South West ITCA Traveller at Castle Cove Sailing Club
by Jake Davies 13 May 2024 18:20 NZST
Team SW RTG in the South West ITCA Traveller at Castle Cove © James Mills
Weybiza was at its best, sunny with around 10kts of breeze. 23 sailors were signed up to race in the 4th South West traveller of the year, hosted at Castle Cove Sailing club, there was a good fleet of 16x 5.3 sailors and 7x 4.2 sailors.
Ethan and I, the Rooster Riders, were infiltrators from the South region for the day, encouraged to race at a new venue, where we could launch straight into Portland harbour, the club has an expansive deck looking out across the waters for the spectating parents, although you'd have needed to remember to bring your "torture tubes" to watch the racing.
The Race officer briefed us and launched us through the moorings out to join the 49ers, ILCA's and a few Waszps that were already zipping around.
The conditions were slightly improved from the forecasted 8kts, for the first 2 races we joined the club racing for 3 laps around a windward leeward with a gate at the bottom, the locals then sailed home for a fantastic homemade carrot cake.
During race 1 those who managed to get off the line into clean air quickly took the lead, throughout the race Team Allen sailors Thomas and Harry were neck and neck for the first race win with Thomas just braking away and taking the first race win. My highlight of race 1, was Holly taking a spectacular early death role, she did well to recover to 4th by the finish, rumours suggest Holly was checking out her new SailingFast stickers on the side of the boat at the time of the swim.
The 4.2 fleet consisted of 5 sailors from Parkstone and 2 from Bristol Corinthian, Finley and Brooke must have felt outnumbered, but it was Finley who took the first race win ahead of Sacha and Emelia from Parkstone.
For race 2 the breeze had built, the weather tracking suggests to around 14kts, allowing for our downhauls to be engaged and for the lighter sailors to start hiking. Harry getting a near perfect start from the committee boat end, lead from start line to finish, extending downwind, sailing by the lee with a good downwind angle. Harry and Thomas finished ahead of myself at the finish.
In the 4.2 fleet, it was Parkstone's Sacha who took the bullet, from the 2 Bristol sailors, Finley ahead of Brooke. Hattie had her best result of the day finishing a commendable 4th.
Race 3 started with an even line allowing the previous bunching at the committee end to spread out down the line for a cleaner start. I managed to hold my lane off the start and worked my way up the middle of the course playing the shifts, putting me in the lead at the windward mark. As was the theme of the day, Harry worked his way closer on the downwind allowing him to just pip me at the line achieving his 2nd well deserved race win, with Thomas in 3rd. At this point, sadly, Thomas had to head in as his pre-existing injury was starting to give him some pain, not a bad mornings sailing though with a 1, 2 and 3.
Sacha had got the taste for winning, as he took a second bullet in race 3, ahead of Finley, the battle between these two sailors was the story of the day in the 4.2 fleet, Matteo from Parkstone took 3rd this time.
For race 4 the line had a 15 degrees bias on the pin end which was quickly spotted by the race winner Holly in the 5.3 fleet and Matteo in the 4.2 fleet, both crossing the entire fleet, earning them spot prizes and a handshake from ILCA guru John Emmett at the prize-giving. We all set about trying to reel in Holly, but she sailed clear to extend to an impressive lead, taking the final race win, she's probably still smiling now as you read this report. Harry again pipped me to the line ahead of Ethan.
In the event deciding final race for the 4.2 sailors, it was Bristol's Finley or Parkstone's Sacha that would take the honours. Unfortunately for Sacha, he sailed his discard, so Finley won the event on countback, 1,2,2,1 is an impressive scoreline.
HalSail Results (kxcdn.com)
With Thomas having sailed ashore, Harry was already the event winner, 2,1,1,2 matching Finley's low scoreline. With Thomas and I filling out the top 3 positions, Holly was first girl in 4th overall.
HalSail Results (kxcdn.com)
Well done to all the competitors and thank you for allowing Ethan & I to join you, if you could guarantee sun and breeze, we may join you again for the next event at Saltash SC.
Castle Cove sailing club were excellent hosts, we would recommend racing there if the opportunity presents itself.