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September 2023
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Topper Super South Championship 2024 at Warsash Sailing Club

by Roger Cerrato (ITCA Southern Area Rep) 19 Sep 07:21 BST 14-15 September 2024

Each year the three Topper areas of South West, Southern and London & SE come together for a joint "Super South" traveller event and this year it was hosted by the Southern region at my home club of Warsash SC. With 44 entries split into 29 x 5.3 and 15 x 4.2 rigs good racing was assured for all!

As competitors arrived at WSC it was a beautiful morning but lacking the important ingredient, wind! After a short discussion amongst the organising team RO Ben Owen confirmed that we'd hoist the AP allowing time for the wind to build and for all sailors and parents to enjoy a bacon bap!

Once launched the sailors enjoyed 4 great races with Sam Dence (5.3) and Finlay Rhodes (4.2) leading the charge with two bullets each. Once back ashore sailors and parents enjoyed one of Warsash' famous Sausage Sizzles in the garden at Shore House.

Sunday was more of the same, an initial postponement for an hour or so before launching into a light, but building, breeze. With a swift turn around between races the fleet again enjoyed 4 races, this time with one General Recall for the 5.3s to keep everyone on their toes! Finlay continued to dominate the 4.2 fleet whilst Henry Ross made a late charge for the 5.3 title, ending with three race wins and just missing out overall to the consistently fast Oscar Lay.

At the prize giving we were able to reward the Area winners, Overall winners and Endeavour award recipients with some fantastic prizes courtesy of our event supporters Lewmar, Xtremity.net, Marlow, Baltic Lifejackets and Rooster.

The Rooster Southern Topper Traveller Series concludes next month at Spinnaker SC. Entries are open here.

Sailor's report - Finlay Rhodes (4.2 fleet)

Day 1 started with a briefing at 10 am followed by an AP/1, a one hour postponement to allow a breeze to develop as forecast. Then the fleets were released into Southampton Water where it joins the Solent. The committee did a great job in getting 4 races away as was planned before the time expired.

At the end of day 1 after a building breeze the 5.3 fleet was led by Sam Dence from Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club with Oscar Lay in a close 2nd place. The 4.2 fleet was leading by Finlay Rhodes into day 2 after some close battles with Hendricks Long, Sacha Garra and Joel Keen.

Warsash Sailing Club then hosted their famous sausage sizzle, finding hungry homes for nearly 200 sausages and an opportunity to socialise in a sunny club garden. There were lots of spot prizes for sailors from the sponsors Lewmar, Xtremity.net, Marlow and Baltic Lifejackets making for happy sailors raring to go for another day.

Day 2 proved similar with an initial lack of breeze so we saw the AP/1 again, with sailors launching keenly at 10am and benefitting from a short tow out of the river where the breeze was already filling in. It increased steadily during the day and again a proficient committee, marks and safety fleet went to work getting another 4 races away.

The 5.3 fleet saw a change at the top as Henry Moss from Downs Sailing Club fought their way up the table with bullets in all three of the last races. It wasn't quite enough however and the day and event was won by Oscar Lay.

In the 4.2 fleet Finlay Rhodes from Warsash Sailing Club continued to find form and ended the day with three bullets and a second winning the 4.2 event with 7 points and two races spare after some great racing battling with Joel Keen for the front of the fleet.

There were many great prizes handed out at the prize-giving with some very grateful sailors including the endeavour winners who showed great perseverance and embodied the spirit of the Topper 'friendly class'.

Finlay says "I am so excited to win at Warsash, my home club. I would like to thank Roger Cerrato, James Noel and Stu Davies for the help and coaching over the past few years. I'd also like to thank Warsash Sailing Club for hosting training and this Super South Traveller Event. I'd also like to thank all the competitors and the race committee for making it such great racing. I'd like to thank all the parents for bringing the sailors and I'd like to make a special mention to my parents for helping me get to all the events and supporting me."

Overall Results:

PosSail NoChampionship NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8Pts
Topper 4.2 Fleet
1st47860616Finlay RHODESWarsash SC‑211‑211217
2nd4622156Joel KeenStokes Bay‑73‑51531215
3rd4927288Henry CruseN/a‑4‑434443321
4th4866483Hendricks LongWarsash SC1‑62‑7366422
5th49081603Mattie SvendsenGTSC67‑8‑10254529
6th476061Sacha GerraParkstone32‑105‑10771034
7th48133241Reuben WealthyStokes Bay SC‑1196‑13625735
8th47684586Brooke BrowningBristol Corinthian YC5579‑11‑1110642
9th49189596Finley KirkbyBristol Corinthian‑1084‑127109846
10th47662152Emily DoughtySpinnaker8‑12113‑12981150
11th4767691Thomas MurphyWarsash SC / Hamble River SC‑141096812‑131257
12th2693551Martha HartHamble River SC12‑13‑131198111364
13th4636422Henry PashleyHamble River SC911128‑1413‑141467
14th4450234Alfie TollitShoreham SC13‑14‑1414131412975
15th47312149Oscar HillmanHamble River SC(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC151515DNF93
Topper 5.3 Fleet
1st49180600Oscar LayDesborough SC Island Barn SC22‑6124‑7213
2nd47730261Henry MossDowns SC6‑73‑13511117
3rd49176513Harry DenceIsland Barn Reservoir SC(OCS)443133‑618
4th47776346Henry NoelWarsash SC451‑7‑724521
5th49177516Sam DenceIsland Barn Reservoir SC11226‑1312‑1724
6th4670355Sam MasonSilver Wing3856310‑11‑1435
7th47355340Samuel WadeStokes Bay SC5‑1110‑14962436
8th4862766Lucas KeenStokes Bay737588‑10‑1138
9th49199374James BroadHill Head SC PYC‑1712‑15121155348
10th44598391Evan HellyerAqua Sports9(DNF)1410‑1678957
11th48409699Tiphaine UngariWembley SC‑16‑188814961358
12th49232629Charlie MacKenzieSalcombe YC1291341514‑16‑1667
13th47786573Meg WebbWarsash SC86129‑181717‑1869
14th47833199William Le GriceWarsash SC18109‑2141219(DSQ)72
15th48315239Eve WealthyStokes Bay SC1314‑18‑18171191074
16th47732343Edward LeeSaltash SC(OCS)13‑1915101814.5878.5
17th48196579Victory MontgomeryDittisham‑191611111216‑181581
18th49234260George ReynoldsSalcombe YC1121‑2520‑221513787
19th48744156Thomas RobinsonStokes Bay SC1020‑21171319‑221291
20th46939228Sophie Le GriceWarsash SC201517161920‑21‑23107
21st47731283Amalie BallantyneStarcross YC151716‑222121‑2320110
22nd46895280Tom SmithSGBA(DNF)‑24231923222019126
23rd46913188Leo KanekoDittisham SC221922‑242023‑2421127
24th49290526Alexander MurraySwanage SC14222425‑26‑262525135
25th48356326Matteo GerraParkstone21232023‑2524‑2624135
26th47653193Martina VasiliPaignton SC2325‑26262425‑2722145
27th42676 Alfred BrosnanShoreham SC(DNF)26‑2727272714.526147.5
28th4868129Holly WilliamsParkstone YC(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC180
28th49231645Charlotte SimmondsSalcombe YC(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC180

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