, which helped the programme to finish on time, followed by a huge end of season prize giving (40 trophies!) for three Traveller Series.

Paul Phillips wins the Liberty class in the Hansa TT at Oxford - photo © Richard Johnson

Overall Results: (top three)