Traveller, Marconi Sailing Club 12-13th April 2003

On the weekend of 12/13 April the Dart 15s met at Marconi for the first event of the 2003 Traveller's series. 10 travellers joined 5 locals to make an entry of 15 competitors, which was a tad down on the entry last year. Race officer, John Salmon, set an inverse P course for the opening pair of races sailed on Saturday in sunny conditions with a force 2-3 easterly wind blowing straight along the Blackwater estuary. In the first race George Carter, sailing in Sprint mode, was first to the windward mark, closely followed by Peter Richardson and Bob Carter. This order prevailed until the run when Bob Carter moved up to second, while Marconi Fleet Captain, Joe Bird, (also sailing Sprint mode) advanced to forth place. This was the order after a lap when the race was finished. The second race followed back-to-back with race 1 and the sequence was very similar to race 1. At the finish it was the two Carters followed by Peter Richardson, Gordon Goldstone and Philip Howden.

The proceedings were then interrupted by low water and so the fleet set off to tour Essex with both Burnham and Brightlingsea on the itinery for fleet members. Most sailors congregated on the bar for the Saturday evening where some heavy red wine drinking was on the agenda after an excellent evening meal, courtesy of Bridgit Downing and the Marconi ladies.

Sunday dawned bright and breezey, which was no way you could describe Gordon (I don't drink red wine) Goldstone - who looked like death warmed up!!!

First thing Sunday it was the Long Distance Race, which turned out to be "Round Osey Island". Peter Richardson was the first to the windward mark a long way ahead of the Carters - who were both over the line at the start and had to go back. Gordon Goldstone was ever threatening from a short distance behind. At the end of the very long run along the north side of Osey Island the sequence was R Carter, Richardson, G Carter and Goldstone. There then followed the long beat along the south side of Osey Island and the Sprint boat of G Carter edged ahead. Tim Dieu de Bellefontaine made big gains by tacking early to stay in the channel close to the island. At the finish the corrected order was R Carter, P Richardson, T Dieu de Bellefontaine, G Carter and Gordon (oooh my head hurts) Goldstone!

The last race followed back to back. George Carter made no mistakes and was off into an early lead, followed by Philip Howden. Nick Dewhirst and Peter Richardson. Tim Dieu de Bellefontaine once again used his local knowledge to follow the channel and sailed by many, up to third place. After 2 laps at the finish it was G Carter, P Richardson, Tim Dieu de Bellefontaine, Philip Howden and Jenny Ball. Peter Richardson had barely finished when he promptly capsized - the only capsize of the weekend.

Thus after a glorious weekend sailing the final results were:

Sprint Results: 1st G. Carter (Grafham), 2nd Joe Bird (Marconi)
Long Distance Race: R Carter
Youngest Competitor: James Tovey

For the full results, checkout the results for the series so far.