RS Tera Southern Southern Region Traveller Series at Gurnard Sailing Club
by Helen Day 24 Jun 2025 23:21 PDT
14 June 2025
Following the cancellation of both the Warsash and Felpham RS Tera Open meetings due to strong winds, the RS Tera Southern Southern Region Traveller series kicked off at Gurnard SC on the Isle of Wight on Saturday June 14.
Despite another fairly punchy forecast, thirteen visiting sailors made the trip over from the mainland to swell the home entries to 25 boats.
Those that braved it were greeted with glorious island sunshine and winds in the high teens, gusting 20s. Everyone launched, including the younger sailors in Sport class who did well to overcome their nerves on what was a first open meeting for some.
In the first race Louis Rumboll (Royal Lymington YC) took the win in the Sport fleet from club mate Lucas Hill, while Gurnard's Freddie Harrison finished 3rd. In the larger Pro fleet Gurnard sailor Rafe Bradley extended away to win, from Felpham's Joseph Hulse in 2nd and Elsie Jenkinson (Gurnard) in 3rd.
With some strong gusts and a Solent swell there were plenty of capsizes throughout both fleets from the outset, and the Sport fleet was slightly depleted for Race 2. Louis Rumboll, Lucas Hill and Freddie Harrison finished 1-2-3 once again. In the Pros Rafe Bradley and Joseph Hulse also finished 1-2 again, with Gurnard sailor Hannah Yates in 3rd.
By Race 3 the tide had swung, making for an increasingly short chop with wind against waves. Combined with a building breeze, many of the Sport sailors sensibly opted for shore as conditions became challenging. Louis and Lucas took 1st and 2nd again, with Lachlan Walker making it a Lymington clean sweep. In the Pros, Lymington's Olivia MacAlister took the win, from Hannah Yates and Joseph Hulse.
Just three determined RS Tera Sports started Race 4, with Lachlan Walker rewarded for his perseverance with 1st, ahead of Louis and Lucas. Hannah Yates took the final race win for the Pros, with Rafe Bradley 2nd and Edward Knowles (Royal Lymington YC) 3rd.
Overall Results: (top three)
Sports
1st Louis Rumboll
2nd Lucas Hill
3rd Lachlan Walker
Pros
1st Rafe Bradley
2nd Hannah Yates
3rd Joseph Hulse
At the prize-giving the visitors were presented with a token to thank them for making the crossing over, as well as 1st to 3rd prizes for girls and boys in both fleets. Awards for perseverance, including continuing on despite multiple capsizes and breakages, went to Faust Keen Borgna and Digby Werrey-Easterbrook. Many thanks to Henri-Lloyd Cowes, for supporting the prizes.
The next RS Tera Southern Region Traveller series will be at Emsworth on September 20.