Topper North East Area Championship at Sheffield Viking Sailing Club

Recent history will show that Sheffield Viking have not held any open events for the last 12 years and so it was an absolute pleasure to welcome 20 Toppers for the NE Area Championships on the 31st May.

Vikings do not have a massive car park and access to the club can be difficult, even so with the cooperation of the visitors and guidance of club members everyone was accommodated. Bacon butties awaited all that made it.

Topper North East Championship at Sheffield Viking - photo © Alan Gillard

It's quite a pictures valley the home of Sheffield Vikings on Dam Flask reservoir, just inside the Peak District National Park, but the wind can be difficult to tame as it swirls around the hills and trees. It can certainly lead to some entertaining sailing for visitors and home sailors alike. The 4 races scheduled for the day were sailed in a South Westerly, which of course varied in strength and direction in equal measure.

Race 1 and a requested Trapezoid course had been set with a windward mark specially laid in the vicinity of the 'bay'. With a short reach followed by a run and another reach what could possibly go wrong. The request of a lead boat to navigate the Viking club marker buoys should have kept all on track. This was unfortunately not the case, as the leading Topper went initially on the run to a mark that was not even in the course, followed by the majority of the fleet, but then when all seemed to get back on track, there was a number of capsizes, which resulted in the lead boat having to go do rescue duties

Topper North East Championship at Sheffield Viking - photo © Alan Gillard

Sure, enough the fleet then missing out the last mark and as such sailing the wrong course. That is until one of the Toppers that had capsized sailed the correct course along with 4 others. There is a lesson to be learnt for young sailors here, writing down the course and not depending on a lead boat, which may have other duties and responsibilities. Lucy Laura Miller from Vikings was 1st to sail the correct course and so took the win from Rory Newstead Taylor from Budworth.

Race 2 was back-to-back with Race 1. This time all sailors knew the correct course. Another faultless start from the Topper fleet, saw a battle between Oscar Manning from Ripon and Benjamin Smallwood from Budworth holding position for 1st and 2nd. Behind places changed on a regular basis but in the end on the 4th lap Simeon Shackleton, from Otley claimed 3rd just in front of Oleksii Svietik from Ulley.

Topper North East Championship at Sheffield Viking - photo © Alan Gillard

After lunch, all was still to sail for even though several sailors had a discard already. What we know is the bubbles always float to the top, which is really what was expected as another 2 races were scheduled. Over lunch the wind had dropped considerably and changed in direction, which for the race officer a course with a decent beat could be a challenge. It is one of those where you must decide to stick with the course or change it.

Fortunately, the Race Officer held his nerve and as Race 3 started, so the wind returned in the same direction and if anything, stronger in strength of the earlier morning races. This race saw quite a few spectacular capsizes because of some very strong gusts, which randomly chose its victim wherever you were in the fleet. The race was led throughout by Benjamin Smallwood with a convincing lead to claim a comfortable win. Behind any of 4 Toppers could claim the next positions as places changed regularly. After 4 laps, Oscar Manning claimed 2nd, with Lucy Laura Miller 3rd and Christa Shackleton from Otley 4th.

Topper North East Championship at Sheffield Viking - photo © Alan Gillard

A quick turn around and the final race 4 again was away first time. Simeon Shackleton led this race from start to finish. Behind Lucy Laura Miller initially was holding on to 2nd but eventually Benjamin Smallwood overhauled her to claim 2nd with Lucy Laura 3rd and Oleksii Svietik 4th.

The results showed a clear win and NE Area Champion for Benjamin Smallwood with Lucy Laura Miller 2nd and Oscar Manning 3rd.

Topper North East Championship at Sheffield Viking - photo © Alan Gillard

Special mention to Nia Jenkins who won the Endeavour prize completing all the races although we lost count how many capsizes, she had.

Many thanks to all those that travelled to Sheffield Vikings and the club volunteers who along with parents and sailors made this Topper open such a success.

Overall Results: