McNamara back in winning form

The latest round of the Albacore Traveller'sTrophy was held on Saturday 15th September at Stewartby Water Sports Club near Bedford. Stewartby is an excellent venue which is easily accessed being just off the M1 . The visiting Albs travelled from as far afield as Norfolk, Lymington, Blithfield, Nottingham and Hawley Lake.

A light breeze ruffled the water during rigging and this had picked up to a steady force 2 to 3 by the time racing was due to start. After briefing race officer Karl Pountney set a good course around a series of buoys all marked with coloured flags for ease of identification. Race one got under way without delay with ten boats heading up the first beat to buoy 7. Michael McNamara new crew Tim Linsell in 6493 and Neville Herbert crewed by Mark Fowler in 8155 were the two lead boats at the windward mark closely followed by Martin and Dawn Anderson in 8080. Next were Steve Bailey and Sophie Todd in 5881, Andy Pearce and Ian Simpson in 7525 and then a quintet of local boats – Bill Strange and I Parish in 7158, Dave Grummitt and Peter Billington in 7423, Neville Soderberg and Les in 1789, Sue and Gerry Howcroft in 511 and last but not least John and Abigail Lugg sailing 1597 in their first Open: John having only eight weeks experience of sailing! As the race developed positions were hotly contended at the front between Michael McNamara and Nev Herbert, then a race long mid-fleet battle between Steve Bailey and Andy Pearce for fourth place – Steve never gives up, and finally a battle between locals Dave Grummitt and Bill Strange. The finishing positions were Michael McNamara taking first. Nev Herbert second, Martin Anderson third, Andy Pearce fourth, Steve Bailey fifth, Dave Grummitt sixth, Bill Strange seventh, and Sue Howcroft eighth. Neville Soderberg and John Lugg retired.

After lunch two races were run back to back with the wind easing a little and then freshening. Michael McNamara again showed Nev Herbert a clear view of his transom taking the second race with Nev retaining second and again Martin Anderson finishing in third place. Although this in effect decided the places for the series the third race was no less competitive. The lead boats were again Michael and Nev and the positions swapped several times during the race with Michael finally managing to secure his third win of the day with Nev a close second. This time Steve Bailey managed to pull up in to third place after another race long duel with Andy Pearce.

The final positions were Michael McNamara in first place, Nev Herbert in second, Martin Anderson in third and Steve Bailey in fourth. Last of the visiting Albs was Andy Pearce in fifth. The local placings were Bill Strange in sixth, Neville Soderberg in seventh, Dave Grummitt in eighth, Sue Howcroft in ninth and finally John Lugg in tenth. The winners were presented with bottles of wine and Michael McNamara thanked the host club for a well-run event and an excellent day of 'blue sky' racing.