Magic Marine Topper Nationals at Weymouth - Overall
by Miles Palmer 15 Aug 2006 12:50 BST
6-11 August 2006
Action from the Magic Marine Topper Nationals at Weymouth © Nick Champion
A new record of 289 sailors attended the Magic Marine Topper Nationals at Weymouth. The main fleet of 263 was set to sail a qualifying series of up to 8 races over the first three days and a championship series for the remaining 3 days, with a total potential 16 races over 6 days scheduled. Bleddyn Mon, the current National Champion and recent runner-up at the Topper World Championships on Lake Garda, was for the first time in the modern era endeavouring to retain his title.
The Regatta fleet of 27 sailors had a packed week of sailing and activities, organised by the irrepressible Arthur Marshall. This included two races a day, trips to Castle Cove and Chesil Beach amongst other fun races and silly competitions.
The main fleet was split up into four flights for the qualifying series, with each set to sail against each other over three days. The first day of qualifying, Sunday, saw relatively light conditions of 8-12knts and 3 races for each flight were completed, race winners included Ben Palmer, Andrew Brown, Bleddyn Mon, Phil McCoy and Anna Piggot. Day two was also light and the PRO Frank Newton could only manage one set of races in the light and changeable conditions, with Bleddyn and Richard Cumpsty taking the bullets.
Now with only 4 races out of 8 completed, Frank agreed to try and complete a further 4 in the last day of qualifying. The competitors arrived early to see a pleasant NE, but this soon died and it was not until 12:00 when the fleet launched in to a 10Knt Sea breeze from the SW. The stayed consistent for the day and 4 races were completed inside the maximum time allowed. Race winners included Michael Wood, Phil McCoy, Felicity Foulds, Max Richardson, Andrew and Bleddyn. The race organisers were amazed to see that even after four races much fun and games was had with the Human Table Football, Surf Simulator and bungee run that evening – there is no stopping the Topper fleet when it is having fun.
Wednesday was the start of the Championship Series – so the top 132 sailors were allotted to the Gold fleet and the remainder for the silver, with each sailor carrying over 50% of their qualifying series score as non-discardable points. Bleddyn Mon was leading the event carrying over just 3.5pts, then Andrew with 8 and in third position Freddie Conner with 11pts. 3 races were completed that day in fresh conditions that by the last race averaged 18Knts with gusts up to 22. Race winners were Bleddyn Mon (twice) and Tom Gillard, with Andrew Brown posting 2 seconds.
Thursday was again breezy and the first two races ran to form with Andrew and Bleddyn each taking a bullet. However, madness overtook the gold fleet and many were adjudged OCS, allowing Lynn Billows to post a bullet. Friday, the last day of competition, was to be the day of reckoning, Bleddyn needed to post a single top 5 result to retain his title from a hard pressing Andrew Brown. During the first beat a large shift to the left meant that the favourites struggled, letting the 2004 Inland Champion Tom Gillard take the bullet. However, Bleddyn made no mistake in the final race winning it comfortably to become the Magic Marine Topper National Champion 2006. Andrew Brown was second overall and Tom Gillard third.
At the prize giving, Frank Newton PRO and Richard Stevens paid tribute to the sailors and thanked them for a challenging and pleasant week. They judged that the Silver fleet were the cleanest starters, which was won by Dan Horner with Caroline Cook in Second and Alex Carr in third.
The new 4.2 sail Topper for smaller sailors was a great success in it second year and will be remembered this year by Tom Piggot crossing the whole fleet (including the larger 5.3m sails) on port. Tom was 97th in the Silver fleet. I am sure it will not be long before we see a 4.2 in the Gold fleet.
The Regatta fleet was won by Henry Morgan with Jonathan Verity and Dylan Strawbridge second and third respectfully.
Bleddyn in his acceptance speech thanked: all the office, safety and rescue teams (manned by parents and supporters) without which such an event cannot be staged, Welsh Yachting, Magic Marine as event sponsor, his coaches in particular Dave Cockerill and WPSNA, and finally thanked the class for all of the great events that he has competed in, as this was Bleddyn’s final Topper event.
Further results can be found at:
www.wpnsa.org.uk/results/TopperNationalsGold.htm
www.wpnsa.org.uk/results/TopperNationalsSilver.htm
www.wpnsa.org.uk/results/TopperNationalsRegatta.htm