Contender Travellers Trophy round 7 at Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club

Contender Travellers Trophy round 7 at Hythe and Saltwood © Jon Shillibeer

On the weekend of 16/17 August Hythe & Saltwood Sailing Club hosted the 7th event in the British Contender Association Travellers' Trophy 2025. Those who made the trip to the SE Kent coast were rewarded with a great weekend - on and off the water.

After only recently returning from the epic, 170 boat, World Championship at Malcesine on Lake Garda there were understandably some of the UK fleet that couldn't attend the HSSC event due to family commitments, brownie-point deficits etc. They missed out on some great sailing. The weather-gods served up conditions that were perfect for easy launch and recovery and made for excellent racing.

The first race got under way shortly after midday on the Saturday under a slightly overcast sky but with balmy air and sea temperatures. The wind was obliquely-offshore from the the NE ranging between 13 and 18 knots and with some substantial and hard-to-predict shifts. After a clear start (almost unbelievably there were no recalls all weekend) the first beat gave a good indicator of what was to come, with Simon Mussell and Ed Presley fastest away and tussling for the lead (differing views were later to heard as to whether said tussling involved a rule infraction by Simon, but there were no handbags-at-dawn over it).

After taking an advantageous hitch to the left, Adrian Smith was lined up to slip into third at the windward mark but, in the first of a few klutz-moments, contrived to tip it in on his tack. This allowed brother Rob and the rest of the fleet to pile past him as the fleet set off down the reach.

After the gybe mark it became apparent to many that perhaps they should have paid more attention to the course diagram and description of the marks, as a choice confronted them as to whether the leeward mark was the yellow pillar buoy or the round pink one. Rob Smith (ever the helpful gentleman) directed Simon and some of the other leading boats towards the yellow pillar buoy which was furthest downwind.

Of course the correct mark was the other one!

Simon had just enough of a lead to hold onto first place despite sailing the extra distance but Rob and some others dropped places (third to eighth in Rob's case). Adrian (having the advantage of surveying the scene from the back of the fleet) was able to sail straight to the pink buoy and into second place.

The first two places stayed like that until the finish. Ed was third, Martin Jones fourth and Rob - after frantically playing catch-up - got back to fifth. Further back it was good to see Roger White (back from measurement duties at Malcesine) out and racing.

Contender Travellers Trophy round 7 at Hythe and Saltwood - photo © Tony Wyatt

Having a less good time was Tony Cook whose boom decided to whack him about the head more than once following which Tony wisely decided to sit out the rest.

The fleet having worked out which mark was which, race 2 was a more conventional affair. Simon and Ed again vied for the lead with Simon winning out. Adrian was again well placed rounding the first windward mark and, being a local, should have known how much tide was running, but contrived to moor himself to the mark by his rudder, allowing Rob and others to breeze past. After much effort on the downwind legs in particular Adrian managed to climb back up to fourth and hold off Martin Jones in fifth.

The wind had been building gradually during the day and some of the fleet were starting to feel it as they set off for the third race. Up the front Simon was going quick and again managed to hold off Ed, with Rob going well again to take third place. Martin Jones was showing some good pace upwind in particular and took a well deserved fourth, closely followed by Hythe's own Tom Coley - enjoying the stronger breeze, as was Richard Buttner, who sailed consistently throughout.

The leeward mark round-up was proving increasingly tricky for some tired sailors. Nick Curry flipped it in and Adrian, focusing too much on trying to thread the needle between Nick's hull and the buoy contrived to do the same!

The fleet were helped safely ashore and up the beach by the many HSSC members who helped out all weekend. The sun had come out fully now allowing everyone to enjoy refreshments on the deck followed by an excellent meal that evening and, of course, more beer and wine than was sensible.

Contender Travellers Trophy round 7 at Hythe and Saltwood - photo © Jon Shillibeer

Sunday dawned with glamour conditions. The wind had clicked round to a lovely steady breeze between E and SE, starting around 15 knots and building throughout the day, and there was wall-to-wall sunshine. Race officers Chris Barnes and Howie Wilson, ably assisted by the RIB crews, nailed the course layout and mark-choice, ensuring no room for any confusion and race 4 got away with the fleet blasting upwind at speed.

Again it was Simon and Ed duke-ing it out for the lead but this time Ed managed to score the win, with Rob not far behind in third and Martin taking fourth. Behind these the racing was very close. Adrian decided that he could two-foot the second reach, but that message didn't reach his feet, which decided to part company with the pro-grip, resulting in an instant swim and waving goodbye to hopes of beating Tom, who scored fifth place.

Just after the start of race 5 Rob and Simon tacked onto port simultaneously to head out to sea, leaving Richard Buttner little time to thread the needle through a nearly non-existent gap between the two. Somehow he managed it!

Contender Travellers Trophy round 7 at Hythe and Saltwood - photo © Tony Wyatt

Thereafter, normal service was resumed at the front, with Simon back to winning ways, followed by Ed and then Rob. In the building breeze and some substantial waves tacking needed full focus. Unfortunately for Tom he got into irons on one critical tack and then dropped it, allowing Adrian to sail away to take fourth and also letting Nick and Richard through as well.

By the start of the last race the wind was properly cranking through. The first reach was a fantastic blast on the wire, whilst the broader second reach was a 'sit down and hang on' job. Mr Google's translation of an Italian report of the Worlds at Malcesine describes Simon as "His Majesty of the Winds of the century". So it proved, with Simon again blasting away to take the win, ahead of Ed.

Tom (upright this time) was enjoying the stronger breeze and had a close battle with Rob throughout, though Rob (Mr Consistent) managed to snatch another third place, with Tom in fourth, Adrian fifth and Nick and Richard sixth and seventh.

Accepting his well deserved prize for winning the event, Simon ("HMW") thanked the Hythe & Saltwood club members for the effort put in by so many to make this a really enjoyable event. Next event on the UK calendar is the Nationals at Shoreham SC where we all hope for some more great sailing.

Contender Travellers Trophy round 7 at Hythe and Saltwood - photo © Adrian Smith

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