RYA North West Junior Travellers at Redesmere Sailing Club

Redesmere hosts round 9 of the RYA North West Junior Traveller Trophy © Tim Yeates

Redesmere hosts round 9 of the RYA North West Junior Traveller Trophy © Tim Yeates

Redesmere hosted round 9 of the RYA North West Junior Traveller Trophy on Saturday 30th August. Fifty seven young competitors turned out from clubs all over the North West to be greeted by a wind which filled in by racing start time to a steady force 2 to 3 and a sun which shone for some of the day!

The combined Youth and Handicap fleet of 49 boats started race 1 with only one premature starter who unfortunately failed to return. Elliot Hanson sailing a Laser led the handicap (and youth) fleet after one lap pursued by James Asquith and Adam Millington in a 420 and Andy Dawson in a Laser Radial. Meanwhile in the slower boats, Andrew Green’s Topper soon established a slender lead over Robyn Cox and Tom Cornthwaite. By the finish, Hanson had kept his lead and finished first on handicap, followed by Green and Cornthwaite in their Toppers. Meanwhile in the youth fleet (who all followed Hanson around the course from start to finish) Liam Reece led all the way, but unfortunately found out that he was the premature starter, leaving Tom Keegan to take first place and Becca Cox 2nd.

After the usual Redesmere BBQ for lunch, the second race got away cleanly and Hanson again hit the front, but having suffered gear failure on leg 4 was dropped to the back of the fleet by the end of the lap 2 legs later. This left Dawson in the lead followed by Sarah Yeates in a Laser Radial and Sam Woods in an OK in third place on the water. Green’s Topper was the leader of the slower bunch followed by Andy Price and Tom Piggott. Positions changed little by the finish, with Andy Dawson winning on handicap, Woods a very creditable second and the Topper of Piggott 3rd after passing Green in the middle of the race. In the Youth fleet, Tom Keegan was again 1st with Reece 2nd and Sophie Stott 3rd.

After liquid refreshment and plenty of scrumptious cakes (free!) everyone was back on the water for race 3. The competitors in the handicap and youth fleets must have been getting tired and so after two attempts with the P flag, the Race Officer decided to get out the black flag for some line discipline. The tactic worked and the fleets got away cleanly first time much to everyone’s relief. Once again normal service was resumed with Hanson dominating the handicap fleet, leading from start to finish followed by Woods and Dawson. Piggott led in the Toppers, followed by Lucy Yeates and Green, although Green worked hard to pull through to the front of the group by the end of the race. Finishing positions on handicap were Hanson, Woods then Green. In the Youth fleet, Anna Hampson was leading after 1 lap, but was overhauled during the race by Reece and Keegan by the finish.

Meanwhile the Optimists had their own start which was a very sedate affair by comparison, with plenty of room due to the length required for the other fleets. In race 1, Max Spedding led after 1 lap followed by Tom Joesbury and Josh Dawson. By the finish however, Tom Joesbury was the winner with Spedding 2nd and Alex Joesbury 3rd. In race 2 Tom Joesbury started well followed by Hayden Griffiths and Spedding. However with plenty of disturbed wind from the sailors in the handicap fleet, Griffiths dropped well back by the finish leaving Spedding the winner, Tom Joesbury 2nd and Charlie Ewing 3rd. With the final race to decide the overall winner, Tom Joesbury led from start to finish with Max Spedding taking 2nd and Alex Joesbury 3rd.

In his winners speech, Elliot Hanson thanked the Race Officer for the courses set and running the races, the safety team for being on standby, the galley team for the great food, his sponsors and last but not least his parents for all of their support.

Overall Results: