ITCA East Area Traveller Series event 6 at Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

Rose at ITCA East Area Traveller Series event 6 at Snettisham Beach © Peter Hutchinson

Race 16 at ITCA East Area Traveller Series event 6 at Snettisham Beach © Peter Hutchinson

Matt at ITCA East Area Traveller Series event 6 at Snettisham Beach © Peter Hutchinson

Snettisham Beach Sailing Club welcomed a 29-strong entry to the sixth of the seven events scheduled to the ITCA East Area Traveller Series. As with the preceding East area events, Snettisham enjoying a significant increase in competitor entries over the past year.

An early afternoon start time took most advantage of the warming central UK landmass providing the predicted Northerly seabreeze, delivering strengthening conditions from a 7knt flat water race track to a 15knt white-topped chop over the course of the 4 race series. This setting the scene for a classic battle between the lighter early race leaders to the later older members of this youthful field.

The entry consisted of a very healthy, extremely encouraging mix of experience RYA / ITCA youth squad members and a small number of sailors new to the scene, all relishing the challenging conditions presented.

Race 1 started bang on time, with the fleet getting away first time for the lighter NNW 7 knt wind opening heat. Tim Evans (Grafham Water) opening-up a commanding early lead to take the gun followed by Sean Woodard (Walderingfield), Tom Thwaites (Royal Norfolk & Suffolk) a close third.

Race 2 saw line honours going to Sean Woodard, closely followed by Tim Evans and Lloyd Taylor (Blackwater), Tom Thwaites holding on to his prospects with a fourth place finish.

Race 3, first start General recall after the strengthening Sea breeze saw the wind veer to NNE negating any port bias to the line. The second attempt saw the now 26-strong fleet off the line. The stiffening conditions starting to play a part in a changing front marker field. However, Sean Woodard held his position scoring his 2nd ace of the series, followed by Thomas Alston (Norfolk Broads YC) second and Lloyd Taylor third with Mathew Lloyd (Snettisham Beach Sailing Club) taking fourth position.

Race 4, clear evidence that the classic white-topped conditions were starting to take its toll on a number of the racers in this four heat back-to-back series as they battled the surf. Race Officer Howard Hawkes and his team reversed an intention to add an additional lap to the Trapezoid course. Of the 18-strong starters, the more experienced Aimee Taylor (Blackwater) took and held onto an early lead, calmly taking line honours followed by her brother Lloyd Taylor, Sean Woodard third with Thomas Alston taking fourth place.

With a Net 4 point score sheet, Sean Woodard (Current 4.2 World Champion) secured his second event win of the ITCA East Serise, joined on the podium by Tim Evans in second and Lloyd Taylor third overall.

Aimee Taylor received the First Girl trophy, closely followed by Rose Edmonds (Snettisham Beach Sailing Club) with Ciara Woodard (Walderingfield) taking a sound third place.

Eva at ITCA East Area Traveller Series event 6 at Snettisham Beach - photo © Peter Hutchinson

Tom Thwaites continues to hold a commanding lead overall in the ITCA East area series going into the last races scheduled for Norfolk Broads Yacht Club in September.

The skills and particularly start line performances left the SBSC Race Committee with high hopes for this youthful team of Sailors who travelled from all over the eastern region and beyond for a great weekends competition in classic sailing conditions.

Overall Results:

Amelia at ITCA East Area Traveller Series event 6 at Snettisham Beach - photo © Peter Hutchinson