Hansa National TT Series at Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club
by Jon Blankley 17 Aug 2019 22:09 BST
14 August 2019
The Hansa Class headed for the first time to Oulton Broad in North Suffolk, its most easterly event in the UK Series, organised by Waveney Sailability. The forecast wasn't overly promising with rain and increasing winds, but 15 boats took to the water. However the first race postponement had nothing to do with the weather as the police had closed the broad due to a search being carried out. After half an hour the broad was partially reopened, the course was reset and racing commenced with the added challenge of a low flying helicopter overhead.
The fleets were split into two starts with the 2.3 starting with the Libertys and the 303 one person and 303 two person classes starting together.
Lindsay Burns in the Hansa 2.3 class did a great job keeping relatively close to the Libertys despite some challenging downwind legs in breezy conditions, and sailed well to take the top prize.
The Liberty class fleet had some very close competitive racing with Chris Atkin and Tessa Watkiss sharing two firsts each. Paul Pearson was also well involved with two second places. Tessa's gear problems in the first race resulted in a return to the pontoon and a resultant dropped score. It all came down to the last race and a win for Chris meant that he tied Tessa's points and counting scores to win overall on the last race result.
The Hansa 303 two person class included Poppy Price-Dowhan and Alan Cone competing against Andy Sheath and Kate Lintott from Frensham. Although Poppy and Alan took a clean sweep of the races they were challenged all the way by Andy and Kate with a number of place changes during the 4 races, but in the end local knowledge triumphed with the Waveney sailors taking the top spot ahead the visitors from Frensham.
With the Hansa 303 one person class comprising the largest fleet of nine boats the races were competitive from start to finish throughout the fleet. James Woosnam showed his class to take the first three race wins and with the weather deteriorating wisely sat out the last race. Only 2 points separated the next two and with a win in the last race Tony Barkes consolidated second overall. Vic Pennell sailed a very consistent series, never out of the top three to take third. Dennis Hartman took a well earned forth whilst fifth to seventh finished on equal points and were split only by low scores and final race result.
Having dried off and with tea and cakes to hand, the prizes were presented by Matt from Smith and Pinching who sponsored the event and whose continued support Waveney Sailability much appreciates. For four of the Waveney Sailability sailors it was their first experience of a Traveller event and one that they would very much like to repeat.
Hansa 2.3 Class Results:
1st Lindsay Burns Frensham
Hansa Liberty Class Results:
1st Chris Atkins - Hanningfield
2nd Tessa Watkiss - Frensham
3rd Paul Pearson - Rutland
Hansa 303 one person Class Results:
1st James Woosnam - Frensham
2nd Tony Barkes - Waveney
3rd Vic Pennell - Waveney
4th Dennis Hantman - Frensham
5th Debra Attwell - Waveney
6th Bob Waters - Waveney
7th Owen Boar - Waveney
8th Steve Sims - Waveney
9th Jim Smith - Waveney
Hansa 303 two person Class Results:
1st Poppy Price and Alan Cone - Waveney
2nd Andy Sheath and Kate Lintott - Frensham