Please select your home edition
Edition
Feb-Nov23 Leaderboard Groco2

Midlands Topper Traveller Series at Bartley Sailing Club

by Simon Hardiman 3 Nov 2020 07:43 GMT 1 November 2020
Midland Toppers at Bartley © Debbie Degge
Midland Toppers at Bartley ©Debbie Degge
previous next
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7

The second event of the Midlands Topper Traveller Series took place on Sunday 1st November at Bartley S.C. with the event fully subscribed to the 30 boat limit demonstrating, yet again, what an active Topper fleet there is in the Midlands.

The event had been postponed once due to a complete lack of wind, but this wasn't a problem for the rescheduled date! With storms buffeting the country it was a close call as to whether the wind would be too strong, however, there looked to be a short window of opportunity between frontal systems and the fleet took to the water in bright sunshine and a fresh breeze.

Race 1 started on time with a long beat to the top of the reservoir followed by a run and a couple of reaches back to the start. As the competitors made their way to the windward mark the pressure steadily built making the bear away and downwind legs a case of 'hold on tight for a great ride'. After lap one the leaders had pulled ahead of the chasing pack demonstrating a master class of high wind sailing with Heather Quinn from Notts County SC taking the closely contested win from Hayden Moore (Notts County) and Arlo Turner (Glossop). The conditions definitely favoured the 4.2 rig for the lighter weight sailors with Jessica Powell (Draycote) first home in 5th.

The wind picked up a few knots once the leaders passed through the gate leading to a busy time for the rescue crews recovering helms and then returning for their equipment. This led to a slight delay to the second race whilst the sailing area was made safe.

Race 2 commenced with a slightly reduced fleet and a change in the course to replace the downwind run with a couple of broad reaches. The top 3 were again consistent, finishing the 2 laps of the course almost 15 minutes ahead of the tail end boats. This time it was Arlo who took the win from Hayden and Heather with Imogen Green (Draycote) ahead of Jessica Powell in the 4.2 class in 8th and 9th respectively.

There was a quick turnaround to get Race 3 off before the next weather front came in. Amazingly a few of the competitors who had returned to shore in race 1 had reefed or changed sails and were out to sail again - it just goes to show how sailing builds resilience and determination, these young sailors are bullet proof!

The third race saw Arlo Turner taking a dominant lead but this time Sam Grayton (Notts County) took second place as his results gradually improved over the regatta. Hayden Moore took a solid 3rd with Tara Ewbank (Chase SC) in 4th. In the 4.2s Jessica led the way with Eddie Quinn (Notts County) close behind.

With the wind continuing to build and fatigue beginning to set in for sailors and rescue crews alike the race officer decided that 3 races were enough and the fleet returned to shore.

Overall Results:

PosRigSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1 48327Arlo TurnerGlossop SC3115
2 45438Hayden MooreNotts County SC2237
3 47023Heather QuinnNotts County SC1359
4 48535Sam GraytonNotts County SC64212
5 48586Finn MorganChase SC461020
64.246391Jessica PowellDraycote Water SC59620
7 47764Tara EwbankChase SC125421
8 44036Joseph RoweDraycote Water SC87924
94.248653Imogen GreenDraycote Water SC781126
104.248165Eddie QuinnNotts County SC1311731
11 47181Clem MiddleDraycote Water SC9141437
12 48667Millie HardimanBartley SC17121241
13 46168Gwynrth LanyonNotts County SC14161343
14 48664Toby GammondTrimpley SC10191645
15 40003Matthew ChaddertonTrimpley SCDNF10849
16 48092Martha ChristensenNotts County SC21131751
174.240817Chloe GraytonNotts County SC18181854
18 48318Merryn AttridgeRoyal Hospital School / Swarkstone SC1117DNF59
19 48651Harriet TempleSouth Staffs SC1515DNF61
20 46205Caitlin ThomasNot Specified16DNF1562
214.248193Jasper Focardi DollingNot Specified19DNFDNC81
224.248571Katherine GunnNotts County SC20DNFDNC82
23 44012Jake BlakewayTrimpley SCDNFDNCDNC93
24 47777Katherine BurgessRoyal Harwich YCDNFDNCDNC93
25 46241Oli RogersSouth Staffs SCDNCDNCDNC93
26 48259Edward PalingNotts County SCDNFDNCDNC93
274.245197Polly McMullanDraycote Water SCDNFDNFDNF93
28 44602Eloise DavieNotts County SCDNFDNFDNC93
29 47790Ben PalingNotts County SCDNFDNCDNC93
30 46341Niall HarrisTrimpley SCDNFDNCDNC93

Related Articles

First training in Northamptonshire Youth Series
Ten intrepid young sailors brave the cold Light wind and a misty, cold Saturday (18th January) did not stop ten junior sailors from Northampton SC and Middle Nene SC from participating in this year's first training session as part of the Northants Youth Series. Posted on 20 Jan
SWYSA Youth Winter Training at Paignton
Sessions across all fleets aim to be fun, friendly and inclusive Paignton Sailing Club hosted a fabulous weekend of South West Youth Sailing Academy (SWYSA) Winter Race Coaching over Sat 11th to Sun 12th Jan. Conditions were cold but clear, with a perfect 8-15 knots of winds. Posted on 15 Jan
Barton Marine Rising Star update
Ralph Hadley starts 2025 with a new Topper At Barton Marine we can think of many elaborate excuses to justify acquiring a new boat, but following an unfortunate mishap during transportation back from the ITCA London and South East Autumn Series, Ralph Hadley found himself in need of a new hull! Posted on 13 Jan
Junior Winter Regatta at Leigh & Lowton
Alongside Northern Feva Championships Following the torrential rain of New Years Eve, and the looming forecast of snow, 36 Junior and Youth sailors from across the northern region travelled to Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club for the Junior Winter Regatta and Northern Feva Championships. Posted on 9 Jan
Eastern Topper Traveller Round 4 at Snowflake
The predicted 30 knots did not appear at Wroxham Broad Well, if the weather forecast could've pulled off a stand-up comedy routine, it would've been a hit. Predicting gusts of up to 30 knots, it had everyone bracing for a nautical rodeo. Instead, it served us a cocktail of light breezes. Posted on 9 Jan
Draycote Youth Open
A bumper entry of 85 boats - ILCAs, Toppers, Teras and Optimists The Draycote youth open sponsored by Fernhurst Books welcomed a bumper entry of 85 boats from ILCA 6s, 4s, Toppers, RS Teras and Optimists. Posted on 8 Jan
Bumper entry for Draycote Water Youth Open
A record entry of 80 junior and youth sailors across 4 classes Early entry is now closed for the Draycote Youth Open sponsored by Fernhurst books, we are very pleased to see a record entry - 80 junior and youth sailors across 4 classes will be attending for the one day championship. Posted on 27 Dec 2024
SWYSA Winter Race Coaching
Toppers and teras at Bristol Corinthian A wonderful friendly welcome was given to the SWYSA sailors by Bristol Corinthian YC. For the first time this year, SWYSA is running two-day camps for the more experienced Topper and Tera sailors in addition to the traditional one-days. Posted on 20 Dec 2024
Southern Rooster Topper Travellers at Spinnaker
Soggy weather conditions and a tricky westerly wind for the final event of the series Soggy weather conditions and a tricky westerly wind direction greeted 29 Topper sailors to Spinnaker Sailing Club on 19th October. This was the final Southern Area Rooster Traveller series of the year, with eleven 5.3 and eighteen 4.2 sailors. Posted on 22 Oct 2024
ITCA Midlands Topper Travellers at Shustoke
Third round of the 2024 mini-series The ITCA Midlands Topper Traveller series ventured out to a new location at Shustoke Sailing Club on October 6th, to complete the third round of the 2024 mini-series. Posted on 20 Oct 2024