Topper National Series round 6 at Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club

by Christopher Woodard 24 Jul 2017 10:33 BST 15-16 July 2017

Topper National Series 6 at Lowestoft © Christopher Woodard

Topper National Series 6 at Lowestoft © Anthony Randall May

For the final round (NS6) of the 2016/17 Volvo GJW Direct Topper National Series the Topper travelling circus headed East - to the most easterly point of mainland Great Britain to be precise! For some there was trepidation ahead of a very long journey, with the added threat of traffic delays from the nearby Latitude Festival, but from late Friday afternoon Lowestoft's vast Royal Green began filling up with camper vans, trailers and Toppers, with a warm welcome and excellent marshalling from a large contingent of RNSYC volunteers.

Having had a very mixed bag of weather conditions at the previous five 2016/17 Series events, causing the loss of four days racing across the series, the forecast looked pretty favourable for this event, but few could have predicted just how shifty the wind was going to be, and the mark layers had an extremely busy weekend (for which they were suitably rewarded at the prizegiving!)

Lowestoft's Royal Green is quite some distance from the launch area adjacent to the pier, and it was a fabulous sight to see over 150 Toppers nose-to-tail snaking along the prom! The 133 boats in the 5.3 fleet launched first and headed south down the coast to their race area, followed by the 20 boats 4.2 fleet who raced a little nearer to the club.

In the 5.3s a combination of the extremely fickle wind, frequently shifting by up to 45 degrees, which necessitated a couple of mid-race abandonments and much mark relaying, coupled with a strong tide running under the start line contributing to the customary quota of general recalls, meant that the sailors had to endure quite a lot of hanging around, and it was only possible to complete 3 races (6 flights) within the usual 6 hour guideline. Angus Kemp had a great day, scoring two firsts and a 5th, with the other race winners being Sam Jones, Sonia Evans, Ben Willett and George Vincent.

Meanwhile in the 4.2 fleet the absence of flights gave the RO more flexibility for mark re-laying during the race, and with less delays the fleet completed 4 of their 5-race schedule. There was a different winner in each race, with victories going to Tom Thwaites, Tim Evans, Ceri Roberts and Ciara Woodard.

Sunday dawned with pretty similar conditions and consequently similar challenges! Again the 5.3 fleet had a full day on the water but only achieved 3 of their 5-race schedule, again spending much of the time rafted up waiting for the wind to settle and the course to be re-laid. The day's race winners were Ben Willett, Lorcan Knowles, George Vincent, Ben Purrier and Maxi Trustain, and crucially Angus Kemp popped in another race win, together with a 4th, to secure a comfortable maiden National Series victory. Sam Jones secured 2nd, followed by Sonia Evans in 3rd (and 1st Girl) and Andrew Homer 4th (and 1st Youth)

Meanwhile in the 4.2s the fleet were well behaved on the start line, and their mark layers again benefitted from greater flexibility, and they were able to complete their full 5-race schedule, allowing the 2nd discard to kick in. Tom Thwaites added another two 1sts to his score line, with the other race winners being Tim Evans, James Smaggersdale and Bjorn Handley. Overall it was extremely tight with Tim Evans and Tom Thwaites tied on 15 points, with Tom taking the victory on count back, and Ceri Roberts in 3rd, and Ciara Woodard 4th (and 1st Girl)

Topper National Series 6 at Lowestoft - photo © Christopher Woodard

Despite the trying conditions, and a lot of hanging around on the water, it was the usual wall-to-wall smiling faces that came ashore, to face the hard slog up the soft sandy beach and along the prom (with candy floss and ice creams available along the way!), and a great finish to a long and varied Series.

Being the 2016/17 Volvo GJW Direct National Series finale there was also the small matter of the overall Series Ladder and prizegiving, with 296 entrants and plenty of great prizes, - but more about that to follow!

For many it was back home for a quick turnaround before heading off to Brittany for the Rooster International Topper World Championships at Cercle Nautique Loctudy - but more about that to follow too!

