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202 boats enter the Topper Nationwides |
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Written by Fiona Tylecote
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Monday, 20 April 2009 |
There were a phenomenal 202 boats entered for the Topper Nationwide held at Rutland Sailing Club this weekend. The Topper fleet is a class sailed mainly by juniors and youths although adults are able to sail in the championship too.
The event was won by Felicity Foulds from Norfolk Broads Yacht Club with a stunning set of results the worst of which was a 3rd!
The fleet were released from the beach about half an hour before the first start and the 200 boats set off up to the course area just off Normanton Church. With their brightly coloured sails, it was quite a sight, on an otherwise cold and dreary Saturday morning.
With 200 boats the fleet has to be split into 4 with 2 of these groups sailing against each other in each race. Hence there has to be 2 starts to enable all boats to race.
The Race Officer Steve Tylecote (more normally seen sailing rather than controlling the racing) got the fleet under way relatively cleanly and the boats sailed into the short chop in the direction of the dam. Once round the windward mark the first fleet headed downwind to a choice of marks at the bottom of the run. Back upwind again and across to the outer course before rounding the final black mark and sailing at full speed to the finish line. Despite the challenging conditions the fleet performed fantastically well with the safety boats barely being called in to action. The only boat damage recorded at the end of Saturday was the mast on one of the committee boats which had been taken out by a rather exuberant windward roll of a Topper. Makeshift repairs then ensued with broomsticks and cable ties coming into full play.
Watching the fleet approach downwind was quite a sight and with a strong breeze there were quite a few interesting nosedives to be seen. The course was kept in order by Pete Ashworth who seemed to have a twin as he was everywhere. When not out laying and checking on the course he was to be seen directing the 100s of cars onto the site. |
Four races later the fleet were sent home after a great day's sailing.
From the home team Henry Morley led the challenge, just a few places ahead of Georgina Clabburn and Bradley Hilton.
Sunday dawned with more wind than forecast and the boats were back out on the water again. Today they were a little more pushy and it took the race team three or four attempts to control the sailors and get them away.
Under a beautiful blue sky and a perfect 10 miles an hour wind the sailors enjoyed great Rutland conditions.
As the sixth and final race progressed a sign of the politeness of the fleet was seen when a young lad sailed past having been disqualified due to his pushyness on the line. The race team were expecting a few critical questions, what they got was a complete admission of ‘his own fault’ and a big thank you for running the racing. It was well appreciated!
So Felicity Foulds took the win by quite a margin. From the home club a special tribute to Laurance Clabburn the first of only 3 under 12 year olds on the water who managed a great result of 48th in one of the races. Also big ‘well dones’ to Izzy White and birthday boy Ted Ashworth who were both competing in their very first big open meeting and did incredibly well. Georgina Clabburn was first Rutland boat finishing a very credible 115th with a great 36th in one race, with Henry Morley- still eligible for the under 13s section- and Bradley Hilton biting at her heels. All 6 of our own boats performed fantastically, with all of them, at best in their first season of big races and most still quite young for the front end of the fleet. Their success is due to a mixture of commitment on their part, the training and enthusiasm generated through the Rutland Junior fleet and the spirit of fun surrounding their sailing. Well done to all competitors - it was a great weekend. The PRO has gone for a rest! |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 04 May 2009 )
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