Volvo GJW Direct Topper Winter Regatta at the WPNSA
by Andre Ozanne 3 Mar 2016 11:56 GMT
27-28 February 2016
Stokes Bay sailors Zoe Belben and Leuan Harrison lapping up the conditions during the Volvo GJW Direct Topper Winter Regatta at the WPNSA © Peter Newton
With conditions sent from Siberia the prize giving photo may show a lot of prize winners but everyone that took part were also winners in dogged determination. The class is extremely pleased to be able to welcome back for this season our Gold Sponsor GJW Direct insurance and new for this season our other Gold sponsor Volvo Cars.
With a NE breeze set in on Friday evening in the low 20 knot range and looking set for the weekend with a potential drop off on Sunday, warm sailing and shore gear was the order of the day.
Saturdays racing was postponed for an hour as preparations for the high wind strengths were made the 152 5.3 sailors launched in a flurry of flogging sails, the four flights getting out to a race area not too far from the inner harbour. Three races were run with quite a number of general recalls a shorter start line has been adopted for National Series events and sailors may have needed some time to adjust to the holding station techniques needed. Daniel Thompson Queen Mary SC notched up the first race of the day and Harry Pulford Liyn Brenig SC took the second flight's first race, Elliot Kuzyk Parkstone YC then followed with two straight wins and he lead the leader board overnight Dan Thompson and Nicholas Welbourn Hykenham SC following along with good averages. Race 3 took its toll on many sailors with winds approaching 27 knots with a constant 24, that along with the wind chill made getting back to shore for some food and warmth a necessity.
The 4.2 fleet where released after the 5.3 had reached their race area the 4.2s were snuggled closer to the causeway the favourite area for high speed flat water windsurfing. Not to day with the NE giving a reasonable fetch across the harbour these young sailors were given some testing wavy conditions. Finlay Swanton Felpham SC took the first race of the day and Monique V-O took the second race, Jock Fellows RO took the wise decision that with wind and waves building and sailors starting to look very cold to send all ashore for the day. Samuel Carr recently transitioned from Optimists had a gruelling journey just getting to Weymouth travelling a huge distance from Loch Venachar in Scotland he showed great determination and skill to get out sailing on both days Top hat off to him!
It was a similar story for most sailors food and rest and prepare for the same again, Sunday dawned and the sun came out the wind did pretty much the same not easing until another 3 races were completed for both fleets. Elliot kept up the string of firsts to control the 5.3 fleet Dan Thompson worked hard to keep Nicholas out of second place. With such a testing championship with high numbers of competitors and high wind speeds kit and stamina were tested to full. The Top hat must come off again for the 5.3 fleet, one young guy Joe Parrett in a Topper aged 41 years old no doubt older than some parents and coaches, completed every race without any failures, also this being his first National series regatta, he may not have received the Optimum Time endeavour prize but perhaps he should have!
Sunday for the 4.2's looked initially more promising with calmer water but by the time they had launched the waves and white horses had return and it was business as usual. Today saw Jack Berry take control of the day with Finlay, Monique, Leo Wilkinson, Matilda Gregson, Noah Sheriff, Alex Head, Bill Hudson, Iwan Roberts, James Deaton, Josie Meridth and Maisie Bristow all competing hard amongst this group for individual places it was a pleasure to observe such skill and determination at such young ages. Timothy Evans stuck at it and completed every race this being his first National Series Regatta thanks to Optimum Time for the endeavour prize. On behalf of the first three sailors thanks to Sailing Solutions by Rooster for their continued sponsorship of the 4.2 fleet I expect their sailing kit will come in very useful.
Results:
It's on to Datchet next for the Volvo GJW Topper National Series 3 on 16-17th April.
The Class Association's link to the entry page is at www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php . Please feel free to email the secretary if you have any questions regarding membership or entry procedure.
The Friendly Class looks forwarded to seeing new and old faces in Datchet.