Topper North East Traveller at Pennine Sailing Club

Toppers at Pennine © Ian Escritt

Toppers at Pennine © Ian Escritt

What a scorcher!

October on top of the Yorkshire Pennines is normally when the locals break out the dry suits, but not this time. Competitors were greeted by 27 degrees centigrade and wind ranging from 7 to 15 mph, so it was sun cream and shorties all round for the twenty two sailors.

At the start of race one a good 12mph breeze was blowing across the course and it was James McKenzie (Yorkshire Dales) who got the perfect start and first beat to lead from Tom Clayton (Scaling Dam), Ellie Brown (North Lincs). James looked to be extending into a sizeable lead until he sailed the wrong course letting the rest of the fleet through. Tom sailed away to win but second place was a great battle between Ellie, Joe Henderson (Derwent Res), and Callum Escritt (Yorkshire Dales). Callum just squeezed out Joe by less than a couple of seconds with Isaac Marsh (Scammonden) making a late charge into fourth. The fleet sailed ashore for lunch and a sun screen top up.

The race officer set a pin end bias line for race two catching out a few people who couldn’t cross the line on starboard. Ellie Brown led around the windward buoy followed by Joe Henderson and the chasing pack. Tom Clayton found the conditions to his liking and hit the front to win from Joe and Ellie. At this point Tom believed the event was his, but unfortunately for him everyone bar local sailor Harry Cappleman (well done Harry)! had rounded the leeward buoy incorrectly and were disqualified. With everything to play for race three was a thriller. Callum Escritt made the most of a good start and first beat to lead for all six laps, but the result wasn’t secure as Joe and Tom pressed hard to the finish.

Overall Callum won his first Topper open from Tom, Joe, Isaac and first girl Ellie.

Tom now leads the series due to Luke Cowling not attending due to injury (get better soon Luke). The final event will take place at Scaling Dam on the 15th of October where the series winner will be decided.

Overall Results: