Topper SE Winter Regatta at Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club

by Mike Jones 1 Mar 2015 19:51 GMT 28 February 2015

The fourth running of this popular annual event saw 17 starters, 8 of which, realistically, could have won.

Nancy Scott, last year's winner, from Island Barn, now sailing a 29er regularly, showed signs of rust in Race 1. After an indifferent start, she was 12th at the windward mark. A new star, Morgan Archer from Blue Circle Sailing Club in Kent, led here, rounding just ahead of Magnus Handley from Queen Mary S.C.

At the end of Lap 1, these two were in the same order, with Scott back in 9th. The two leaders match raced each other round Lap 2. As so often happens this leaves the others to play the shifts more correctly and catch up. Scott did just this and gained 6 places to round in 3rd at the end of Lap 2. From here the first three held position 'til the race end, finishing Archer, Handley, Scott.

In Race 2, Scott was awake from the start, but the new star Archer was faultless, leading Scott for all four laps. Daniel Thompson from Queen Mary and William Cook, exchanged third place several times, with Thompson eventually winning this private battle. Race 2 finishing order was thus Archer, Scott, Thompson, Cook.

At lunch Archer, on a perfect score of 2, led from Scott on 5 and Cook, Thompson and Handley all on 8. Could Archer keep this up after lunch?

Race 3 was remarkable for two reasons. Firstly, at the start Scott was over and returned. With the leaders going left, she remembered the wind was forecast to veer and went right. This paid handsomely and she rounded the windward mark first by a handsome margin. Secondly, where was Archer? Answer: back in fourth, where he remained 'til the finish. Finishing order for race 3: Scott, Cook, Thompson, Archer.

For the final race the points standing was Archer and Scott on 6, Cook on 10, Thomson on 11, Handley on 12. For Archer and Scott there was all to play for, with Cook a possible winner should theses two both slip up.

Cook rose to the challenge and led throughout Laps 1 and 2, followed closely by Archer and Scott. Archer had a perfect, regatta-winning beat in Lap 3, and rounded the windward mark first. Scott also had a good beat and moved up to second. Archer now covered Scott to the finish, extending to win by 30 metres. Race 4 finishing order was Archer, Scott, Cook, with Harken Digby (Queen Mary) getting his best result of the day in fourth.

A good champion comes back well after a setback. Morgan Archer did this in Race 4 and was a deserved winner.

Ten year old Tom Williamson from Crawley Mariners, in a Topper 4.2, did well to finish 12th out of 17.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	Pts
1st	47647	Morgan Archer	Blue Circle SC	1	1	‑4	1	3
2nd	46623	Nancy Scott	Island Barn Reservoir SC	‑3	2	1	2	5
3rd	45710	William Cook	Hayling Island SC	‑4	4	2	3	9
4th	46919	Daniel Thompson	Queen Mary Reservoir SC	5	3	3	‑7	11
5th	45770	Magnus Handley	Queen Mary SC	2	‑6	6	5	13
6th	47154	Harken Digby	Queen Mary Reservoir SC	‑8	7	5	4	16
7th	43563	Leila Moore	DSWC	6	5	‑7	6	17
8th	44375	Ellie Wall	Island Barn Reservoir SC	‑9	8	8	8	24
9th	22383	Scot Wilkinson	Rye Harbour SC	7	10	‑12	9	26
10th	45106	Ella Valentine	Island Barn Reservoir SC	10	9	9	‑11	28
11th	43170	Federico Sirolla	Queen Mary Reservoir SC	11	11	10	(DNC)	32
12th	45919	Tom Williamson (4.2)	Crawley Mariners SC	‑16	12	11	13	36
13th	none	Lily Barrett (4.2)	Desborough SC	‑17	15	14	10	39
14th	45155	Leon Stein	Crawley Mariners SC	13	14	(RET)	12	39
15th	21137	Bill Hudson	Newhaven & Seaford SC	‑15	13	13	14	40
16th	32162	Robin Stein	Crawley Mariners SC	12	(RET)	RET	DNC	48
17th	37533	Emma McCorquodale	Island Barn Reservoir SC	14	(RET)	DNC	DNC	50