Hansa Travellers' Trophy 2018 at New Forest Sailability
by Malcolm Bentley 20 Jun 2018 11:50 BST
13 June 2018
Hansa TT at New Forest Sailability © Chris Wales
The fifth Hansa National TT series event was held by New Forest Sailability at Spinnaker Sailing Club in Hampshire on Wednesday 13th June 2018.
The format followed that established by the Hansa Class of two back to back races in the morning and a further two in the afternoon.
It was a beautiful day for sailing with warm, pleasant and generally sunny weather and a decent southerly breeze that built from light before the racing started, through to fresh and approached being quite strong. But little or no reefing was required although a few competitors will have taken a bit of water over the side.
Entry levels were excellent at 26 boats, close to the level seen at the Nationals in 2017 and all fleets had good numbers offering plenty of competition, with the 2.3s and 1 person 303s seeing seven and five entries respectively compared to only three at the Nationals.
The Libertys started first as usual and were probably the most closely competitive fleet amongst the 5 entries. This is a well-established fleet that regularly compete against each other and the top four sailors to date this season had each won a TT coming into this event. This continued at New Forest with the fleet generally being very close around the course. After the two morning races Paul Phillips, David Durston and Tessa Watkiss were tied in first place with 5 points, leaving it all to be decided in the afternoon. In the event, Paul achieved a 2nd and 1stmoving him into a strong win with a 3 point margin after discarding a 4th from the morning.
The combined one person and two person 303 fleet on one start was a substantial 14 boats on the start line and to their credit they got away all clear in all four races.
The one person 303 fleet was a Frensham affair apart from Jessica Campbell, who not only had travelled keenly down from Scotland but also held Frensham to account. The five competitors were also the top 5 in the TT National result to date before this event and, similarly to the Libertys, the top three have all won earlier events. On this day, James Woosnam proved supreme, winning the first three races and having the luxury of an earlier cup of tea by being able to not compete in the fourth race. Jessica was close behind him with a 1st and two 2nd to count, followed by Mike Everitt, who would have won the fast and furious bailing award had one existed.
The two person 303s were as usual the biggest fleet with nine entries, entirely from Frensham and New Forest and we did not see the regular Chesil competitors. This is a fleet more characterised by occasional competitors taking advantage of local events and it is great to see people getting the experience of racing in a bigger and more competitive fleet. So far only four competitors have entered more than one event so discards may be all important.
The top team in the National TT to date, helm Natalia Hillman with her father Alan, consolidated their position winning all four races in convincing style. Steve Kitson sailing with Jane Knight, previously standing second equal with Philip Hall from Chesil, achieved a second just one point ahead of New Forest teammates Angela Cosford and Sue Cobb. Peter and Peta Etherton were only a further one point behind in fourth.
The 2.3s, with the very welcome larger fleet as mentioned, went off last and in several races were at risk of the added excitement of having the Libertys coming up to windward completing their first lap as the 2.3s started, but no undue incidents occurred. Lindsay Burns, in characteristic style, dominated and won the first three races and was thus able to join James Woosnam for an early cup of tea, foregoing the final, fourth race. There was close competition for 2nd and 3rd places throughout the day particularly between Rory Morrison and Gregor Parker with Rory ultimately achieving 2nd place one point ahead of Gregor. In the series to date before this event the top of the score board was very close with Alistair Carr and Lindsay Burns tied with 14 points and Harry Kennington with 16. Each has two DNCs and the discards and/or attendance at events may prove crucial.
Overall Results: (top three in each class)
Hansa 2.3
1st Lindsay Burns (Frensham)
2nd Rory Morrison (New Forest)
3rd Gregor Parker (Frensham)
Hansa 303 one-person
1st James Woosnam (Frensham)
2nd Jessica Campbell (Southwest Scotland)
3rd Mike Everitt (Frensham)
Hansa 303 two-person
1st Natalia Hillman & Alan Hillman (New Forest)
2nd Steve Kitson & Jane Knight (New Forest)
3rd Angela Cosford & Sue Cobb (New Forest)
Liberty
1st Paul Phillips (Frensham)
2nd David Durston (Whitefriars)
3rd Tessa Watkiss (Frensham)
The discretionary New Forest Chairman's Trophy was award to Danielle for outstanding commitment in leaping into the lake and wading out to push a grounded competitor off the shallows.