Rooster South East Topper Travellers at Broadstairs Sailing Club
by Dave Ellis 8 Jun 2018 06:12 BST
3 June 2018
The Topper South East Traveller attracted only eleven sailors to try their skills on the tidal waters off the Kent Coast. The forecast was not the best with very light winds and this was what they found.
Racing was delayed until there was a consistent 5 knots blowing from the north. The Committee Boat was anchored off the main bay and a trapezoid course was set. The sailors came out from the beach into a south running 1.5kt tide which immediately showed that they would not make way to windward. The start was postponed and the Committee Boat moved to within 100m of the beach.
A small course was set and at the start boats struggled again to make the line. Another postponement and an increase in the start line lead to a restart. The wind was now averaging 8 knots and the fleet made its way inshore then out to the windward mark. There seemed to be a constant commentary coming from the sailors as they talked to each other making their way upwind. The windward mark was made with Bjorn Handley leading the fleet around the course and the downwind down-tide leg in swift order. Lap 2 followed in much the same way as the route inshore out of the tide was best and Bjorn had pulled out a 2 leg lead as he went downwind. This was soon eaten up as he turned to beat against the tide. The race was shortened to 2 laps and as they worked the beat to finish Cameron Sword, Miles Vidler and Harry Newton battled for the other podium places.
Boats made their way in to the shore for lunch. As the last hit the beach so a thick mist enveloped the area reducing the visibility to less than 30 metres. This stayed for the rest of the day and at 2.30pm racing was abandoned, a wise move as the fog stayed until after sailors were packed and on their way home.
A hard day of trying to make headway against the tide, but as with all Topper sailors, fun was had on the beach and splashing in the sea.
A big thank you to all the volunteers, Broadstairs Sailing Club and to Rooster for supporting the Traveller series.
Overall Results:
1st: Bjorn Handley
2nd: Cameron Sword
3rd: Miles Vidler
1st Girl: Maddie Childs
Home club prize: Lee Windridge
Non squad prize: Oliver Hickling