Catapult TT at the Grafham Catamaran Open

Gareth Ede sails to victory in the Jon Montgomery Travellers Trophy series - Catapult TT at the Grafham Catamaran Open © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Gareth Ede took the 2025 Jon Montgomery Travellers Trophy in fine style with six straight wins and a near perfect scoreline for the whole season.

Five Catapult helms took part in the last event of their season, held as part of the Grafham Catamaran Open over the weekend of 18-19 October. It marked the finale of two series: the Jon Montgomery Travellers Trophy and the Alastair Forrest Personal Handicap Trophy.

Day 1 was characterised by a Force 2 to 3 breeze. The Catapults sailed as part of the Medium Handicap fleet on a trapezoid course.

Race 1

Gareth Ede was first to the windward mark followed by John Terry, George Evans, Stuart Ede and Chris Phillips. Gareth and John increased their lead over the next two laps and were sent around for a third lap, while George, Stuart and Chris in that order were finished at the end of Lap 2. Fortunately the breeze held for the third lap, so there was no disruption to the final positions. Gareth's lead was large enough to give him second place on personal handicap behind George, despite a punishing rating.

Race 2

Gareth was first to the windward mark, but he hit the buoy and had to take a penalty turn, enabling John to take the lead on the top reach. George rounded in third place. On the top reach of Lap 2 the tables were turned, and Gareth overtook John. On that same top reach, but this time on Lap 3, Gareth benefited from a sustained gust that enabled him increase his lead finishing two and a half minutes ahead of John. Meanwhile on the last lap Chris managed to sail higher and faster upwind than Stuart to grab fourth place behind George, and this result gave him a first place on personal handicap.

John Terry picks up a gust on his way to second in the TT series - Catapult TT at the Grafham Catamaran Open - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 3

George pulled out all the stops to be first to the windward mark ahead of Gareth, and he held his lead around the whole of the first lap. On the second beat Gareth banged the left corner while George tacked right rather sooner. Gareth's tactic worked as he rounded the windward mark in the lead. Stuart, who had followed in his son's footsteps (oh, how times have changed!) rounded the mark on George's heels, as John, who had gone right up the beat came in on starboard to round close behind. On the third lap Gareth repeated his tactic of banging the left corner and increased his lead. Meanwhile on the last run Stuart and John had drawn level with George, but he kept his nose in front to take second place with John and Stuart finishing in quick succession behind him. Chris, who was only a minute back, claimed his second win on personal handicap.

In only his second event of the season Chris Phillips scored three wins on personal handicap - Catapult TT at the Grafham Catamaran Open - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 4

Day 2 dawned with a better wind ranging from Force 3 to the top end of Force 4, which made for some exciting reaches. Only four Catapults started the first race, because Chris could not make it in time from where he was staying. Gareth established an early lead from John and George, until a broken mainsheet strop forced John to retire. Gareth went on to win by a margin of three and a half minutes over George, though it was not enough to stop George adding a win to his personal handicap score.

Race 5

Two close fought battles were a key feature of this race: for first place between Gareth and John, and between Chris and Stuart for fourth place. Chris, who had been lying fifth after the first lap, caught up with and overtook Stuart on the beat, only for Stuart to get ahead on the run. Then on the next beat Chris forged ahead again. He was still ahead as they rounded the penultimate mark, but Stuart cranked up the speed on the reach to overtake and round the last mark a few boat lengths ahead, a lead which he held to the line. Meanwhile Gareth and John were sent round for another lap as George, who was some way behind the leaders but close enough to claim a third personal handicap win, was finished when the course was shortened. Gareth held off John's challenge to win with a two minute lead.

Race 6

Chris seemed destined for stardom when he rounded the first windward mark in second place close behind Gareth. Chris was still in second place on the last run when John drew level, which is when disaster struck. Chris ploughed into the mark, where he got stuck with it between his two hulls. John, who feared he may have been at fault in not giving Chris enough room, did a penalty turn. This gave George the opportunity to overtake them both and claim second place just four seconds ahead of John. Chris, who finished fourth, had the consolation of scoring his third win on personal handicap.

Level rating results - Jon Montgomery Travellers Trophy Series:

Gareth's cracking performance crowned an outstanding run in which he won every event in the 2025 Jon Montgomery Travellers Trophy Series and won every race except two, making him a worthy winner of the trophy. John Terry's impressive run of seconds and thirds across the season secured him second place in the series, and George took third place overall.

George Evans claimed the Alastair Forrest Trophy by adding another event win on personal handicap at Grafham - Catapult TT at the Grafham Catamaran Open - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Personal handicap results - Alastair Forrest Personal Handicap Trophy Series:

George's win on personal handicap cemented his hold on the Alastair Forrest Trophy having led for most of the season. He comfortably held off a late challenge from Stuart who came second overall. In a surprise development Gareth, who managed to outperform his stiff rating at Grafham, overtook John by just one point to grab third place in the series.

Stuart Ede, 2024 winner of the Alastair Forrest Trophy, had to be content with second place this year - Catapult TT at the Grafham Catamaran Open - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP