MonEx Welsh Topper Championship & OnBoard Regatta at Llandegfedd Sailing Club

Jack Wright's Port-flyer perfection during the MonEx Welsh Topper Championship at Llandegfedd © Nick Morley

Llandegedd lake was an excellent venue for more than 40 Welsh Topper sailors and a handful of visitors for this annual meeting. The fleets enjoyed two days of great racing with a fine Saturday barbecue hosted by Welsh Water.

Following closely on from NS5, Welsh sailors were still out in force. The regatta fleet of 14 had 2 super days of coached racing with Welsh coach Will Willett and his team. Many were new to racing and the breezy conditions made for an exciting weekend with a force 4 gusting 5. The fleet gained in confidence to navigate a multitude of varied courses by the end of the event

Further up the lake, PRO and former Welsh coach Bill Jackson set 8 races for the main fleet over the weekend. This was no mean feat with the main westerly being frequently interrupted by a boisterous southerly spilling over the hills, blowing bias back and forth across the course. Support RIBS were busy Saturday and Sunday, ensuring sailors were upright and fed between races, laying and relaying the windward marks. Some of the smaller sailors in both fleets did well to reef.

Jasper Focardi-Dolling enjoying some clean air during the MonEx Welsh Topper Championship at Llandegfedd - photo © Nick Morley

There was close racing throughout the 2 days. Dovey Yacht Club sailor Jasper Focardi-Dolling took the trophy winning 5 races in his new grey Topper. Local sailor Sam Morley put in a strong performance winning 3 races to secure second place. Steffan Williams of west Wales, New Quay Yacht club came through in a tightly fought 3rd place amongst a number of old hands returning to the fleet. S Baines, visiting Wales from Rudyard Lake was first girl, followed closely by Honor Hopkin then Efa Thomas from Cardiff Bay Yacht Club.

The event concluded with presentations in the watersports centre, generous prizes kindly donated by James Howells (Topper dad, sailor and local businessman) on behalf of MonEx. Ben Willett (former champion and new RYA coach) gave some spot prizes, including one to Baz Sanderson Wood who managed to cleverly re-rig his fraying kicker out on the water. Jasper the new Welsh Topper Champion awarded OnBoard medals to the regatta fleet sailors.

We had a great weekend, and hope to see you next year! Meantime, onward to Cork for the Worlds and Plas Heli for the Nationals.

Overall Results: