Lymington Rover Scow Association Travellers' Trophy

Travellers are on the decline in the West Solent and we want more of them. The Lymington Rover Scow Association's Travellers' Trophy is made up of three races over the summer sailing season.

Firstly there is traditional round the cans racing in the Solent under the lea of Hurst Spit hosted by Keyhaven Yacht Club, secondly a figure of eight course around Pylewell and Oxey islands at the mouth of Lymington River organised by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club and then two river races hosted by Beaulieu River Sailing Club.

Being Lymington River Scows, single handed boats without a jib compete with the identical PY handicap with double handed scows with a jib. The series provides an excellent test of participating sailors' skills both in home waters and then in more unfamiliar conditions.

Sadly numbers have been on the decline and this year, whilst there were a total of 6 competitors only two managed to sail all of the 4 races at the three venues. If possible the competing scows sail to the venues, but conditions do not always allow for this, and indeed this year only Angus Raby of KYC managed to sail to Lymington's figure of eight race. There were plans for a trip from Keyhaven to Beaulieu last Saturday, but whilst the forecast 10 to 12 knots SSW wind up the Solent on a flood tide would have been ideal the 25 knot SW wind against tide forecast for the afternoon return trip was just too daunting, and potentially damaging to say the least.

So congratulations to Nick and Amanda Langford of KYC for winning this year's "Trophy", well there isn't even a real trophy, and to Angus Raby and Jay Devonshire for joint runners up. Come on Scow sailors, let's have a much higher turnout next year, it is a great way to challenge yourselves in different conditions and to improve integration and co-operation between our local clubs.