Flying Fifteen Southern Travellers Series Open at Broxbourne Sailing Club

 

This was the last event in the Flying Fifteen Southern Travellers series held at Broxbourne Sailing club who sail on the gravel pit in the Lee Valley.

This provides a very different challenge to the more normal large open water events at many of the flying fifteen venues and is a great leveller between the older and newer boats. The club has a long established Flying Fifteen fleet and is well set up with effortless electric crane launching. The club welcomes any Fifteen sailors to come and join in our winter series and get some short course practice.

An unseasonably warm October day greeted the competitors with a West South Westerly wind around 10mph. This is one of the better directions for Broxbourne as it allows windward legs across the full diagonal of the lake. Accordingly race officer Pip Hudson set up a sausage-triangle course from a committee boat start line.

After three races Broxbourne laid on a great feast in the evening which was much enjoyed by all. Much thanks to Sarah.

On Sunday the wind failed to turn up and so racing had to be abandoned. Thus the final winners were John Hanson and Helen Selden. They were never seriously threatened. It was great to see a good turn-out from the Broxbourne club sailors some of which were competing as helms in an Open event for the first time. Many of them had their moments of glory and it was a great occasion and very social.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 Pts

1st 4094 John Hanson Helen Selden RYA 1 1 1 3

2nd 3715 Richard Anthony Bridget Staples BSC 2 3 5 10

3rd 3873 Neil Bartholomey Stuart Bartholomey Middle Nene 6 4 3 13

5th 3752 Reg Mulley Peter BSC 4 6 4 14

4th 4051 Bob Tait Nick Law BSC 3 5 6 14

6th 3707 Brian Turner Jackie Burns BSC RET 2 2 18

7th 3423 Martin Bishop Tom Anderson BSC 5 9 7 21

8th 3502 Peter Comber Ian BSC 8 7 8 23

9th 2845 Steve Carmichael Will Santer BSC 7 11 9 27

10th 3401 Mike Jones Russel Tredgett BSC 12 8 10 30

11th 3490 Mike Saunders BSC 9 12 12 33

12th 3681 Colin Babbage Nickie BSC 10 13 11 34

13th 3031 Martin Jones Cath Jones BSC 11 10 DNC 35