melvin-sailing-free: New Forrest Travellers Trophy - National Series No.4, Western Series No.2

Success for Team Tideway and Arsenal

Leslie and I with Flag trophy's

New Forrest Sailability hosted the 4^th in the TT National Series on F.A. Cup Saturday 30^th May. Spinaker lake, has two islands – one of which was incorporated into a figure-of-8 course with 2 beats and 2 runs/reaches. This is a very beautiful place to sail and the club has a good racing tradition. By the afternoon the wind had veered and the course was changed, for races 3 & 4, to a long windward/leeward sausage with a choice of 2 leeward marks. The wind was light and very shifty during the morning and it built up to a gusty force 3 to 4 in the afternoon. Leslie Philip and I were supported by Hugh Landsdown and Kate Tierney again, along with my PA, Des who also takes all of the photos.

Chasing after Dave Durston on the Reach - 303 fleet waiting to start in background.

Close run with DD and Keith Harris

With my Mk 2 sip 'n puff system now in place plus uprated jib strut and boom, I was eager to test them out on the opposition. There were 5 Liberty's competing. After making 2 average starts in the morning, I managed to keep in touch with the leaders and after some close racing, eventually pulled away to win the first 2 races of the day. After lunch the strengthening wind made for some exciting sailing; it was still shifting about so the long upwind legs were very interesting; places were lost and made up very quickly. At the leeward marks, again because of the shifty wind you had to decide, on each lap, which one to round to get the most favourable tack back up. After a good tussle, I won race 3 and came 2^nd in race 4.

Finally overtaking Dave Durston

On the Beat with Paul Philips


On the other Beat with Keith Harris

Off around the Island

This was my first win of the series. Thanks to the improved technical back up now on hand at Tideway, I feel better prepared than ever before going into a race. One sailor thought it was hilarious that I was winning with, by far, the oldest boat in the fleet. I think the key phrase here is marginal gains - and there are many more that can be had.


303's caught in a lull

Leslie gained an overall 3^rd place on the day in the 303 Single Class – securing another double podium for Team Tideway. More details on Leslie's races to follow.