The final three events in the 2015 UK Traveller Trophy series have been completed and the 2015 Champions decided.

On September 16th, Rutland Sailability hosted the sailors for another leg in the Traveller Trophy series, which was also the final leg of the Northern TT series.

With a poor weather forecast, the numbers seemed down on previous events in the series. However, the sun broke through and the shore crew made short work of getting all boats on the water and ready.

At the briefing the Race Officer suggested that there be three races back to back and then a break for lunch. This was a good plan as the weather held off for the racing, and when everyone headed for the pontoon the consensus was to leave it as three races and once again the shore crew made short work of getting everything packed away.

Rutland TT Results:

Hansa 2.3 Class                                Hansa 303 One Person Class
1st Steve Osborne, Rutland                1st James Woosnam, Frensham
2nd Phil Mason, Rutland                    2nd Leslie Philips, Tideway
3rd John Coombes, Rutland               3rd Tessa Watkiss, Frensham

Hansa 303 Two Person Class                               Liberty Class
1st Rik Hughes/John Haward, Rutland                     1st Pat Crowley, Rutland
2nd Leanne Birney/Chris Godwin, Rutland             2nd Chris Emmet, Rutland
3rd Peter Etherton/Peta Etherton, Frensham         3rd Ric Cassell, Rutland

On September 30th, sailors moved to Frampton Sailability in  Gloucestershire for the final event in the 2015 Western Series and the penultimate event in the 2015 National Series.

A sunny day greeted the 12 competitors and, with this event being the last event of the 2015 Hansa Western TT Series, it gave the racing added importance to the results for many of the sailors.

The individual race results were very changeable during the day making for some interesting final results. In the Liberty class David Durston had a resounding win in the first race with Melvin Kinnear taking the second. In the Hansa 303 one person Alison Grant came first with James Woosnam third and again in the second race these positions were swapped. In the Hansa 303 two person class Steve Emery and Mark Smyth took the honours in the first race with Glynis Dawe and Hugh Lansdown taking the second race.

After lunch, with some stronger gusts coming through and the wind changing direction 45 degrees, the course was reset to a simple figure of eight for the last two back to back races, however the competition was still fierce.

Frampton TT Results:

Hansa 2.3 class
1st Colin Cavanagh (Frampton)

Hansa 303 one person Class
1st James Woosnam (Frensham)
2nd Alison Grant (Frensham)
3rd Tessa Watkiss (Frensham)
4th Leslie Philip (Tideway)

Hansa 303 two person Class
1st Steve Emery and Mark Smyth (Frampton)
2nd Glynis Dawe and Hugh Lansdown (Tideway)
3rd Martin Hadley and Steve Kitson (New Forest)
4th Philip Hall and Dick Foyle (Chesil)
5th Rick Hughes and John Hayward (Rutland)

Hansa Liberty Class
1st Melvin Kinnear (Tideway)
2nd David Durston (Whitefriars)

For the 11th and final event of the 2015 series, competitors returned on October 7th to Frensham Sailability in Surrey. This event concluded both the 2015 Southern Series and the 2015 Hansa Class National Series.

The day followed a week of rain was overcast with occasional drizzle, but a light south westerly wind that increased through the day provided good close quarter racing. Taking part were teams from the home club plus Rutland, Whitefriars, Thames Tideway, New Forest and Chesil Portland.

The racing was close with the home team dominating in all classes apart from the Liberty where Whitefriars David Durston took the honours winning two races and one second place. In the smallest 2.3 design the home team dominated despite the absence of Frensham’s own 2013 European champion Lindsay Burns.

In the 303 Hansa single-handed it was a clean sweep for the home club with Tessa Watkiss scoring three straight first places and Kate Hedley from the home club second.

With the 303 doubles the contest was more open. The winner was Frensham husband and wife team Peter and Peta Etherton. Second place was awarded to: Martin Hadley and Steve Kitson from New Forest SC with London Tideway’s duo; Glynis Dawes and Hugh Lansdowne in third and local duo Andy Sheath and Kate Lintott fourth.

2015 Frensham Hansa TT Results:

Hansa 2.3 class
1st Ann Lewis (Frensham)
2nd Gregor Parker (Frensham)
3rd Harry Kenniggton (Frensham)

Hansa 303 one person Class
1st Tessa Watkiss (Frensham)
2nd Kate Hedley (Frensham)
3rd James Woosnam (Frensham)

Hansa 303 two person Class
1st Peter and Peta Etherton (Frensham)
2nd Martin Hadley and Steve Kitson (New Forest)
3rd Glynis Daws and Hugh Lansdowne (Tideway-London)

Hansa Liberty Class
1st David Durston (Whitefriars)
2nd Melvin Kinnear (Tideway-London)
3rd Chris Emmet (Rutland)

So, with all races completed, the final results in the

2015 Hansa Northern TT Series Overall winners:

Hansa 2.3 Class
1st Lindsay Burns, Frensham
Hansa 303 One Person Class
1st Leslie Philips, Tideway – London
Hansa 303 Two Person Class
1st Andy Sheath / Kate Lintott, Frensham
Liberty Class
1st Pat Crowley, Rutland

Hansa Southern TT Series Overall winners

Hansa 2.3 class
1st Lindsay Burns (Frensham)
Hansa 303 one person Class
1st Tessa Watkiss (Frensham)
Hansa 303 two person Class
1st Martin Hadley and Steve Kitson (New Forest)
Hansa Liberty Class
1st Melvin Kinnear (Tideway)
2015 Hansa Western TT Series Overall winners

Hansa 2.3 class
1st Lindsay Burns (Frensham)
Hansa 303 one person Class
1st James Woosnam (Frensham)
Hansa 303 two person Class
1st Martin Hadley and Steve Kitson (New Forest)
Hansa Liberty Class
1st Melvin Kinnear (Tideway)

Hansa National TT Series Results: (top three)

Hansa 2.3 class
1st Lindsay Burns (Frensham)
2nd Gregor Parker (Frensham)
3rd Lara Sturgis (Frensham)

Hansa 303 one person Class
1st Tessa Watkiss (Frensham)
2nd James Woosnam (Frensham)
3rd Leslie Philip (Tideway-London)

Hansa 303 two person Class
1st Andy Sheath and Kate Lintott (Frensham)
2nd Martin Hadley and Steve Kitson (New Forest)
3rd Phillip Hall and Dick Foyle (Chesil)

Hansa Liberty Class
1st Melvin Kinnear (Tideway-London)
2nd David Durston (Whitefriars)
3rd Paul Philips (Frensham)

Team Trophy
1st Frensham
2nd Tideway-London
3rd Rutland

More information can be found on the UK Hansa Class Association website, including full results and news reports from all events.

Congratulations to all competitors and those who contributed stories and photos across the series.