Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

RS Tera and Topper open meeting at Starcross Yacht Club

by Tayah Gilboy & Peter Solly 10 Oct 2023 21:55 BST 7-8 October 2023

The second Tera and Topper Open Meeting saw record-breaking attendance, with 38 boats entered from 11 different clubs. With blue sky and a lovely wind building to 8 knots, conditions were perfect.

The day started with no wind, and so PRO Dougal Scott ran a tug-of-war between the Topper and Tera fleets, which ended in a close draw(!). As the mist started to lift, the fleet were launched for a series of 3 races with committee boat starts. The sea breeze filled in from the south, and Teras and Toppers raced the same course, but had different starts and each finished different sides of the committee boat.

Martin Laver took this great drone footage:

Visiting sailor from Paignton, Tayah Gilboy, describes the day:

At the start of the day there was under 2 knots with a very thick fog covering the river, so no one could race. When the fog eventually lifted, it was not too long before the wind started to pick up and we got sustained steady winds of 8 knots. We then launched and completed three races each with two laps, with the Toppers starting before the Teras.

There was a good number of sailors present. There were eight prizes up for grabs, top three 5.3's, first 4.2, top three Tera Sport and first Tera Pro.

Thank you for Starcross sailing club for holding a great event and great pasta after sailing, and all the competitors for making it really enjoyable and competitive races.

Racing was close. Although the winners of all four fleets had three bullets, this was often close fought - particularly in the Tera Sport fleet - and competition further down the fleets was significant. A huge well done to all sailors.

The galley served up a gourmet menu after racing, with different types of pasta and bolognaise and Pork Szechuan, followed by cake.

In a reversal to the usual format, the Topper fleet had a day of racing on the Saturday, and then a day of coaching on the Sunday, organised by the Topper Class.

It was wonderful to welcome so many people to Starcross, from such a range of clubs. Many new faces, and many youngsters just starting their journey of travelling to different clubs. Thank you for coming, and we hope to see you again.

Big thank you to Dougal Scott (PRO) for such a slick and well run day; to Richard, Marie and and Jos in the galley; the beachmaster and results volunteers; and to all other volunteers on the committee boat, safety boats and in the galley. Thanks to Starcross Yacht Club for hosting.

RS Tera Pro Results:

PosHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1Phillipa PaleyStarcross YC‑1112
2Will WestStarcross YC22‑34
3Monty ManningFowey Gallants SC‑3325
4Henry RichardsFowey Gallants SC‑4448
5Anaya StonemanStarcross YC‑55510

RS Tera Sport Results:

PosHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1Tom SollyStarcross YC‑1112
2Barney RhodesExe SC‑2224
3Stefan AndersonExe SC33‑46
4EmmaStarcross YC5‑638
5Archie KemmishStarcross YC44‑58
6William ParsonsRoyal Dart YC‑85611
7Oliver NicholsRoyal Dart YC6‑7713
8Aurelie Owen MartyrRoyal Dart YC7‑9815
9Sebastian Goodwin HughesStarcross YC‑98917
10Minnie RogersRoyal Dart YC‑10101020

Topper 5.3 Results:

PosHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1Harry MillsSaltash SC‑1112
2Leo GriffithsChew Valley SC‑3235
3Tayah GilboyPaignton SC23‑85
4Daniel SadlerWhitefriars SC‑6527
5William LomgthorpeStarcross YC4‑1159
6Indie JonesRoyal Dart YC54‑69
7Fergus StockmanStarcross YC‑97411
8Toby CollsChew Valley SC‑86713
9Amelie BallantyneStarcross YC78‑915
10Ethan GriffithsChew Valley SC‑1391120
11Connie LaverStarcross YC11‑141021
12James CollsChew Valley SC10‑121222
13Amma GribbleChew Valley SC1210‑1322
14Imogen HillStarcross YC1413‑1527
15Rory DixonExe SC‑15151429
16OliverExe SC‑16161632

Topper 4.2 Results:

PosHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1Finley KirkbyBristol Corinthian YC‑1112
2Aidan HallBristol Corinthian YC‑2224