Topper Topaz Uno National Championship at Whitstable Yacht Club

Topper Topaz Uno Nationals at Whitstable © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Max Sellar wins the Topper Topaz Uno Nationals at Whitstable © Nicky Whatley

The inaugural Topper Topaz Uno Nationals took place at Whitstable Yacht Club on the North Kent coast, on 15th and 16th August 2015. Four races were sailed alongside the Whitstable Town Regatta over the two days in light wind conditions that suited the boats well. Over twenty boats took part, in a mixture of Plus (white sail) and Race rigs.

As well as regular Whitstable Yacht Club and visiting Topaz sailors, including an entry who came all the way from Abu Dhabi, the fleet was supplemented by sailors from other classes, who were provided loan boats by Topper and Wild Times Sailing School for the weekend. This resulted in a wide range of abilities, experience and sailing styles on the water, and kept the racing close throughout the fleet.

The event proved to the sailors new to the boat that the adaptable Topaz Uno dinghy is just as exciting to sail and rewarding as the catamarans and larger monohull dinghies that many of them were more used to!

At the front of the fleet, there was a consistent battle between 13 year old Max Sellar and Whitstable Yacht Club Vice Commodore Andrew Jackson (usually seen in a Taser!), regularly swapping positions and chasing each other around the course. In the end, Max won the event with a very decisive three first places and a second, whilst Andrew could only manage a first, two seconds and a third place to come in second overall. Max also took the prize for the first placed cadet, and first Race rig.

In another close battle, Abby Zambinski (normally seen helming a Nacra 17 or F18 catamaran) beat Ali Nicholson to third place by one point, and also won the prize for the first Plus Sail rig. Despite a spectacular capsize just a few metres from the finishing line at the end of the third race, Ali managed to beat Mark Fagg into fifth place by just one point. Sixth and seventh places went to cadets Issis Bruton and John Jones, Steve Pimblett came eighth, and Mark Freeman, who runs the Noukhada Adventure Company and Topper Dealership in Abu Dhabi, came in ninth place.

Everyone had a great time at Whitstable Yacht Club, enjoying the fun but competitive racing, and taking part in hopefully the first of many Topper Topaz Uno Nationals. They also enjoyed the added bonus of having a front row seat on the water for the Air Show at nearby Herne Bay! The event was generously sponsored by Topper, Ronstan and Musto Clothing, and organised by Richard Ledger and Robin South for Whitstable Yacht Club.

Overall Results:

Prize winners in the Topper Topaz Uno Nationals at Whitstable - photo © Nicky Whatley