5.3 Rig Results:

Pos	Sail No	Name	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1st	47860	Angus KEMP	Poole YC	1	1	5	4	1	‑10	12
2nd	47641	Sam JONES	Hill Head SC	5	1	‑7	3	6	3	18
3rd	47386	Sonia EVANS	Priory SC	3	8	1	‑9	3	5	20
4th	46940	Andrew HOMER	Dalgety Bay SC	6	8	2	2	2	‑41	20
5th	48138	Ben WILLETT	Llangorse SC	1	2	‑17	1	10	9	23
6th	47808	Coco BARRETT	Island Barn Reservoir SC	8	2	5	‑10	5	4	24
7th	47522	Scott WILKINSON	Rye Harbour SC	6	5	4	2	‑20	7	24
8th	48094	Lorcan KNOWLES	Leigh & Lowton SC	3	4	8	12	1	‑15	28
9th	47836	Finlay TULETT	Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli/Dalgety Bay	2	‑34	10	5	7	6	30
10th	47484	George VINCENT	Parkstone YC	7	11	1	1	12	‑19	32
11th	47302	Sebastian GOTTO	NBYC	19	6	3	7	10	‑37	45
12th	45497	Gemma MCDONNELL	Hollowell SC	10	‑18	10	6	5	14	45
13th	47780	Aaron EVANS	Silver Wing SC	19	10	2	(DSQ)	4	13	48
14th	47426	James DEATON	RHYC	16	15	6	‑20	18	2	57
15th	47649	Finlay SWANTON	Felpham SC	‑26	3	9	3	23	20	58
16th	47791	Dan MCGAUGHEY	Donaghadee SC/ballyholme yc	(BFD)	3	13	10	8	27	61
17th	47536	Oliver MILLS	Pennine SC	‑47	12	13	27	9	3	64
18th	48105	Ben PURRIER	Parkstone YC	21	‑39	6	16	21	1	65
19th	47680	Euan HARRIS	Deben YC	31	‑50	12	14	2	6	65
20th	47783	William ADLER	CCSC	2	20	7	19	‑30	17	65
21st	47101	Jude SINGLETON	Hollowell SC	‑45	4	3	5	25	28	65
22nd	47016	Samuel SHACKLE	Broxbourne SC	14	5	‑39	7	19	20	65
23rd	46875	Harriet LEE	Yorkshire Dales SC	9	23	‑34	14	8	13	67
24th	48120	Aled LLEWELLYN‑JONES	Saundersfoot SC/Llangorse	16	19	9	21	‑36	4	69
25th	47952	Catriona WARBURTON	Loch Venachar SC	20	14	‑21	19	6	11	70
26th	47303	Isabel WALLWORK	Redesmere SC	11	7	12	22	18	‑26	70
27th	47769	Angus FELLOWS	YYC	4	‑32	17	13	14	25	73
28th	48159	Lowri BOORMAN	Dale YC	4	30	4	6	‑51	31	75
29th	48027	Thomas WILLIAMSON	IBRSC	9	31	8	9	‑47	21	78
30th	47740	Sean WOODARD	Waldringfield SC	29	13	‑37	20	9	9	80
31st	47765	Marcus HOWARD	Redesmere SC	14	9	‑42	8	17	34	82
32nd	29641	Imogen KEMP	Poole YC	17	28	14	‑32	7	18	84
33rd	46046	Lily BARRETT	Island Barn Reservoir SC	22	‑38	14	8	11	29	84
34th	47354	Catherine ALBONE	CYC/Milton Keynes SC	22	33	‑39	11	4	21	91
35th	47126	Oliver FELLOWS	Castle Cove SC	13	12	27	31	‑42	8	91
36th	47806	Yana SKVORTSOVA		‑37	24	20	18	13	16	91
37th	47173	Gregory CORNES	Aldridge SC	‑46	25	11	15	19	23	93
38th	47657	David PEATY	Upton Warren/WSSCA	25	7	16	30	16	‑48	94
39th	47306	Jake SCOTT	Dale YC	7	21	23	23	22	‑46	96
40th	47750	Maxi TUSTAIN	IBRSC	‑55	17	20	28	32	1	98
41st	47350	Liam SCHIESS	RYA	35	13	21	16	13	‑39	98
42nd	48140	Zoe BELBEN	Stokes Bay SC	15	19	‑56	21	28	16	99
43rd	47658	Dan BATTY	Dorchester SC / Oxford SC	10	9	23	32	30	‑56	104
44th	48177	William HUDSON	Newhaven & Seaford	26	20	19	24	16	‑30	105
45th	47488	Toby PEARCE	Horning SC/Snowflakes SC	18	21	28	‑47	25	17	109
46th	47725	Maisie BRISTOW	IBRSC	13	‑31	24	29	17	29	112
47th	47723	Charlie TURNBULL	RYA	33	‑35	11	4	33	32	113
