Topper Traveller Series at Parkstone Yacht Club

Topper Traveller Series at Parkstone © Roger Phillips

On Sunday 11th May the third Traveller took place at Parkstone Yacht Club. It was great to see a fleet of twenty 5.3s and six 4.2s out on the water. The wind was about a force 4 - a nice breeze - and a bit shifty and gusty. Four races were sailed, and every sailor tried their best and did very well.

In the first race I lead the fleet around the race course with Charlie MacKenzie hot on my heels until just before the finish line, where Charlie just beat to over the line. Not too far behind was Brooke Browning in third and George Reynolds in fourth.

Topper Traveller Series at Parkstone - photo © Stuart Browning

In race 2 George came 1st after a lot of swapping positions at the windward mark, followed by Charlie in second, Leo Kaneko in third, and me in fourth. Unfortunately, an increasing wind speed took its first victim with Faith Fairweather snapping her mast and therefore having to retire from the race.

George and Charlie were battling it out in the third race until the last downwind where I overtook and secured first place. Martina Vasili was also unlucky and was dismasted after going through the gate, about to start her second beat of the race.

Race 4 started with lots of people tangled on the start line, me included, letting George, Charlie and Brooke get away nicely. Despite being the last person to cross the start line, I managed to catch up, finishing fifth, just behind Ed Whittaker, who had travelled all the way from Draycote!

Topper Traveller Series at Parkstone - photo © Stuart Browning

The 4.2s also had a great day racing, where it was James Murray and Hattie Steel battling it out for first 4.2. After three wins, James came first overall. All of the 4.2 sailors did a fantastic job, having to fight hard on a very busy start line with all of the 5.3s.

Well done to all of the sailors, it was a very tiring, but fun day of racing!

Thank you to Parkstone Yacht Club for doing an amazing job at hosting this event, the race committee team, safety team, and all of the volunteers that make these events possible. Also a huge thank you to Topper Russ for being there and servicing lots of the boats, as well as my own!

Topper Traveller Series at Parkstone - photo © Stuart Browning

Final results - 4.2 Fleet:

Topper Traveller Series at Parkstone - photo © Stuart Browning

Final results - 5.3 Fleet:

Topper Traveller Series at Parkstone - photo © Stuart Browning