Hansa Class UK Traveller Trophy Series Round 7 at the Woolverstone Project

Close racing in the Liberty class during the UK Hansa TT at the Woolverstone Project © Andy Beharrell & Dot Steeds

The Woolverstone Project were delighted to welcome the Hansa Class Association to Alton Water for a TT event on August 14th. The last time the Project hosted the Hansa Class was over a decade ago, so it was exciting to be a venue for the class once again.

The total entry was 19 boats with 15 visitors and 4 local Woolverstone Project sailors. The 1-person Hansa Class had 9 entries, the 2-person 6 entries and the Liberty Class had 4 boats.

Close racing in the 1-person 3.03 class during the UK Hansa TT at the Woolverstone Project - photo © Andy Beharrell & Dot Steeds

The day dawned well with a light and reasonably consistent breeze from the north-west and following the briefing all the boats got on the water rapidly to make the most of the breeze. The race officer managed to set a good course which lasted well until mid-way through the race at which point the wind gods had their own ideas with some significant shifts and patchy breeze making it very difficult for the competitors. In the 1-person Hansa 3.03 Mike Everitt got in front early on and managed to hold a good lead with Rory McKinna in second place and Jazz Turner (sailing her boat called Phoebe along with her support dog, also called Phoebe) coming in in third. In the two-person 3.03 class Lynne and Stuart Swann in a boat called Lady Jane borrowed from the Woolverstone Project found the best way through the shifty conditions to take the win followed by Philip Hall and Denise Bryant with Rick and Sue Jillings in third place. In the Liberty class Paul Pearson negotiated a way through the shifts and the other classes in front to take the win, followed by Paul Phillips and Ric Cassel.

With a shifty breeze the race officer, Gordon Sutton from the Royal Harwich YC, moved the start a little for race 2 and got the Liberty class away, but a major shift meant a recall for them and a postponement while we all tried to work out where the breeze was coming from. A battle between the gradient wind and the nascent sea breeze then played out for the next 20 minutes or so, with neither side winning. Eventually a course was set and the classes got away for race 2.

Hunting for the best breeze during the UK Hansa TT at the Woolverstone Project - photo © Andy Beharrell & Dot Steeds

With some very light and fluky winds conditions were tricky. We stood open-mouthed on shore watching the flags on marks 2 and 3 flying in opposite directions. This made some of the mark roundings very tricky with places often being gained and lost in an instant. At the finish in the Liberty it was once again the two Pauls in first and second place followed in third by Tessa Watkiss, who had unfortunately had to retire from Race 1 with servo issues caused by the light breeze. In the Hansa 3.03 1-person class the finishing order was reversed with Rory McKinna (Clyde Cruising Club) in first and Mike Everitt (Frensham Pond) in second followed by Leslie Philip from Tideway Sailability in London. In the 2-person class, consistency was the key with the finishing order identical to race 1.

Rory McKinna – the winner in the 1-person 3.03 class during the UK Hansa TT at the Woolverstone Project - photo © Andy Beharrell & Dot Steeds

For the final race of the day the breeze was a tiny bit more consistent, though that was not saying much! The racing was as ever close but once again finishing places were broadly similar. In the Hansa 3.03 1-person class Rory McKinna once again found the front and stayed there throughout, followed by Leslie Philip in second place and Jazz Turner in third. This was enough to give Rory the overall win with Mike Everitt in second overall. In the 3.03 1-person class Lynne and Stuart Swann picked up their third bullet giving them first overall with just three points followed by Philip Hall and Denise Bryant with a remarkably consistent three seconds in all the races giving them second place overall. The Liberty class showed similar consistency with Paul Pearson with three bullets and first overall while Paul Phillips had three seconds and second overall.

Close racing in the 2-person 3.03 class during the UK Hansa TT at the Woolverstone Project - photo © Andy Beharrell & Dot Steeds

Though not in the prizes at all, the local Woolverstone Project sailors really enjoyed testing themselves against the visitors. One in particular really enjoyed his first regatta. Rik Codling is no stranger to top level racing. As one of the top Team GBR virtual sailors Rik has extensive experience of all sorts of classes from America's Cup boats through to J70s, but all virtually. His first physical regatta was perhaps more challenging, but he found it a sharp learning curve. He plans to be back next time to improve on his result.

Lynne and Stuart Swann – winners of the 2-person 3.03 class during the UK Hansa TT at the Woolverstone Project - photo © Andy Beharrell & Dot Steeds

The Woolverstone Project would like to thank the Hansa Class Association for all the help and support they provided prior to and during the event which helped everything go smoothly (apart from the weather!) and would also like to thank the Royal Hospital School for their support with equipment and support boats for the event.

Overall Results: