Hansa TT at Frensham Pond Sailability
by Peter Etherton 7 Sep 2018 08:01 BST
5 September 2018
Hansa TT at Frensham Pond © Tony Machen
The 9th and final event in the Hansa National Traveller Trophy series was hosted by Frensham Pond Sailability on Wednesday 5th September 2018. With an impressive entry of fourteen Frensham sailors and nine visitors from Whitefriars, Tideway London, New Forest, Chesil, Rutland and South West Scotland Sailability clubs, the 23 helms were ready to contest the four Hansa classes.
The cool F3/F4 Northerly wind made for close racing in the two morning races with a wind shadow making the final approach to the windward mark particularly tricky. Following an excellent lunch served up by Carol Clibborn's hard working Galley team, a significant NE shift and drop in wind strength for the third race, followed by a shift back to a N-NNW direction, kept Race Officer Graham Howlett and his team busy adjusting marks and the start line.
The 2.3 class was an all Frensham affair with experienced helm Lindsay Burns taking the first two races from last year's winner Harry Kennington followed by Greg Parker and Lara Sturgis. Harry came back in race 3 to take a hard fought win from Lindsay, who was then challenged by Greg Parker in race 4 before she eased away to take the race and the TT win.
The Liberty entry was missing some regulars but the competition was no less fierce between Rutland's Chris Emmet, Whitefriars helm David Durston and local helms Paul Phillips and Tessa Watkiss, who were both in contention for the overall TT series title. Race 1 went to Chris, race 2 to Tessa, race 3 to David and Chris took race 4 to claim the TT win.
The nine strong 303 one-person class was the largest fleet, the seven local helms included TT debuts by teenager Miles Norwood and septuagenarian Brian Fuller and were joined by Tideway's Leslie Philip and Jessica Campbell from SW Scotland Sailability. Race 1 was taken in impressive style by Miles followed by Jessica and Frensham's Michael Everitt. Races 2 and 3 went to Michael. Local helm James Woosnam took race 4, but Michael's earlier wins gave him the TT win from the consistent Jessica and James.
The 303 two-erson fleet had two local crews, two Rutland crews, two New Forest crews and one Chesil crew. Race 1 saw locals Peter & Peta Etherton just edge the win from visitors Natalia & Alan Hillman following a misunderstanding over the shortened course signal. Natalia and dad Alan went on to win the next three races to claim the overall TT victory while the fight for the runner up position went to the line in race 4, with the Ethertons just holding off a strong challenge from New Forest's Steve Kitson & Jane Knight, with Chesil crew Philip Hall & David Ankers not far behind.
Following the traditional Frensham free tea provided by the local sailors, prizes for the first three in each class were presented by Frensham's Chairman, Ivor Barrett, who also gave thanks to the hardworking galley team and the volunteer helpers who made the day a success.
Hansa 2.3 Class results:
1st Lindsay Burns (Frensham)
2nd Harry Kennington (Frensham)
3rd Greg Parker (Frensham)
4th Lara Sturgis (Frensham)
Hansa 303 One Person Class results:
1st Mike Everitt (Frensham)
2nd Jessica Campbell (SW Scotland)
3rd James Woosnam (Frensham)
4th Miles Norwood (Frensham)
5th Margaret Foreman (Frensham)
6th Kate Hedley (Frensham)
7th Leslie Philip (Tideway)
8th Katie Apse (Frensham)
9th Brian Fuller (Frensham)
Hansa 303 Two Person Class results:
1st Natalia & Alan Hillman (New Forest)
2nd Peter & Peta Etherton (Frensham)
3rd Steve Kitson & Janet Knight (NFDS)
4th Philip Hall & David Ankers (Chesil)
5th Colin Freeman & Paul Kingston (Frensham)
6th Paul Pearson & Robin Marriott (Rutland)
7th Rik Hughes & John Haward (Rutland)
Liberty Class results:
1st Chris Emmet (Rutland)
2nd Tessa Watkiss (Frensham)
3rd David Durston (Whitefriars)
4th Paul Phillips (Frensham)