Topper and Topaz Open at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club
by John Charles 6 Jul 2008 22:52 BST
5 July 2008
High winds for the Topper Eastern Area Traveler and Topaz Open at Leigh-on-Sea © John Charles
For the 'n-th' year running a strong breeze greeted the visitors to the July 5th Topper Eastern Area Traveler and Topaz Open.
After a slight delay for the water to arrive, the Toppers got away with individual recalls for a couple of boats that misjudged the tide. With a Force 5-6 measured on the Committee boat, several of the smaller sailors struggled to make way. Those that had reefed did better, not really loosing much ground, even downwind. With 28 knot spells, the run section of the trapezoid course saw many wipeouts, and some competitors headed for shore. At the front, Jordan Rumsby led from Alexander Alcock and Flip Foulds.
After adjusting the course for a small back in the wind direction, the second race got away cleanly. This time Flip Foulds sailed away from the rest, leaving Rumsby and James Wilson in the next two places.
For the final race, with an ebbing tide, the fleet sagged back from the line and there was a little chaos at the pin end. At the end of the first lap, the leaders were bunched together as they approached the gate. Flip Foulds got pinned to leeward of the group and the tide took her onto the gate mark. Rumsby took advantage and sped clear to win the race, with Foulds second and James Dugdale third.
In the Topaz fleet, it was mainly a case of (relatively) old men in pain. Andy Middleton sailed a clean race to finish well ahead in the first race with quite a few retirements after some spectacular tumbles. For the next two races, Nigel Dumbell got into a grove and won both.
Overall Results:
Topper
1st Jordan Rumsby (Hickling)
2nd Flip Foulds (Norfolk Braods YC)
3rd Alexander Alcock (Hunts)
4th James Dugdale (NBYC)
5th James Wilson (Rollesbury Broad)
6th Rheanna Pavey (Stour)
Topaz
1st Nigel Dumbell (Essex YC)
2nd Andy Middleton (EYC)
3rd John Alani (LSC)