Topper Nationals at Paignton Sailing Club - Days 1 & 2

by Andy Billowes 5 Aug 2008 23:18 BST 3-8 August 2008

Sunday 3rd August

Sunday morning started dull and overcast with a South Westerly breeze blowing out across Tor Bay. Despite the grey sky 309 Toppers (276 in the Main fleet and 33 in the Regatta fleet) brightened up the green on the sea front at Paignton. The 2008 Magic Marine Topper Nationals has achieved yet another record entry as the Topper class continues to grow in strength. The Nationals have also attracted welcome visitors from Ireland. The Regatta fleet launched first to race in the bay close to Paignton harbour.

The Main fleets are to compete a qualification series over the first three days, the standing from which will be used to separate the competitors into Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets. On the qualification days the main fleet will race in three coloured fleets that are rotated each day on the basis of the previous results.

The yellow fleet launched first and made their way off of Roundham Head to the main race area. They were followed by the blue and red fleets. On the race course the wind was variable, force two to three, with the offshore direction making the conditions shifty.

The first race of the yellow fleet as won by Tom Bucktrout with Jordan Rumsby second and Alex Benbow third. In the second race Lorenzo Chiavarini took the win with Jordan Rumsby claiming another second and Jason Robbins third.

Elliot Hanson, the recently crowned Topper World Champion, took both firsts in the blue fleet. Hugh Bradshaw showed similar consistency with two seconds and third places were taken by Sam Knight and Charlotte Bonella in the first and second races respectively. Micky Beckett was consistent too, taking two fourths.

Felicity Foulds produced equal dominance in the Red fleet taking two firsts, sharing the overall first position after two races with Elliot Hanson. In the first race Alex Leonard and Andrew Dawson were second and third respectively with Richard Cumpsty and Anna Ackroyd second and third in the second race.

Towards the end of the second race the rain that had threatened for so long, with the heavy grey skies, finally established itself. The third races of the day were eventually abandoned as the wind died. Still with two races successfully completed the 2008 Magic Marine Topper Nationals are underway with a further five days of racing to complete.

Monday 4th August

Day two of the Magic Marine Topper Nationals and a further three qualification races were completed; qualification races three, four and five. The South Westerly breeze was fresher than Sunday but still very variable in strength and direction, typical for Tor Bay. The conditions on shore were misleading as to the conditions out on the course. The broken cloud cover produced both sunshine and blustery showers, the wind was typically force four with gusts and lulls to make it interesting for the sailors.

In the blue fleet Lorenzo Chiavarini took two straight wins followed by George Spedding and Joe Hanson in qualification race three, and Sam Knight and Harry Houlding were second and third respectively in race four. Getting tangled on the start line in race five Lorenzo did well to recover to fourth; George Spedding took advantage to claim a win with Henry Wetherell and Emily Moore second and third.

The second starters were the red fleet where Elliot Hanson dominated again with three straight wins. Philip Doran from Ireland took seconds in the third and fifth qualification races. Hugh Brayshaw took a second in race four and a third in race five and Jack Wetherell was third in race three.

The yellow fleet was the most competitive, in qualification race three Felicity Foulds took her third win with Richard Cumpsty second and Fergus Barnham third. Tom Francis won race four followed by Robbie Gilmore and Felicity Foulds. In race five Richard Cumpsty got back to his winning ways with Will Hackney second and Dan Bigsby third.

There are a further three races to be competed on Tuesday to complete the qualification series, the competitors carry their points total through to the final stage. Elliot Hanson currently leads with five straight wins and Felicity Foulds is only two points behind.