Topper Open at Frampton on Severn Sailing Club

Toppers at Frampton on Severn © Andy Smith

Toppers at Frampton on Severn © Andy Smith

Toppers at Frampton on Severn © Andy Smith

31 Toppers prepared to do battle at Frampton-on-Severn on Saturday 19th April, following a successful SW Area coaching session that was held on Good Friday. 6 home boats were joined by 25 visitors from clubs across the South West area and the Midlands.

The forecast was for a light easterly breeze with sunshine later in the day and the format of the event was for 2 sets of 2 back-to-back races with a lunchtime break in-between.

With the shifting breeze, Race officer Andy Smith and his team struggled to set a fair line for the first race and the only general recall of the day duly followed. On the re-start, there was one premature starter but everyone else was noticeably line shy – the threat of the dreaded black flag wasn't needed. As with all four races, the leader built up a sizeable lead and the battles were for the minor placings. Freya Cumpsty (Chew Valley lake) led at the first mark and sailed away during the 4-lap race to win comfortably from Laurie Tilling (Bristol Corinthian) and James Hollis (Bartley).

During the starting sequence for Race 2 on the same course, the wind shifted round to the north-east and made the course somewhat of a follow-the-leader situation. It also meant that the start line couldn't be crossed on starboard – which led to Luke Gribbin (Paignton) making a perfect port tack start from the middle of the line. Like Freya in Race 1, Luke built up a commanding lead during the 2-lap race with the consistent Laurie again 2nd and Luke's brother Ewan in 3rd. Right through the fleet, there were healthy battles for places, as the fleet settled into a pattern.

During the lunch break, the race team re-set the course for Races 3 & 4 – apparently they changed their minds 2 or 4 times whilst they were on the water moving the marks as the breeze died and then filled in from the north before returning to the easterly that we had in the morning.

Ewan stamped his mark on proceedings in Race 3 and won by some distance with James Hollis 2nd and James Ripley (Paignton) in 3rd. for the final race of the day, the wind was probably the strongest (but still only F2) and the line was the truest of the day as well. The pack were well bunched at the first mark and on the long broad reach to mark 2; Kieran Moore (Bristol Corinthian) took full advantage by sailing lower than the leading pack and pulled through from seventh or eighth to lead at the leeward mark. He then sailed a confident race to win by the largest margin of the day with Jonathan Wilson (Wimbleball) in 2nd and the consistent James Hollis in 3rd.

Toppers at Frampton on Severn - photo © Andy Smith

It was definitely a day for consistency, with large helpings of "snakes and ladders" throughout the fleet – 4 different races winners and each one having a nightmare discard, so countbacks were looking to be likely. In the end, Ewan Gribbin came out on top with a 4,3,1 and discarding a 9th with the consistent James Hollis (3,6,2,3) in 2nd and Laurie Tilling (2,2,5,5) in 3rd. Rory Cohen was the top-placed home boat in 8th and Noah Sherriff (Chew Valley) won the 4.2 fleet and finished in 27th place overall.

Overall Results: