New Forest Sailability Hansa TT at Spinnaker Sailing Club
by New Forest Sailability 11 May 2023 19:03 BST
3 May 2023
Close 303 Singles Fleet during the New Forest Sailability Hansa TT © Chris Wales
The Hansa TT circuit returned to New Forest Sailability at Spinnaker Sailing Club on Wednesday 3rd May 2023.
There were 26 entries, although one could not make it on the day so 25 boats competed, which is still almost certainly the largest TT that we have seen at New Forest Sailability. It was very good to see an increase in the clubs represented with 12 compared to 7 in 2022.
The weather was perfect being dry and sunny and the forecast gusts up to Force 5 (17 knots+) did not materialise, whilst the wind was generally a good Force 3 (7 - 10 knots). Blashford Lake at Spinnaker, being as it is an inland lake surrounded by wooded shores, always gives variable winds both with shifts and gusts and reading/handling these often has more influence on performance than outright boat speed or other tactics.
As a change from our past practice at New Forest, and definitely an improvement, the races were run from a committee boat rather than the race hut on the west shore of the lake and this allowed the Race Officer to set true windward first legs into the easterly, whereas using the race hut often means a reaching start on port, which is far from ideal, and there is no ability to navigate around both ends of the line.
The Libertys went off first, the fleet being 5 of the 6 regular sailors, Chris Emmet not having entered. Dave Durston and Paul Pearson had to retire during the first race, leaving it open to the other three but for the latter 3 races the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places were shared between Dave, Paul Pearson and Paul Phillips but Paul Phillips was dominant gaining the minimum net score of 3 with three wins and discarding his only 2nd place.
The New Forest TT in May is always early in the season's series and this year with Frampton cancelled is only the second event after Whitefriars. So it's a bit early to see how the season results may develop. Dave Durston leads at present with two 2nd places with both Paul and Paul 2 points behind. In 2022 Dave won the series.
The 303 1 person went off next with 8 boats. Like the Libertys, this is a hotly contested class, although, at least in the last two years, particularly between Rory McKinna and Mike Everitt. Rory was 1 point ahead in 2021, opened out to 4 points in 2022. The eagerness of their competitiveness is a pleasure to watch and Rory won at New Forest with Mike second, however James Woosnam had won at Whitefriars and thus holds second place after the two events so far in 2023. Katie Apse is lying fourth in what looks to be her first TT season and it was a pleasure to welcome Max Rumball to his first TT.
The 303 2 person fleet and results has been intriguing in recent years. Commitment to the TT series is demonstrated by Philip Hall and Steve Kitson and their dedicated crews. Up to 2021 they experienced the outstanding winning performance of junior helm Natalia Hillman and her father Alan. In 2022 Steve and Philip were tied for the season's series' first place with 9 points and a detailed application of count back rules gave Philip the series win.
2023's two events so far have been won by 11-year-old Harry Holland and his father Nick. Steve and Philip are tied on second. At New Forest Steve and crew Jane Knight weren't able to capitalise on local knowledge, this accolade going to Andy Holmes and Angela Cosford also from New Forest, who sailed well to gain second place ahead of Philip in third. Ryan Thomas and Elizabeth Wade-Brown from Testwood Lake were competing in their first TT, gaining a second place in the second race but unfortunately had to withdrawn from racing in the afternoon.
The 2.3s started with the 303 2 person and true to form the winning trophy went to Lindsay Burns. Lindsay appears to have won every race that she has entered since suffering a 3rd in 2016 (which was discarded!).
Behind her in the 2.3 fleet, fellow Frensham sailors Lara Sturgis and Andrew Lebec are the most consistent TT competitors, Andrew coming out on top at New Forest. The stronger wind and gusty conditions disadvantage the 2.3s before the bigger boats making them over-pressed, and maybe wet for the sailor. In 2022 Lara and Andrew were tied on points with the series' second place going to Lara on count back. Each had a DNC counting, so fortunately not a deciding factor.