Crewsaver Topper National Youth Squad Winter Regatta
by Nick Skinner 16 Mar 2005 11:15 GMT
Action from the Crewsaver Topper National Youth Squad Winter Regatta © Nick Skinner
The Topper National Youth Squad, generously sponsored by Crewsaver, held its annual winter regatta at Pitsford Reservoir, home of Northampton SC. This regatta was the culmination of six weekends of advanced race training run by the Class Association, and kindly hosted, for the fourth year running, by Northampton SC.
The three-race event was held in 12-18 mph winds, which never really steadied, keeping Youth Squad Coach and PRO, Nick Skinner and his coaching team busy, re-laying the trapezoid course after each race.
After the 41 boats got a clean start on Race 1, Matt Undrell, Richard Crocker and Henry Smith opened an early lead, taking the left side of the beat, with Simon Bower and Jemima Cooper closer behind. By the bottom of the outer loop, Richard Crocker had a 10 boat-length lead on the chasing pack, which had been joined by Hannah Carter and Jenny Dando. The shifty wind backed 20o during the second beat and James Lovejoy, Will Seviour and Alex Grassick made some impressive gains through the fleet by good positioning on the left side of the course.
By the windward mark, Crocker had improved his lead but a gust on the final run saw him do a graceful death roll allowing Undrell, Bower and James ( Pudsey) Little through to claim line honours.
With the wind increasing, the second race got off with most boats on the front row. The left side was clearly favoured and Crocker, Bower and Undrell made early gains. However, the wind viciously veered 15o as the leaders neared the top of the beat, lifting Kate Black, Rebecca Patience and Katy Stewardson into contention with the leading pack. The gusts wiped out several boats on the run, and, at the leeward mark, Georgina Sunnocks and Jake Winter both made up places by well-executed mark inside roundings.
The leading three of Undrell, Piers Arnold and an impressive 3rd spot for Douglas Carmichael took the line honours.
The final race saw a large mid line sag, which was exploited by visiting Topper Master, Cathy Brassington, Alex Johns and Sam Craig. With the fleet spreading across the course, it was a close call who would make the mark first, and, with 20 boats converging, Bower did well to get round after a cheeky port lay-line approach, closely followed by Annabel Minns, Sarah Morton, Undrell and Crocker. Undrell found the best of the gusts downwind and drew clear by 12 boats lengths from Crocker at the leeward mark. The large chasing pack fought hard for the best inside line with excellent tactics and handling being displayed in some hairy gusts. Mid-fleet racing was very tight and on the second beat Natalie Hood, Adam Larvin and Rory Carmichael all took places to move into the leading pack causing trouble for the race leaders on the final downwind leg. Bower, Fiona Allen and Katy Stewardson rounded the final mark as leaders and deservedly took line honours.
The Topper Class Association is very grateful to Northampton SC for hosting the winter training program and to Crewsaver for their sponsorship.
Overall Results:
1st Simon Bower 40731
2nd Richard Crocker 44940
3rd Matt Undrell 43999
4th (First Lady) Jemima Cooper 20665
5th Jenny Dando 44437
6th Fiona Allen 44929