Zhik Topper World Championships at Pwllheli Sailing Club - Day 3
by Bill Brassington 14 Aug 2014 16:46 BST
10-15 August 2014
The Zhik International Topper Class World Championship at last got onto the water after racing on the first two days was postponed due to severe weather and sea conditions. International Race Officer Peter Saxton and his team eventually got the fleets afloat into 15 to 18 knot winds with a forecasted easing of the winds, so that four races could be completed.
The fleets launched just before 10:00 with 134 International Toppers with 5.3m2 sails represented by sailors from France, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Japan, Malta, and South Africa and 16 sailors from Great Britain, Ireland and Thailand using the smaller 4.2m2 sail.
The weather conditions and sea state was extremely testing at the first start and the sailors coped with them very well, with only a few deciding early on that it was too challenging for them. Both the 5.3m2 flights started without much incident and headed up the first 0.7 nm beat. After 45 minutes of testing sea conditions Tom Walker (GBR) cross the finishing line ahead of Calum Rosie (GBR) and Thomas Wallwork (GBR). In the second flight Adam D'Arcy (IRL) heard the gun first followed by Bella Fellows (GBR) and Anna Sturrock (GBR).
The smaller sailors in the 4.2m2 Toppers were finding conditions very difficult ion their shorter course, but all battled through and Daniel Thompson (GBR) crossed the line ahead of Jenna McCarlie (IRL) and Rachael McCluskey (GBR).
Weather conditions did not improve for the second race and Tom Walker, working his boat beautifully through the seas again crossed the line ahead of Oliver Blackburn (GBR) and Calum Rosie in the first flight. Leading the second flight Georgie McKenzie (GBR) crossed first followed by Bella Fellows and Adam D'Arcy.
In the 4.2m2 fleet Daniel Thompson again lead hone Jenna McCarlie and Jundet Cartoon (THA).
After the start of the third race, the race officer noted that the winds instead of decreasing were growing and sailing conditions were getting harder and it was decided that the fleet would be sent ashore at the end of that race. The winds were gusting 30 knots with an average of 25 knots but the sailors in both fleets handled the conditions extremely well. Tom Walker gained his third bullet of the day with Calum Rosie and Jack Butters (GBR) second and third respectively. In the second flight Georgie McKenzie crossed the line in first place for he second time of the day with Adam D'Arcy in second and Joseph Drake (GBR) in third.
The final race of the day for the 4.2m2 fleet was again won by Daniel Thompson followed home by Jenna McCarlie and Milly Jinks (GBR).
Results after Day 3: (top five)
5.3 m2 fleet
1. Tom Walker, 3pts
2. Adam D'Arcy, 6pts
3. Georgie McKenzie, 7pts
4. Calum Rosie, 7pts
5. Bellow Rosie, 7pts
4.2m2 fleet
1. Daniel Thompson, 3pts
2. Jenna McCarlie, 7pts
3. Rachael McCluskey, 12pts
4. Milly Jinks, 12pts
5. Haken Digby, 14pts
Race officer Peter Saxton reported that "It was the correct decision to abandon the fourth race, the weather conditions were not conducive for fair racing and carrying the qualifying series into Thursday will provide a far more balanced result."
President of the Class, Bill Brassington, said "When we launched the fleet in the morning the clouds were very dark and sailing condition would challenge all the sailors. However the race team and the sailors themselves acquitted themselves extremely well and we had a fantastic day's racing. My congratulations to all the sailors and race team."
topper2014.com
From Phuket to Pwllheli (by Elin Aaron)
At the Opening Ceremony of the Topper World Championships at Pwllheli Sailing Club on Sunday there were two very special guests in attendance. Among the dignitaries and competitors from 11 different countries, Cartoon Jundet and Sarawuth Kuluk proudly carried the Thai national flag on to the Topper world stage.
Cartoon (12 years old) and Sarawuth (13 year old) are members of the Phuket Youth Sailing Club which aim to give underprivileged children the opportunity to sail and get involved in international competitions. Cartoon and Sarawuth live at Phuket Sunshine Village, a home for children in need set up by the Lions Club of Phuket Andaman Sea and Child Watch Phuket in the aftermath of the Tsunami in 2004. This journey to Pwllheli is Sarawuth's first venture outside of his home town.
The International Topper Class Association are continuously talking to the Phuket Youth Sailing Club to try and get them involved and offer them assistance as required. This year the Topper Worlds event secured a travel grant to enable the Sailing Club to send two young sailors and their supporters across the world to Pwllheli.
The climate in Pwllheli differs greatly from their normal sailing waters in Phuket. Back in Thailand Cartoon and Sarawuth sail in their shorts, but the the remnants of what was Hurricane Bertha means that the conditions in Pwllheli required the pair to layer up. Suitable sailing attire was donated from various other competitors and British supporters of the Phuket Youth Sailing Club and loaned by Pwllheli Youth Sailing Community (CHIPAC). The young sailors will be sailing in boats generously supplied by Topper International Ltd., the manufacturer, to compete in the championships.
Bill Brassington, the President and Chairman of the International Topper Class Association, said: "It's great to see Cartoon and Sarawuth out on the water with all the other sailors. As a class, we feel it's important to support and assist sailors from countries where Topper sailing is still in its infantry in order to develop the sport. The welcome that Cartoon and Sarawuth have received here at Pwllheli has been warm, despite the challenging conditions."
Now that the pleasantries of the Opening Ceremony are over it's time for the pair to join in with the 150 other competitors in the waters of Cardigan Bay. With 5 days of sailing ahead of them the Topper Worlds 2014 at Pwllheli Sailing Club will be a great experience for all involved. Who knows this opportunity might inspire Cartoon and Sarawuth and we'll see their names representing Thailand at the Olympics in the future.