Purple Marine Topper Open Meeting at Sutton Sailing Club
by Greg O’Brien 20 Aug 2007 12:36 BST
18 August 2007
A great entry of 24 boats for the open meeting © Faz /
www.fazaudio.com
Bec Dawkes won the Purple Marine sponsored Sutton SC Topper Open Meeting on Saturday 18 August.
With a great entry of 24 boats (11 local and 13 visiting) the race team were put to test with a Southerly breeze of force 0 to 3 at various times during the 3 races.
Race 1 started in a steady force 2 and was lead at the Windward mark by Matthew Venables, he was however passed down the run by Bec Dawkes, Seonaid Flemming and Sam Knight. Bec (of Tamworth Sailing Club) took the lead in which she held to the finish. 2nd place was held by Seonaid of South Staffs, meanwhile a local battle ensued between Sam Knight and Matthew Venables, the later claiming 3rd place.
Race 2 and 3 were sailed back to back after lunch. Sam Knight lead this race, however he was hotly pursued by Bec Dawkes, Sam managed to hold his lead to the finish with Bec taking a well earned 2nd place. Ben Eaves of Redditch S.C sailed a great race and finished 3rd. A battle for 4th place was between 6 boats on the last beat, Mark Flemming of South Staffs rounded the last mark in 4th closely followed by Matthew Venables, Megan O’Brien, Seonaid Flemming, Joshua Crosby of Manor Park and Dan Venables. Dan tacked straight round the mark into clear air, whilst the rest of fleet covered each other. It was Mark Flemming who held onto 4th place, followed by his sister Seonaid in 5th and Dan in 6th place.
Race 3 was started in wet and breezy conditions with a slight change of course. There were 3 potential boats capable of winning overall and the fleet were eager to start and forced a general recall. With the black flag in operation only one was disqualified, James Hill of Sutton SC The race was lead initially by Matt Duffied of Chelmarsh SC, with the overall title up for grabs the top 3 boats climbed through the fleet with a battle ensuing for lead between Sam Knight and Seonaid Flemming. On the final beat Seonaid who was leading ended in a tacking dual with Sam, this allowed Bec Dawkes to close the gap. Seonaid held her lead to the finish with Sam in 2nd and Bec in 3rd and with that result just enough to win on discard.
Prizes were donated by Purple Marine to the winners:
1st Overall, Bec Dawkes, Tamworth SC
2nd Overall, Sam Knight, Sutton SC.
3rd Overall, Seonaid Flemming, South Staffs SC
1st Under 12, Matthew Venables, Sutton SC
1st Under 10, Dan Venables, Sutton SC
Last placed boat counting all 3 results: Aimee O’Brien, Sutton SC
1st Lady not in overall prizes: Georgie Fletcher, Sutton SC
1st Sutton Boat not in overall prizes: Joe Zolna
2nd Sutton Boat not in overall prizes: Megan O’Brien
3rd Sutton Boat not in overall prizes: Matt Allen