Please select your home edition
Edition
CoastWaterSports 2014

South West ITCA Traveller at Castle Cove Sailing Club

by Jake Davies 13 May 07:20 BST
Team SW RTG in the South West ITCA Traveller at Castle Cove © James Mills

Weybiza was at its best, sunny with around 10kts of breeze. 23 sailors were signed up to race in the 4th South West traveller of the year, hosted at Castle Cove Sailing club, there was a good fleet of 16x 5.3 sailors and 7x 4.2 sailors.

Ethan and I, the Rooster Riders, were infiltrators from the South region for the day, encouraged to race at a new venue, where we could launch straight into Portland harbour, the club has an expansive deck looking out across the waters for the spectating parents, although you'd have needed to remember to bring your "torture tubes" to watch the racing.

The Race officer briefed us and launched us through the moorings out to join the 49ers, ILCA's and a few Waszps that were already zipping around.

The conditions were slightly improved from the forecasted 8kts, for the first 2 races we joined the club racing for 3 laps around a windward leeward with a gate at the bottom, the locals then sailed home for a fantastic homemade carrot cake.

During race 1 those who managed to get off the line into clean air quickly took the lead, throughout the race Team Allen sailors Thomas and Harry were neck and neck for the first race win with Thomas just braking away and taking the first race win. My highlight of race 1, was Holly taking a spectacular early death role, she did well to recover to 4th by the finish, rumours suggest Holly was checking out her new SailingFast stickers on the side of the boat at the time of the swim.

The 4.2 fleet consisted of 5 sailors from Parkstone and 2 from Bristol Corinthian, Finley and Brooke must have felt outnumbered, but it was Finley who took the first race win ahead of Sacha and Emelia from Parkstone.

For race 2 the breeze had built, the weather tracking suggests to around 14kts, allowing for our downhauls to be engaged and for the lighter sailors to start hiking. Harry getting a near perfect start from the committee boat end, lead from start line to finish, extending downwind, sailing by the lee with a good downwind angle. Harry and Thomas finished ahead of myself at the finish.

In the 4.2 fleet, it was Parkstone's Sacha who took the bullet, from the 2 Bristol sailors, Finley ahead of Brooke. Hattie had her best result of the day finishing a commendable 4th.

Race 3 started with an even line allowing the previous bunching at the committee end to spread out down the line for a cleaner start. I managed to hold my lane off the start and worked my way up the middle of the course playing the shifts, putting me in the lead at the windward mark. As was the theme of the day, Harry worked his way closer on the downwind allowing him to just pip me at the line achieving his 2nd well deserved race win, with Thomas in 3rd. At this point, sadly, Thomas had to head in as his pre-existing injury was starting to give him some pain, not a bad mornings sailing though with a 1, 2 and 3.

Sacha had got the taste for winning, as he took a second bullet in race 3, ahead of Finley, the battle between these two sailors was the story of the day in the 4.2 fleet, Matteo from Parkstone took 3rd this time.

For race 4 the line had a 15 degrees bias on the pin end which was quickly spotted by the race winner Holly in the 5.3 fleet and Matteo in the 4.2 fleet, both crossing the entire fleet, earning them spot prizes and a handshake from ILCA guru John Emmett at the prize-giving. We all set about trying to reel in Holly, but she sailed clear to extend to an impressive lead, taking the final race win, she's probably still smiling now as you read this report. Harry again pipped me to the line ahead of Ethan.

In the event deciding final race for the 4.2 sailors, it was Bristol's Finley or Parkstone's Sacha that would take the honours. Unfortunately for Sacha, he sailed his discard, so Finley won the event on countback, 1,2,2,1 is an impressive scoreline.

HalSail Results (kxcdn.com)

With Thomas having sailed ashore, Harry was already the event winner, 2,1,1,2 matching Finley's low scoreline. With Thomas and I filling out the top 3 positions, Holly was first girl in 4th overall.

HalSail Results (kxcdn.com)

Well done to all the competitors and thank you for allowing Ethan & I to join you, if you could guarantee sun and breeze, we may join you again for the next event at Saltash SC.

Castle Cove sailing club were excellent hosts, we would recommend racing there if the opportunity presents itself.

Related Articles

SW Topper Travellers at Chew Valley Lake
Penultimate event of the South West Travellers season A huge thank you to the very friendly and scenic Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club for a superb weekend as we sailed the last but one SW Topper Traveller event of the season on 5th and 6th October 2024. Posted on 13 Oct
NEYYSA event at Yeadon
17 youth sailors brave the uncertain forecast During the two weeks prior to Sunday 29th of September the forecast offered a variety of possible options, ranging from heavy rain with F8 gusts, to clear skies and no wind. When the day arrived, it settled somewhere in the middle. Posted on 9 Oct
ITCA GBR Topper NS1 event at Carsington
A glowing report on the club's facilities and friendliness Carsington was our closest NS event this series, only 4 hours away! When we got there we ran out of gas and then the hot water boiler wouldn't work in our motorhome so things hadn't started well. Posted on 3 Oct
P&B Northamptonshire Youth Series finale
Draycote sees 40 sailors applying suncream The season finale took place at Draycote. The forecast was for a building breeze up to perhaps 14 knots. Sun cream was definitely required, but would the wind fill in as forecast? More than 40 sailors signed on. Posted on 2 Oct
Parkstone Youth Week
Lifelong friendships through sailing At Youth Week, we believe that "Lifelong Friendships Through Sailing" lies at the core of everything we do. With this guiding principle, our team began planning Youth Week back in January, thanks to the return of Quilter Cheviot as our Title Sponsor. Posted on 30 Sep
Kent School Sailing Association Annual Regatta
Held this year at Downs Sailing Club The Kent School Sailing Association's annual 2024 Regatta was held this year at Downs Sailing Club on Saturday 14th September. This was particularly appropriate given that Downs is marking its 75th anniversary this year. Posted on 30 Sep
RYA Welsh Youth and Junior Championships
Nearly 100 sailors took part in an epic weekend of racing at Pwllheli Nearly 100 sailors from across Wales and beyond took part in an epic weekend of racing at Pwllheli for the Welsh Youth & Junior Championships. Posted on 24 Sep
Island Barn Topper Open
The cream rises to the top, even in very light winds How is it when the wind is 1-3 knots, at times barely ruffling the water, and people are saying "this is a complete lottery", the top sailors still fill the top places? Posted on 24 Sep
Topper Super South Championship 2024 at Warsash
South West, Southern and London & SE regions come together to race Each year the three Topper areas of South West, Southern and London & SE come together for a joint "Super South" traveller event and this year it was hosted by the Southern region at my home club of Warsash SC. Posted on 19 Sep
Notts County Junior Open
For the expert right through to those entering their first race The annual Notts County Sailing Club Junior open had a good number of entries, from the expert right through to those entering their first race. Posted on 17 Sep