Harken Topper Nationals at Pwllheli Sailing Club

Topper nationals at Pwllheli © Andy Green / www.fotoboat.com

Topper nationals at Pwllheli © Andy Green / www.fotoboat.com

The 2012 Harken Topper Nationals at Pwllheli Sailing Club attracted 312 sailors starting on 20th July.

After briefing on the first day the sailors ventured out into a heavy swell and winds consistently around 20 knots and more in the gusts - a real baptism of fire which caused a few breakages in the fleet.

With the fleet split into yellow red and blue for the first three days and intended to be re-flighted at the end of each day winners of race 1 were respectively Aled Goddard from Bala SC, William Tarn Chapman from Derwent SC and Matthew Stevens from Burgfield SC, while seconds went to Giles Kuzyk from Parkstone YC, Lawrence Logan from Notts County SC and Aaron Murray from Loch Earn SC. Thirds went to Ross McFarlane from Castle Cove SC, Ellie Cumpsty from Chew Valley SC and Mari Davies from the host club.

Race two saw firsts achieved by Ross McFarlane, William Tarn-Chapman and Matthew Stevens, seconds by Giles Kuzyk, Aled Goddard and Hamish Streeter from Hayling Island SC and thirds by Lawrence Logan, Niall Houston and Merrick Stanley Llandegfedd SC.

Race three saw wins by Giles Kuzyk, Ross McFarlane and William Tarn-Chapman, seconds by Ellie Cumpsty, Lawrance Logan and Hugh Braidwood from Beccles ASC Sailors achieving thirds were Aled Goddard, Niall Houston from Hayling Island SC and Hamish Streeter before they returned ashore at low tide for the long drag up the beach.

Racing Abandoned

The next day saw even stronger winds and a forecast of building winds so quite early the decision was made to abandon racing for the day.

Day three saw a launch into light winds, which veered 180 degrees after the course had been set, and then changed again allowing two starts, before it died completely. The decision was made to bring the sailors ashore in the hope that it built, which it didn't.

With three heavy weather races in theory a qualification series had taken place, but with light forecasts and needing to get three more races in for a championship the decision was made to split into just Gold and Silver fleets and move into the Championship Series.

Racing Resumes

Day four saw a forecast of light winds and the sailors launched to face start lines of over 135 boats. The first race saw the Gold Fleet being won by Dan Venables from Sutton SC, second to Lawrence Logan, third to Tom Purdoe from Stranford Lough YC, fourth to Ben Jennings from Rutland and fifth to Dougie Power from Waterford Harbour SC. In the silver fleet first went to Patrick Croghan from Queen Mary SC, second to Ben Whaley from Swanage, third to Crispin Beaumont from Bartley, fourth to Alexander Hughes and fifth to Peter Daniels, both from Sutton SC

Race two of the day saw a building wind and Gold Fleet being won by Liam Glynn from Ballyhome YC, second to Aoife Hopkins from Howth YC, third to Emma Phillips from Starcross SC, fourth to Ben Jennings and fifth to Dougie Power. Winner in the silver fleet was Crispin Beaumont, second going to Marcus Tressler from Middle Nene SC, third to Alexander Hughes, fourth to Patrick Groghan and fifth to Patrick Keech of Bough Beech.

Race three of the day in Gold Fleet went to Giles Kuzyk, second to Dougie Power, third to Ross McFarlane, fourth to Aled Goddard and fifth to Niall Houston. In Silver Sophia Harper from Bosham SC took the bullet from Thomas Moore from Skerries SC, Marcus Tressler, then Thomas Wallwork from Redesmere and Callum Symmons form ASYC.

Black Flags Prevail

The competitors weren't expecting it but a fourth race took place and with a significant number of the gold fleet black flagged. The winner was Felix Crowther from Hayling Island SC, second went to Dougie Power, third to Matthew Stevens, fourth to William Tarn Chapman and fifth to Hamish Streeter. In the Silver fleet there were also a few black flags but the winner was Thomas Moore now starting a charge up the rankings, second went to Jack Cammann from Ely SC third to Patrick Keech, fourth to Kieran Graham from South Shields and fifth over the line Niamh Doran from Courtown SC, but the place was subsequently lost in the protest room..

Some of the 'Black Flag brigade decided to protest the race committee on running a fourth race which caused some angst amount the competitors and delays the next morning whilst it was still being sorted out, which allowed a light northerly to fill in.

Day five races saw a Gold Fleet win in the first race for Paris Thomas from Paignton SC, second to Felix Crowther, third to Dan Venables, fourth to Tilly James and fifth to Ellie Cumpsty. Silver Fleet race one was won again by Thomas Moore, second went to Patrick Groghan, third to Olly Guess, fourth to Oliver Aldridge from Parkstone and fifth to Alistair Smith from Island Barn RSC.

In race two Gold Winner was Niall Houston from Erica Ruigrok from Rush SC, then Aled Goddard, fourth to Ellie King from Hemsworth Slipper and fifth to Lawrence Logan. Silver Fleet was won by Thomas Wallwork from Ben Whaley, Crispin Beaumont, Tom Jeffery, a Pwllheli sailor and Oliver Aldridge. The sailors then returned ashore. The gold fleet in particular were experiencing a large number of black flags again.

The Last Day

The final day saw a steady 10 knots and sometimes more of northerly wind and a tight climax to the championship with Ross McFarlane just in front. Gold Fleet race ten was won by Giles Kuzyk from Ellie Cumpsty, then Felix Crowther, Dougie Power and Will Tarn Chapman. In Silver Fleet the winner was James Chasty from Redesmere followed by Thomas Moore, then Crispin Beaumont, Dugal Wilson form Loch Venachar SC and Lucy Mearns from Leigh and Lowton.

The final Gold Fleet race saw Giles Kuzyk again won from Ellie Cumpsty, with Luke Cowling from Yorkshire Dales in third, Frankie Dickens from Mumbles fourth and Thomas Clayton from Scaling Dam in fifth. In Silver Fleet it was won by Jack Cammann from Thomas Moore, Marcus Tressler, Peter Daniels and Josh Towne from Redesmere.

Whilst everything was packed up the final protests were heard, results calculated and eventually a presentation.

Silver Fleet was won by Thomas Moore making a worthwhile ferry crossing, from Marcus Tressler, Alexander Hughes, Ben Whaley and Oliver Aldridge with top girls being Niamh Doran in 6th, Lucy Mearns in 12th and Emily Smith from Papercourt in 27th.

So to the climax and Giles Kuzyk had successfully defended his title over an 11 race series from Ross McFarlane, Lawrence Logan, Aled Goddard and Will Tarn-Chapman. Top girls were Tilley James in 10th from Katie Barraclough in 15th and Emma Phillips in 18th.

Overall Results:

Gold Fleet

Silver Fleet

Regatta Fleet