Topper Southwest Traveller Series at Durleigh Sailing Centre
by Brooke Browning 6 Apr 22:48 PDT
29-30 March 2025
The Southwest Traveller Series event was kindly hosted by Durleigh Sailing Club for a weekend of training and racing on the 29th and 30th of March 2025.
A very well attended weekend with many sailors travelling far. It saw some very exciting strong but shifty winds, more some difficult but exciting racing for the 5.3 and 4.2 fleet.
After a great day training on Saturday with the coaches. Racing began on Sunday morning with four races planned in total. There were 2 races in the morning, then a quick break for lunch, then 2 races in the afternoon. After a briefing with the race offer showing us the figure of eight race course. We all launch ready for the first race.
Race 1 started with Ed Lee leading off the start line closely, followed by Edie Phillip's and Leo Kaneko right behind him.
Charlie Mackenzie is having a poor start coming last off the start line but working his socks off and taking the winning of the first race, followed by Ed and Edie.
In the 4.2 James Coles got a 1st and Hattie Steele coming second.
By the second race, Charlie Mackenzie found his stride and was flying around the race course, taking another 1st place but closely followed by George Reynolds in 2nd place. In the 4.2 James Coles got 1st and a Hattie, Steele got second.
Race 3 the wind were still very strong and shifty, straight of the start line Brooke Browning taking the led followed by Ed Lee both battling it out for 1st, changing position on the last lap as Ed closed her down taking 1st place and Brooke taking 2nd place, followed by Charlie Mackenzie. In the 4.2 fleet, James took 1st, and Hattie took a second.
Race 4 great start from all sailors battling all the way to the windward mark. Edie is leading the pack closely, followed by Charlie and George and Brooke and Ed battling it out for second place. Charlie is taking 1st place with Brooke and Ed battling it out right to the finishing line, Ed just takes second by an inches, putting Brooke in third.
The fleet was safely escorted back to the slip way, ready for prize-giving.
Overall Results:
5.3 fleet
1st Charlie Mackenzie
2nd Ed Lee
3rd Brooke Browning
4th Edie Phillip's
5th Amelie Ballantyne
4.2 fleet
1st James Coles
2nd Hattie Steele
Thank you to the club and race community for doing an amazing job and thank you to all the competitors for making some good but challenging races.