Carsington Water under clear blue sky and a strong northerly wind greeted the seven K6s entered for this final event of the 2026 season. The picture book setting and sunshine belying the biting wind temperature.
Despite the low water level, the main body of water was sailable, luckily accessed via a deep but narrow channel from the shore. Helpfully the Club had laid on a number of RIBs to support competitors off the jetty and along the channel.
Six races scheduled over the two days. With the forecast showing two days of the northerly, the fleet were set for perfect conditions sailing the long length of the reservoir.
Race 1. Locals Richard Harvey, Kate Franklin and Stuart Harvey (K6 216) and Toby and Mark Woodings (K6 165) led off the start on a long starboard tack up the reservoir, followed by George Barker and Audrey Graham (K6 197), Thomas and Pauline Woodings (K6 135), Mike Deane and Eddie Waring (K6 119) and Mike Kneale and Kath Simpson (K6 231). John Tabor and James Bennett (K6 122) had a rudder stock issue and did not start.
Towards the top of the course, the wind was quite shifty so a number of tacks were needed to reach the windward mark lay line. Rounding the top mark with no change in the order the race became a procession as the top three pulled away from the fleet over the remaining four laps.
Race 2, four laps. Clean start. Team Harvey and Toby and Mark taking the top two positions at the windward mark. Team Barker and Team Tabor had a number of close crossings up the course closely followed by Thomas and Pauline. Close racing continued with these three boats to the final leeward mark when Thomas and Pauline just got inside George and Audrey to claim fourth behind Team Tabor in third.
Race 3, three laps under continuing wind and late afternoon sun. Team Harvey showing consistent speed leading once more chased home by George and Audrey with Team Tabor in third just ahead of Toby and Mark.
Sunday, race 4. Same conditions, same course. With three wins Team Harvey was one short of securing the win overall. From the start they pulled out a lead on the first beat, followed by Toby and Mark, George and Audrey and John and James. That set the tone for the race with the order remaining to the finish, giving Team Harvey the overall win. However with just two points separating Team Woodings and George and Audrey in second and third there were still podium places to contest.
Race 5. Clean start. Toby and Mark made an excellent start pulling away from the fleet. At the top mark they had a good lead with Team Harvey in second chased by George and Audrey. The order remained the same to the finish. The win took Team Woodings four points clear from George and Audrey as they looked to secure second place.
Race 6 Final race and another good start by Team Harvey. George and Audrey in second and Team Woodings in third. The wind shifts requiring a number of tacks to reach the windward mark. Team Tabor came under some pressure from Tom and Pauline but managed to pull away as the race progressed. At the front, Team Harvey secured the win with George and Audrey chasing hard in second and Team Woodings in third.
A really good event in great conditions. Notables in the fleet were Mike Kneale and Kath Simpson (K6 231) competing at their first K6 event. Huge thanks go to Carsington SC and its volunteer teams for making the event so enjoyable, to the race officer and his team for setting a great course and surviving the chilly wind! And to Richard Harvey for using his car to tow the boats up the steep slipway at the end of each day, good work Richard!
The event was the final round of 2026 Travellers Trophy, with double points available. The trophy was presented to the overall winner, George Barker with 114 points from four events, ahead of Mike Deane with 95 points from five events.
Overall Results:
Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Net
1 216 Richard Harvey Kate + Stuart Carsington 1 1 1 1 ‑2 1 5
2 165 Toby Mark Woodings Carsington 2 2 ‑4 2 1 3 10
3 197 George Barker Audrey Graham Oxford 3 ‑5 2 3 3 2 13
4 122 John Tabor James Bennett Oxford (DNC) 3 3 4 4 4 18
5 135 Thomas and Pauline Woodings Carsington 4 4 ‑6 5 5 5 23
6 119 Mike Deane Eddie Waring South Windermere 5 6 6 ‑7 6 6 28
7 231 Mike Kneale Kath Simpson Bala 6 ‑7 7 6 7 7 33
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