Midlands Topper Traveller Round 1 at Banbury Sailing Club
by Midlands Topper Area 13 May 2018 16:24 BST
12 May 2018
Topper Midland Travellers at Banbury © V Turnbull
So far this year the wind had not been good for most of the winter training. The forecast on Friday morning for the first of this years Midlands Topper Traveller events didn't make for good reading. 1 knot gusting 1 knot was the wind guru forecast.
Most of the Midlands sailors made the trip to Banbury SC despite the dreadful forecast and we were greeted by a few ripples on the water as opposed to the glass like scene that we had expected.
This was not our first visit to the club but we hadn't held an event there for several years. None of the current sailors or parents had ever been to Banbury SC before and were all very surprised by the fantastic clubhouse, great sailing area and despite the initial lack of wind the catering and sundeck were very well used.
After a small delay the wind did kick in and racing got underway at 11.30. After a clean start in R1 relatively close racing for the first lap followed with a good 10 boats all towards the front of the fleet. As they emerged from behind the trees that were blocking the spectators view from the sundeck Greg Cornes had built up quite a lead from Kate Robertson. The wind increased slightly and brought the fleet closer together again. Back in 6th Place Felix McMullan was close to the shoreline contending with a hole in the wind as the fleet behind were rapidly closing up on him. Thankfully he managed to work his way out of this sticky spot back into some wind and maintain his place from a gleeful Annabel Turnbull who was having a great time in front of her elder brother. Greg stretched out a good lead and won his first ever traveller race, which for 2018 we are awarding a trophy for all sailors who win a race for the first time to mark this significant milestone in their sailing career.
Meanwhile in the midst of the fleet a close competition was developing between Aimee Bray and Matthew Best for the honour of being the top home club boat. Consistency by Matthew won the day here despite Aimee pipping him by one place in R2 helping her on her way to the front of the fleet in the Phoenix Marine Under 13 category.
The wind had been up and down and shifty and had at times been quite good considering. R2 saw 2 general recalls as the fleet were a little too keen and were trying to get 25 boats at the committee boat end of the line. Eventually they remembered their winter training and found some space along the line and eventually got away. As the fleet rounded the windward mark there were 8 boats all in a clump at the front of the fleet heading downwind. Greg managed to pull out a boat length lead over Annabel who then slipped to the back of the pack as they sailed over the top of her. Greg managed to extend a little and win for the second time followed home by Annabel who had managed to work her way back from 7th to second and Scarlet who had manged to stay towards the front the leading pack for most of the race.
R3 got under way with a postponement and a dying wind. Kate Robertson was away from the line in the lead followed by Greg who was working every shift upwind to try to gain ground on Kate at the front. Kate, still in the lead was deprived of her first race win (and a trophy to mark the occasion) by the race being abandoned and racing being cancelled for the rest of the day as the wind was getting very fickle by now and due to the recalls and small postponements to realign the start time was also running out.
Many thanks from the Midlands Topper Fleet to all those from Banbury who organised a great event at a fabulous venue.
Banbury SC Midlands Topper Traveller 2018 Prize Winners:
1st overall and 1st boy Greg Cornes (Chase SC)
2nd overall and 1st girl Kate Robertson (Swarkestone SC)
3rd overall and 2nd boy Will Thomas (Notts County SC)
2nd girl and 4th overall Annabel Turnbull (RYA)
3rd boy and 5th overall Ben Paling (Notts County SC)
3rd girl and 6th overall Scarlet Desorgher (Rutland SC)
1st under 11 and 1st 4.2 rig Merryn Attridge (Swarkestone SC)
1st under 13 Aimee Bray (Banbury SC)
1st Home Boat Matthew Best (Banbusry SC)
1st Non Squad Oliver Hale (Poole Yacht Club)
Full results can be found here (PDF format)