Craftinsure Topper Series at Datchet Water Sailing Club
by Miles Palmer 16 Apr 2008 22:37 BST
12-13 April 2008
195 keen Topper sailors descended on Datchet Reservoir for the first Craftinsure Topper National Series event, breaking the record yet again for this prestigious series. The fleet was split into 4 flights with a programme for each flight to sail against each other twice over the weekend.
With a good stiff 16-20knts on the Saturday, after a very pleasant lunch, the fleet got afloat with the intention of sailing three races back to back. After a first trial start under an I flag and general recall the black flag was dusted off by the PRO Peter Short and used for all subsequent races. With the majority of the fleet revelling in the conditions the first pair of flights sailed an outer-loop course of the trapezoid and the race was won by Elliot Hanson, followed by Lorenzo Chiavarini and Richard Cumpsty. The second pair of flights sailed the inner loop course with the race won by Philip Doran showing that the Irish are a force to be reckoned with, and chased by Jonathan Hewat and Sam Knight. With the wind providing regular gusts in the mid 20s, there was much whooping on the downwind legs. Race 2 first pair of flights was won by Richard with Jordan Rumsby and Lorenzo trying to keep up. Race 2 second pair of flights saw Andrew Dawson take the lead chased by Elliot and Douglas Lloyd-Haynes. The wind had progressively shifted left during the afternoon and by the third race the committee boat was on the move to provide enough space for the 0.7nm beat. With the course re-jigged Fergus Barnham showed the first pair of flights the way to go and then back to the shore, Fergus was followed by Lorenzo and Michael Beckett. The second group was won by Dan Bigsby, with Philip and Hugh Brayshaw following.
Sunday dawned with beautiful sunshine and a light 5-8knts, could this be a day for the lighter of the Topper clan. The first group got away cleanly and Michael lead the whole race with Philip and Sam chasing hard. For the second group the wind went left and delivered a heavily pin end biased line. A few sailors made most of the bias and Felicity Foulds lead the whole race only to be adjudged a premature starter, leaving the bullet to go to Elliot with Andrew and Lorenzo following. The wind then proceeded to shift between West and South over the next hour in 15 minute intervals. This allowed just enough time for the race committee to shift and set up the new course three times. Then at one a clock, with the mark layers exhausted and a fly-by from the new A380 super jumbo the wind settled down just enough to get the 5th and what would be the final race underway. Ross Moreton ended with the bullet followed by George Meredith and Elliot. In the second pair of flights Iain Millar lead for most of the course only to find that the final reach had turned into a beat and loose his lead to Lorenzo, Felicity and Philip.
With the top three sailors only counting firsts, seconds or thirds there was only one point in it and it could not be closer. Elliot was the winner on 7pts with Lorenzo taking second on count back from Philip both being on 8pts. Miles Palmer (Chairman of the Topper Class) thanked Craftinsure, Peter Short and Datchet for a wonderful event. The vast number of prizes meant that there were prizes for the top 30 as well as numerous spot prizes. A special prize of a brand new sail presented by the Dinghy store went to Finn Cagier-Smith as the sailor who finished in the middle of the fleet.
A full set of results can be found on the Topper website.