The Douglas Charlton Blackwater Travellers Trophy

The Blackwater Travellers Series started on the 3rd with the Britannia Trophy, an open handicap event held at the Blackwater S.C. Heybridge. It was the most splendid of weekends with a sunny warm S.E. 12 to 16 knots of steady breeze.
With a 6 race, 5 to count over the three days, series supported by Maldon brew we might have be forgiven for thinking we had died and gone to heaven. The fleet made up of a fast variety of new and old dinghies from 49er to the glorious timber clinker built Sprite, made the starts one of the most demanding and skilful sailing moments one could possibly wish to encounter. As is the way of dinghy racing the thrill of the start on the tide in a mix of fast and slow boats led to groans from the race box and some very lucky competitors. But in all starts and restarts the fleet behaved well and not once was a naughty word used. The courses set were testing and a joy to sail with not too much farming and mystery as to where the race marks were hidden.
With asymmetric boats, single-handed boats and the traditional classes, plus catamarans the national PY numbers is still a mystery to the majority of sailors and the sailing skills factor unknown as a factor! and each class wishing for more or less wind. To win the event on the PY numbers is a bonus to go with the pleasure of sailing in the event.
I can tell you that the winner, Philip Newman (Phantom), made cracking starts and was often seen at the top of the first windward legs leading the Fireballs and Merlins, and was not seen to be rocking and pumping down the runs. (Unusual for a Phantom sailor). His starts, mark rounding and tactics were the winning factor. But more special was Philips joy of the race, taking on the Fireball and the Merlins boat for boat, a very worthy winner with 11.5 points.

Runner up was Jacko and Lorna/Al Wigg (Merlin Rocket) with 14 points. Sometimes known as the boat of laughs on account of the endless stream of errors and hands full of string pulling and the odd idea of leaving the rudder in the Dinghy Park, scraped and battled their way around the courses, occasionally putting some interesting team work together, but was seen to be in the right place for most of the time.
Ian Smith (Vortex) finished in 3rd place with 23 points. I know not what to say on account that we never saw the Vortex. It was gone in a flash and sailed for the most part on the horizon somewhere and was off the slip before our return, but for sure little error was made and a good time was had in what could be said to be not ideal conditions for a Vortex.
The Blackwater S.C. famed for its Fireball fleet appeared a little subdued. George Whitchurch, overwhelmed to see Jacko again, made the visitors welcome and Martin Scarth sporting a new Fireball as ever rallied the fleet lending a boat, sorting and nurturing the newer members. It would appear that the loss of Nigel (regular crew) led Martin into a sight seeing tour of the river, zapping across to the Scum-bells and into the saltings, but in good spirits and offering to put Jacko in his tea group with biscuits, and on passing out to Southy creek with a little bit of trawling (but no fish) kept the fleet knocking at the door. The leading Fireball was Julian Wild and Ben Arnold who put 4 good races together but sadly could not quite get in the chocolates.
Races 3 and 4 combined count for the Douglas Charlton Blackwater Travellers Trophy with the next race being at Brightlingsea on Aug. 16th at 14:00, the Carol Cruickshank pursuit race.

Full Results

I would like to thank Douglas Charlton Accountants for there sponsoring the Blackwater Travellers Trophy series and the Blackwater S.C. for running the Britannia Trophy as an open event and for all the club members for their help and support in making the river Blackwater a friendly and pleasurable place to be sailing.