Rooster ITCA Southern Area Travellers at Spinnaker Sailing Club
by Monty Lewis & Emily Doughty 4 Mar 09:04 GMT
1 March 2026
A damp morning greeted 27 Southern sailors for the first Southern Area Traveller of the season, hosted by Spinnaker Sailing Club on 1st March 2026. With a strong southerly wind blowing down the length of the lake, sailors were set for a challenging and exciting day of racing.
The 5.3 fleet competed on the outer loop of the trapezoid course, while the 4.2 fleet took to the inner loop. For many sailors, it was a chance to find out how much they had improved over the winter training season. For others, it marked their first ever Traveller event - a chance to gain valuable experience and be part of the competitive and friendly Southern circuit.
Seven sprint races were capably run by the race committee. In the morning the 5.3 fleet saw fierce competition, with plenty of place changes throughout the short races. By the afternoon, with three races remaining, six boats were still in contention for podium positions, leaving everything to play for.
Hendricks Long and Henry Ross had a close battle in the afternoon with Hendricks managing to just come out on top by having a better discard, with Phileas Rouselle coming a very close third, just one point behind.
5.3 fleet Prize winners:
1st Hendricks Long (HRSC/ Warsash Sailing club)
2nd Henry Ross (HRSC/ Netley Sailing club
3rd Phileas Rouselle (HRSC)
Endeavour Award: Eva Foltys
Most Improved: Mattie Svendsen
In the 4.2 fleet many sailor's results were inconsistent as vicious gusts and shifts mixed up the results. Race three was particularly dramatic when a powerful gust blasted across the course during the second lap, causing some spectacular capsizes with almost half the fleet flattened.
A particular racing highlight was Alixe Constance pulling off an amazing port flyer to overtake the whole fleet in race 4, a trend soon to be copied by others. The Endeavour award went to Athena Phillips for an impressive death roll, followed by a long swim.
The final three 4.2 races delivered fierce competition, with sailors jostling for position. The podium positions remained undecided until the very last race, ensuring a thrilling conclusion to an action-packed Southern Area Traveller.
4.2 fleet Prize winners:
1st Martha Hart (HRSC)
2nd Emily Doughty (HRSC)
3rd George Klaschka (HRSC)
Endeavour Award: Athena Phillips
Most Improved: Fynn Jamieson
Full results are available here.
Thank you to Spinnaker sailing club for hosting, James Oborne the Race Officer, and all the volunteers and parents who helped the event run smoothly.
Congratulations to all the sailors who competed and we look forward to welcoming you all to the next Southern Area traveller at Oxford Sailing Club on 25- 26th April.