SYC Holywell hosted the Traveller Series Rnd 7 yesterday, which was the final round of the series. Round 6 was unfortunately cancelled last month due to ex TC Alfred, so going into yesterday morning we had nearly a tie at the top of the leaderboard with Steve Shale 1 point ahead of Kelvin Holdt with no one else realistically in the hunt for the top step of the seasons podium.

We had, probably, the windiest round of the series with 18-20kts and gusts of mid 20's at times and wind against tide in the channel off Holywell. So the club brought the course in close to the yacht club to keep a bit of a closer eye on things given the number of younger sailors on the water. To their credit, they left the decision to race up to the sailors and reinforced this to the younger sailors - as it should be !! But race we did. I'd like to say it was fun, and there were parts that were. There were some memorable runs downwind sitting on the back tank and water going everywhere while sailing about 2 or 3 boat lengths off the beach to avoid the tide was one of them. But it was a day to remember how physical the OK's can be to get around the course at times.

2 races were held, with this Traveller Round being sailed as part of the SYC Off the Beach Dinghies Championship series for the day. Race 1 was a big 3 lapper with the SE wind against the tide in full flow, meaning the right edge of the beat didnt generally pay as you had to stay middle / left, both to stay in the tide underneath you as well as generally the breeze was flicking left in the gusts. Simon and Steve of course headed right looking for flatter water while Kelvin banged the left and half way up the 1st beat had a handy lead. An untimely swin by Kelvin approaching the top mark unfortunately handed the lead to Steve. All the OK's headed down the western side of the channel down the run with Simon and Kelvin carrying a big puff down to Steve. But unfortunately that same puff caused carnage at the bottom trying to turn the corner with Steve sneaking around before the gust and Kel and Simon both going for a swim - unfortunately right off the beach in front of too many witnesses to get away with not paying out on the capsize jugs in the after match. Bugger !! Steve wining the race, from Kel and then Simon / Ben (IYKYK)

Race 2 was a slightly shorter 2 lapper and possibly windier than R1. Although with the tide approaching the latter part of it's cycle and slowing down the water was generally a little flatter and in terms of sailiing an OK it just became a power game. And the taller, fitter Steve basically just wound up his Maverick Hull and sent it with Kel and Simon just watching him sail away to win the day and the series.

So in a week that was, for Steve personally a very tough week, it was great to be able to present Steve the Qld OK Championship trophy for winning the 24/25 Qld OK Dinghy Traveller series. Congrats mate, well sailed.

Finn Shirt Steve ??

The idea of the Traveller series for the Qld OK sailors was to try and get the now disparate fleets around Brisbane and the Gold Coast together once a month or so over the summer season. So we've had a number of sailors take part in the series at different events over the length of the series. The trophy was meant to be secondary to the get together aspect of the series, but anyone who races dinghies and likes to do well will always have a competitive streak sneak in. Naturally the top placings over the course of the series were filled by sailors who took part in all or most of the rounds available. To me though, Kelvin and Steve both missing 1 round each over the season meant that their fight for the trophy yesterday was a pretty fair reflection on how well they'd sailed for 6 months. These types of series carry a risk of someone winning by attending more events. Thankfully that wasn't the case yesterday and it was great that it was genuinely a shootout for the trophy in the last round.

We got a great mix of conditons over the series. A day of big long waves and awesome reaches on a Trapezoid course at RQ a couple of times. Some sendy sendy days at SYC Holywell a couple of times as well as some really light and variable days at Humpybong and one of the RQ rounds. Thankfuly it was the people who turned up to each round that made it so much fun. Schooey Lattes pre race and between races when we race at SYC - can't go wrong !! So all and all this summers Traveller series seemed to work pretty well and planning is already underway for next summers series.

Final results

Out.