Solution Travellers Series at Delph Sailing Club

Kathryn Hayfield during the Delph Solution open © Dave Hopkins

The first event of the 2013 Travellers Series was the Delph open on 20 April. The day dawned bright and sunny with a nice breeze blowing from the dam wall. 4 visitors joined the 3 home boats for a beautiful day's sailing.

Martin Tubb showed that the recent race training at Leigh & Lowton was worth attending as he took an early lead in the first race. Sam Davy showed his determination to hang on to the Travellers Trophy for another year by being a little too keen on the start line. After being called back, he set about closing down Martin's lead. Pete Warne also put in an appearance at the front of the fleet before the first race finished with Sam in 1st, Martin holding onto 2nd and Pete 3rd.

Race 2 was more of a game of snakes and ladders. Place changes were too numerous to track and at least 4 different boats appeared at the front at different times in the race. When the music stopped, Kathryn Hayfield was holding onto first place with Sam in 2nd and Pete once again 3rd.

With everything to play for in the last race, Sam took a decisive lead and held onto it to the end. Pete was looking a confident second until he was struck by a senior moment and missed out a mark, letting Kevin Clark and Kathryn through and only just holding off Martin. With a bit of determination Pete was able to recover to his customary 3rd place while Kevin hung onto 2nd.

Sam Davy was a worthy winner of the event while second to fifth were very close overall. In the end, Kathryn Hayfield squeezed through to 2nd and Kevin Clark was 3rd. Pete Warne was punished for finishing consistently 3rd, coming 4th overall.

Overall Results:

1st 415, Sam Davy (Hykeham) 2pts
2nd 448, Kathryn Hayfield (Delph) 5pts
3rd 435, Kevin Clark (Delph) 6pts
4th 409, Pete Warne (Northampton) 6pts
5th 446, Martin Tubb (Leigh & Lowton) 7pts
6th 445, Patrick Manning (Delph) 10pts
7th 437, Mark Crowther (Redditch) 13pts