Hapstead Volvo Topper Open at Arun Youth Aqua Centre

The Arun Youth Aqua Centre hosted its third Topper Open in West Sussex on Saturday July 17th, the Open was sponsored again by Hapstead Volvo who provided prizes and mementos for all the sailors. Race officer Nick Elliman set a ‘P’ course with the 15 Toppers sailing out to sea, with two laps per race, a challenging and very variable series of 5 races were completed.

In the first race in the lightest the wind conditions Joseph Wellerd (CMYC) was clearly going to be the man to beat with Bradley Field (Benfleet YC) not far behind, Bethany Wellerd (CMYC) coming a creditable third and the first race was shortened at the turning mark prior to the downwind leg of lap 2. With the wind increasing through the series enabled all the competitors to finish the course with Joe and Bradley maintaining their dominance of the fleet. As the skies darkened and thunder rumbled around to the south the decision was made to continue the racing with the wind veering further to the west as the start sequence progressed a pile up at the committee boat end let Rachel Folley (AYAC) and Joe Collier (AYAC) through, Joe pipping Rachel over the finish line.

After a barbecue lunch at the Centre, racing recommenced with the rain cleared and brightening skies and the wind steady as a SW F4 the lighter sailors struggling in the conditions with a number of retirements, Joseph Wellerd and Bradley continuing their dominance but fleet positions lower down were changing all the time. For the final race Bradley threatened to upset Joseph's dominance and was only overtaken on the final beat approaching the finish line.

Overall Results: