Topper 4.2 Nationals at Grafham Water Sailing Club
by Miles Palmer 17 May 2008 18:44 BST
3-4 May 2008
The Topper 4.2 is a Topper with a purpose built smaller (4.2Sqm) sail designed for the younger or lighter sailor. As a new initiative the Sailing Solutions 4.2 Nationals was held over the 3rd and 4th May at Grafham, alongside the Topper Inlands. The format was to complete 6 races over two days with one discard.
With 20 boats on the start line there was much jockeying for position, PRO John Smalley set them a significant course taking one square of a Trapezoid with a half mile beat, which have about a 40 minute race. Race 1 started in a pleasant 12Knt breeze from the SE and Lawrence Logan showed he had mastered the conditions, he was followed by Lucy Yeates and Dan Venables.
After a brief rest ashore race two proceeded increasingly fresh conditions, with Edward Sharrock taking the bullet from Matthew Mercer and James Purcell. The final race of Saturday with a fair amount of port bias saw the pin end group establish an early and unassailable lead, Lucy took the bullet from Matthew and William Massey.
Sunday dawned with little wind, but built to 8Knts when the fleet launched. Lucy had the bit between her teeth and secured the Bullet in race 4 followed by Lawrence and Dan. With the wind fading race 5 turned out to be the last race of the event Lawrence established a nice lead and the gun, followed by James Dando and Daniel Crook.
At the prize giving Miles Palmer (Chairman of the Topper Class Association) thanked Dave Cockerill (Sailing Solutions) for a wonderful set of prizes including a brand new 5.3sqm sail for the Winner – Lucy Yeates. Lucy thanked Grafham, her parents and sponsors for all of their support.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 330 | Lucy YEATES | Leigh & Lowton SC | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | -7 | NA | 9 |
| 2 | 226 | Lawrence LOGAN | Notts County Sailing Club | 1 | -11 | 11 | 2 | 1 | NA | 15 |
| 3 | 365 | Dan VENABLES | Sutton | 3 | 8 | (21 DNC) | 3 | 8 | NA | 22 |
| 4 | 606 | Stuart MOORE | Hlstc | 6 | -15 | 4 | 8 | 5 | NA | 23 |
| 5 | 37 | Matthew MERCER | West Lancs Yacht Club | -15 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 14 | NA | 24 |
| 6 | 321 | Christopher TOWERS | Ripon SC | 4 | -10 | 5 | 5 | 10 | NA | 24 |
| 7 | 151 | Daniel CROOK | Cbyc | 12 | 4 | 7 | -17 | 3 | NA | 26 |
| 8 | 177 | William MASSEY | Royal Burnham Yacht Club | 5 | -13 | 3 | 7 | 11 | NA | 26 |
| 9 | 589 | Jamie PURCELL | Redesmere Sailing Club | 7 | 3 | -12 | 10 | 6 | NA | 26 |
| 10 | 7 | Edward SHARROCK | Grafham Water Sailing Club | 8 | 1 | 6 | 13 | -15 | NA | 28 |
| 11 | 16 | Brendan WOOD | Emsworth Slipper Sailing Club | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | -13 | NA | 35 |
| 12 | 281 | Nicholas MORGAN | Thornbury Sailing Club | -16 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 4 | NA | 36 |
| 13 | 248 | Paul SHARROCK | Grafham Water Sailing Club | 10 | 6 | 10 | -16 | 16 | NA | 42 |
| 14 | 304 | Jack HAWKES-SMITH | Teign Corinthian | 11 | 12 | -13 | 12 | 9 | NA | 44 |
| 15 | 60 | James DANDO | Cardiff Bay Yacht Club | 18 | 17 | (21 DNC) | 11 | 2 | NA | 48 |
| 16 | 309 | Oliver HILLIKER | West Lancashire | 13 | -16 | 9 | 14 | 12 | NA | 48 |
| 17 | 11 | Arran HOLMAN | Hollowell | 17 | 7 | 16 | (21 DNC) | 21 DNC | NA | 61 |
| 18 | 286 | Mitchell KNEALE | Chester S&cc | 14 | 18 | 17 | (21 DNC) | 18 | NA | 67 |
| 19 | 578 | Rory HUMPHRIES | Blackpool & Fleetwood Yacht Club | -20 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 17 | NA | 70 |
| 20 | 218 | Joanne FOSTER | Loch Tummel Sailing Club | 19 | 19 | 15 | (21 DNC) | 21 DNC | NA | 74 |
| 20 | 218 | Joanne FOSTER | Loch Tummel Sailing Club | 19 | 19 | 15 | (21 DNC) | 21 DNC | NA | 74 |