48th	48249	Leo WILKINSON	Maidenhead SC/DWSC	31	‑37	32	11	32	7	113
49th	47685	Samuel BRACKLEY	Felpham SC	12	6	44	‑49	29	25	116
50th	45625	Suzanna HOMER	Dalgety Bay SC	12	10	‑42	35	34	26	117
51st	48152	Eabha STRONG‑WRIGHT	Llandegfedd SC	36	22	19	29	14	‑41	120
52nd	47777	Matty COHEN	FOSSC	11	‑56	45	25	28	12	121
53rd	47956	Anabelle ESQULANT	Docklands Sailing & Watersports	15	16	‑43	37	26	27	121
54th	33091	Richard TOWNLEY	Royal Harwich YC/Stour SC	24	27	16	‑43	15	40	122
55th	47264	Rachael MCCLUSKEY	Leigh and Lowton SC	‑45	28	15	15	31	35	124
56th	4092	Rhys CHANDLER	Club Hwylio Bala SC	‑30	24	26	25	27	22	124
57th	47731	Thomas COCHRANE	Plymouth Youth Sailing/Yealm YC	5	30	(RET)	24	23	45	127
58th	46772	Oliver VOWLES	Llangorse SC	18	44	25	17	24	‑52	128
59th	47743	Brandon BANNER	Leigh & Lowton SC	32	‑34	28	33	26	10	129
60th	47399	Tamsyn HILLS	Saltash SC	‑44	15	18	36	20	40	129
61st	45617	Benedict RICHARDSON	Castle Cove SC	20	40	37	12	21	‑60	130
62nd	48100	Jennifer WESLEY	Loch Venachar SC	8	‑46	33	18	45	33	137
63rd	46770	William THOMAS	Notts County SC	41	22	22	‑51	40	12	137
64th	47531	Curtis MCKAY	HOAC / Queensmead	35	‑49	36	42	15	11	139
65th	46387	Matilda GREGSON	Starcross YC	(BFD)	11	18	51	54	8	142
66th	48050	Heloise SHADBOLT	Warsash SC	27	17	24	39	‑43	36	143
67th	45565	Tristan HILLS	Saltash SC	39	16	30	36	‑44	24	145
68th	48001	Alex NOBLE	Annandale SC	23	33	40	38	‑44	14	148
69th	46611	Miles EVERETT	Llangorse SC	‑43	41	27	26	41	15	150
70th	44631	Scarlet DESORGHER	Rutland SC	42	25	29	‑58	24	31	151
71st	44902	Douglas LAMB	Chester Sailing and Canoeing Club	(BFD)	32	22	38	60	2	154
72nd	46855	Louis SIVEYER	Exe SC	34	29	50	17	‑61	24	154
73rd	46734	James DEVERELL	Paignton S C/Royal Dart YC	42	23	‑55	34	33	22	154
74th	47954	Josie MEREDITH	Papercourt SC	38	47	‑48	27	39	5	156
75th	48093	Tom CAMPBELL	Parkstone YC	38	35	29	‑52	36	18	156
76th	47503	Samuel CARR	Loch Venachar SC	24	42	38	22	34	‑55	160
77th	47537	Austin WRIGHT	Pennine SC	34	14	‑56	40	22	53	163
78th	46888	Daisy DESORGHER	Rutland SC	21	37	35	‑47	29	42	164
79th	44476	Charlotte KNIGHT	Norfolk Broads YC/Horning SC	‑55	41	25	28	35	35	164
80th	45477	Jacob ATKINS	Stokes Bay SC	23	40	31	‑53	37	34	165
81st	47086	Iwan ROBERTS	Llangorse SC	61	38	(DNC)	13	3	52	167
82nd	47028	Toby BLOOMFIELD	Paignton SC	17	39	‑60	41	46	28	171
83rd	48066	Oliver WILCOX	FOSSC	52	18	35	‑64	12	57	174
84th	46837	Joan LAYCOCK	Poole YC/Spinnaker SC	32	27	33	44	40	‑64	176
85th	45506	Annabel TURNBULL	RYA	25	43	47	‑49	31	37	183
86th	45919	Oliver WILLIAMSON	IBRSC	30	45	26	‑63	52	30	183
87th	45735	Gus MCKENZIE	Yorkshire Dales SC	51	26	‑58	33	35	38	183
88th	47338	Harry PRESSDEE	Mumbles YC	(BFD)	44	15	30	54	42	185
89th	47833	Tom PEACOCK	Parkstone YC	28	‑66	46	37	47	33	191
90th	47764	Kamran EWBANK	Staunton Harold SC	28	42	36	‑50	39	46	191
91st	44889	Daniel KEENAN	Tamworth SC	(BFD)	50	41	31	27	49	198
92nd	46710	Edward BAKER	Frampton On Severn SC	47	26	34	‑52	49	43	199
93rd	48137	Joel BIBBY	Parkstone YC	49	45	38	35	‑56	36	203
94th	48246	Lawrence DONNELLY	Surrey Docks	36	48	‑52	46	37	38	205
95th	47926	Peter WALKER	Parkstone YC	53	36	55	43	‑64	19	206
96th	47733	Alfie LESTER	Felpham SC	39	47	32	‑62	60	32	210
97th	46974	George ELLIS‑MILLER	Norfolk Broads YC	27	55	51	41	38	‑56	212
98th	46978	Hamish MCDONALD	Fowey Gallants SC	51	‑55	52	23	48	48	222
99th	46927	Emily PROCTER	Paignton S C	40	43	54	44	41	(DSQ)	222
100th	45633	Lloyd TAYLOR	Blackwater SC	‑64	58	40	54	11	61	224
101st	47600	Oliver BURKE	Yorkshire Dales SC	54	54	41	26	‑61	51	226
102nd	47779	Robin STEIN	Crawley Mariners/Queen Mary	60	48	30	‑63	38	50	226
103rd	47664	Edward SCHUSTER‑BRUCE	Parkstone YC	33	59	53	39	‑63	43	227
104th	47116	Noah SHERRIFF	Chew Valley Lake SC	29	‑57	57	50	42	54	232
105th	47000	Luc JAMES	Llangorse SC	50	29	44	56	53	‑58	232
106th	47076	Daniel NICOLL	Goring Thames SC	48	46	43	‑62	56	39	232
107th	47752	Cormac O'BRIEN	IBRSC	43	52	46	‑54	46	51	238
108th	47902	Henry KOE	south bank SC	56	(DNC)	DNC	34	58	23	239
109th	47394	Leah FIDLING	Chester Sailing and Canoeing Club	54	‑61	58	40	43	45	240
110th	47950	Oliver HICKLING	Queen Mary SC/Wembley SC	50	36	‑64	58	55	44	243
111th	44131	Niall SCHIESS	RYA	41	60	31	60	53	‑61	245
112th	47792	Oliver RANDALL‑MAY	CYC	37	53	48	‑64	59	58	255
113th	45972	Rachel WYSS	Hollowell SC	52	51	51	53	51	‑57	258
114th	47762	Bethan MCROBBIE	Hykeham SC	49	56	‑59	55	52	50	262
115th	47949	Annabel SUMERAY	Papercourt SC	58	53	45	45	‑64	63	264
116th	46731	Max ROBINSON	Fishers Green SC	59	‑63	57	55	48	47	266
117th	47172	Rose EDMONDS	Snettisham Beach SC	48	54	‑62	48	57	59	266
118th	48147	Daniel COUPE	Parkstone YC	(BFD)	62	53	42	49	62	268
119th	46578	Llion MORRIS	Llandudno SC	‑62	59	50	59	50	53	271
120th	46126	Charles CLOSE	Queen Mary SC	40	49	47	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	272
121st	47601	Jack BURKE	Yorkshire Dales SC	44	57	49	57	‑66	65	272
122nd	47771	Elinor AIKMAN	Grafham Water SC & Priory SC	53	52	‑63	46	59	62	272
123rd	40736	Ryan HART	Budworth SC	57	62	54	56	‑65	49	278
124th	48101	Felix MCMULLAN	Hollowell SC	59	64	(RET)	45	57	55	280
125th	47085	Jessica ROBERTS	Cardiff Bay YC	60	60	‑62	57	45	59	281
126th	45451	Joseph EVANS	Priory SC	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	48	55	44	283
127th	44484	Elin JONES	Gresford SC	57	‑63	49	61	62	54	283
128th	42046	James DENNY	st edmundburys	58	58	‑63	59	63	47	285
129th	47646	Madeleine VOWLES	Llangorse SC	56	‑64	59	60	50	63	288
130th	45996	Tia ADLER	Castle Cove SC	46	‑65	61	65	58	60	290
131st	47794	Imogen DAY	Hollowell SC	63	51	61	61	62	‑64	298
132nd	11734	George SELLWOOD	Teifi Boating Club	(BFD)	61	60	DNC	DNC	DNC	325
133rd	48098	Ethan KNEALE	Cardiff Bay YC	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	340

4.2 Rig Results:

Pos	Sail No	Name	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Pts
1st	47625	Tom THWAITES	RN&SYC / NBYC	4	2	‑5	1	1	4	(SCP)	2	1	15
2nd	43183	Timothy EVANS	Priory SC	3	1	‑6	3	2	2	‑4	1	3	15
3rd	46127	Ceri ROBERTS	Llangorse SC	1	3	‑7	4	3	5	6	3	‑9	25
4th	44192	Ciara WOODARD	Waldringfield SC	7	5	1	‑11	8	‑9	9	4	5	39
5th	47796	Cameron SWORD	Papercourt SC	‑15	10	2	6	‑16	6	5	6	6	41
6th	46691	Miles DEVERELL	Paignton S C/RDYC	2	(OCS)	8	‑13	9	8	8	5	2	42
7th	47654	James SMAGGASGALE	HOAC / Queensmead	(OCS)	14	4	10	5	(UFD)	1	9	4	47
8th	43950	Ben ADLER	CCSC	9	4	11	7	10	‑12	2	8	‑17	51
9th	48081	Lewis THOMPSON	Ballyholme/Donaghadee	‑11	9	10	2	(UFD)	7	3	11	10	52
10th	45770	Bjorn HANDLEY	Queen Mary SC	‑17	6	‑14	5	11	1	13	7	12	55
11th	40406	Oliver KEENAN	Tamworth SC	10	7	3	12	6	‑13	‑17	12	11	61
12th	46733	Daisy ROBINSON	Fishers Green SC	13	15	‑18	‑18	4	3	10	13	7	65
13th	46148	Archie BURTON	Beaver SC	12	8	13	8	12	‑17	14	‑15	8	75
14th	29048	Andrew SCOTT	Dale YC	‑18	13	‑17	16	7	10	12	10	14	82
15th	46274	Harriet SACKER	Burnham Overy Staithe	8	12	‑16	15	13	15	11	‑18	16	90
16th	46920	Tara EWBANK	Staunton Harold S.C.	‑16	‑17	9	14	15	11	15	14	13	91
17th	47927	Charles ALSTON	NBYC	5	11	12	9	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	100
18th	41886	Charlie GRAN	Chichester YC	14	‑18	15	‑17	14	14	16	16	15	104
19th	44142	Dru TOWNSEND	Portishead Yacht	6	16	‑19	‑19	18	16	19	17	19	111
20th	42005	Isabella FERNEYHOUGH	Marconi SC	(DNF)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	17	18	18	19	18	132