Large turnout for the Hansa Travellers' Trophy at Notts County Sailing Club

The Hansa TT (Travellers Trophy) saw an excellent entry of 25 boats with entrants from clubs as far afield as Bray SC Ireland, along with a good contingent from Frensham Ponds, and entries from Whitefriars, Rutland, Newhaven, Chesil, Carsington and of course Notts County, who have just taken delivery of another Hansa with generous help from the RYA Foundation.

The previous afternoon was set aside for some on water race coaching on lightish winds, which 17 boats attending, led by Brett Cokayne.

Launching during the Notts County Hansa TT - photo © David Eberlin

We were greeted by a very fresh NE breeze which at times gusted up to 20mph and stayed more or less in the same direction all day which allowed prompt course setting and good beats leading to some excellent tactical racing.

The format for the day announced by John Davie (RO) at the briefing was for 2 sets of back to back races in the morning and same again after lunch. There were 3 starts, rolling 3 minutes, Liberties being the larger faster boat went first, 303 single handed (1) next and finally the 303 double handed (2) and 2.3.

Close racing in the double handed fleet during the Notts County Hansa TT - photo © David Eberlin

The unusual wind direction made launching extremely challenging due to the angles of the jetties and location of the hoists and despite the best efforts of a huge shore team of NCSC volunteers it was clear that the scheduled 1100hr start was not going to be achievable so up went the AP and waited for all boats to be on the lake before going into sequence at around 1120.

Four of the fleet were entering a TT for the first time. The atmosphere is always very friendly, though competitive on the water.

Enjoying the sailing during the Notts County Hansa TT - photo © David Eberlin

In race 1 for the Libertys it was Mike Everitt of Frensham pond who led from start to finish, in fact once the fleet settled into a race order there were no further changes throughout the 3 laps. David Durston from Whitefriars came in second with Paul Phillips, also from Frensham third.

In the 303 (1) Richard Rochester from Whitefriars led from start to finish, Lynn Swann from Chesil Sailability worked her way up by 1 place per lap to take second and James Woosnam from Frensham was 3rd.

The 303 (2) got away clean but were given a lesson in starting by the aforementioned Lindsay in the 2.3 who left them all trailing in her wake as she powered up the first beat - oh for a bigger sail plan - she was quickly overtaken by the faster class but a small moment of glory to take away. Jazz Turner and Jane Thompson from Newhaven and Seaford took the win followed by Lottie Cobb and Marianne Will from the same club and Debra Pennington and Sebastian from Notts County 3rd.

The Liberty fleet during the Notts County Hansa TT - photo © David Eberlin

Race 2 was shortened to a 2 lapper as the schedule was running behind. The Liberties saw Paul Pearson from Rutland join Everitt and Durston on the podium with very little in the way of position changes after the first beat,

There was a very exciting finish to the 303 (1) race as 3 boats did a complete reverse order after rounding the final mark and dashing for the line. It was Rochester who crossed the line first but was puzzled not to receive a finish gun.! Alas he had failed to go through the gate at the end of lap one so had to settle for 8th and a candidate for his discard. Accordingly therefore there was a great steal by Rebecca Williams from Whitefriars followed by Phil Monk and Jayleigh Tilley making it a Whitefriars 1,2,3.

John Chambers in his first Hansa race during the Notts County Hansa TT - photo © David Eberlin

Race 2 for the 303 (2) saw the same outcome despite an earlier position change between Cobb and Pennington.

Then it was lunch and much talk of a great mornings sailing. The RO announced what turned out to be a somewhat ambitious 1415 start for the afternoon fun but again with an even more challenging launch due to an increasing wind we weren't able to start until 1445. In order to get back to schedule and allow for long journeys home for many it was agreed to shorten the races to 2 lap sprints.

Mike Everitt leading during the Notts County Hansa TT - photo © David Eberlin

Everitt recorded his 3rd bullet in the Libertys allowing him to go in for an early pack away as the series was in the bag, Phillips jumped to 2nd spot and Pearson 3rd.

In 303 (1) - Rochester - after a little reminder from me in the car park about crossing the gate was not about to make the same mistake again and he led from start to finish to take the win with Monk and Tilley joining him for the honours,

Jazz Turner and Jane Thompson winners of 303 double handed during the Notts County Hansa TT - photo © David Eberlin

Turner recorded a 3rd bullet in the 303 (2) with Pennington and Cobb reversing their R1 and 2 order so all to play for in R4. As it turned out Turner and Thompson, clearly over excited by their series win managed to be a good boat width OCS at the gun, didn't see the individual recall flag and were too far up the beat before they were made aware so this left the field open for Pennington and Cobb to battle it out. In the end it was the former who took the win and a series 2nd on count back. 3rd place in this race went to Lara Sturgis and Kat Gilbert from Frensham,

Only 4 contested the Libertys' 4th race with Phillips taking the win giving him a series 2nd on count back from Durston who finished 2nd in the race and Pearson 3rd.

In the 303(1) Rochester was not to have it all his own way as in a very close race he was deposed by club mate Monk who recorded his first win but it wasn't enough to deprive Rochester of the overall event win - that said, just a point in in. Lynne Swann took 3rd in R4.

Lindsay Burns wins the 2.3 class during the Notts County Hansa TT - photo © David Eberlin

Lindsay Burns from Frensham won the 2.3 class. Lindsay has been coming to Notts County's open for seventeen years, so she must enjoy being at the club, a special photo was presented on the day to mark the occasion.

After a short pause when boats were packed away and results calculated and prize-giving saw a full clubhouse, the competitors and Sailing secretary thanking the volunteers who make the meeting run smoothly, both on and off the water.

Prizewinners in the Notts County Hansa TT - photo © David Eberlin

The first Notts County TT was 25 years ago, so cake was in order after prize-giving. The Hansa fleet love coming to Notts and we love having them, always an uplifting event and definitely one of the highlights of the year - see everyone next year.

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