GP14 Southern Travellers at Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club

Close spinnaker reaches during the GP14 Southern Travellers event at Maylandsea Bay © Maylandsea Bay SC

The third event of the GP14 Southern Travellers was held on Saturday at this popular club set on Lawling Creek just south of the River Blackwater. With a poor forecast only 11 teams signed up with two other regulars deciding to head north to the GP14 Midland Areas but those who attended had a fantastic day of racing.

With light to medium southerly winds, rainstorms and spring tides the racing was clearly going to be highly tactical and thus it proved with most legs finding the fleet splitting in all directions. Courses were also a challenge with a plethora of channel, racing and mooring buoys making recognition difficult despite the lead boat kindly provided by the club. Winning crew Hannah Rose commented that it was like floating orienteering!

Race Officer Paul Gray set the fleet off in Lawling Creek and with a strong flood running a number of boats struggled to avoid being taken over the line with Bruce Craven and Stuart Duckworth (Frensham pond) getting pinged and going back while Keith Street and Hannah Liptrot (Welsh Harp) failed to return and were OCS. Maurice Cleal and Hannah Rose (Wembley/Welsh Harp) and Tomasz Szakola/Andy Shrimpton (Welsh Harp) David Innes/Jon Denyer (Frensham Pond) and Jamie Isles/Simon Hazell (Welsh Harp) lead to the first mark which was followed by a spinnaker run against the flooding tide with the fleet splitting on either side of the channel. With only a light breeze it was surprising to see locals Vicky and Richard Broomfield careering wildly with spinnaker flapping in what Vicky claimed was a mini tornado as a rain cloud went overhead! The fleet then had a short hitch back up Lawling Creek before finishing at North Shore buoy with Maurice/Hannah leading from Tomasz/Andy with David and Jon taking third.

Tactical choices during the GP14 Southern Travellers event at Maylandsea Bay - photo © Maylandsea Bay SC

After a short break for a quick sandwich and the now obligatory study of the Maylandsea Charts to work out where we were going the second race got away in the now lessening flood again with a short windward leg into the southerly wind then a long tight spinnaker reach to the Blackwater. Keith and Hannah lead closely followed by a pack of boats including James Ward / Richard Whitehill (Papercourt), Quentin Drain/ John o'sullivan (Welsh Harp) and Tomasz and Andy with Maurice and Hannah coming through to lead as Quentin and John parked themselves on a gybe mark. Maurice and Hannah took the win with Keith/ Hannah second, Tomasz / Andy third and local team Dean and Mark taking fourth with a resultant cheer from the committee boat.

Winners Maurice Cleal and Hannah Rose lead the fleet during the GP14 Southern Travellers event at Maylandsea Bay - photo © Maylandsea Bay SC

With the ebb kicking in and recovery back at the club time limited Paul Gray bravely sent the fleet out into the Blackwater for the third race with a long run over to Osea Island and then a beat back to Lawling Creek. Jamie Isles/ Simon Hazell lead the fleet followed by Tomasz / Andy, Maurice/ Hannah, Richard/ James and Keith/Hannah. With Maurice challenging Jamie for the lead on the reach back to the club the leading pack were surprised as David/Jon and Keith / Hannah dropped spinnakers and crossed the tide to find better wind and challenge the leaders. Maurice and Hannah hung on for the third bullet with Keith taking second, David third and Tomasz fourth. Jamie and Simon switched horses crossing the channel too late and suffered as others took advantage including Bruce Craven and Stuart Duckworth from Frensham who came up through the fleet.

A great day with a great evening meal and fantastic evening sunset as in 2021 and 2022!

Overall Results: