PSC Topper Open Meeting - Saturday 25 April 2009
On Saturday 25th April the Topper open meeting was held at Papercourt Sailing Club. This was the first South East Topper Traveller for 2009 and attracted 30 entries with visitors from 10 clubs. The forecasters got the weather right and the sailors were greeted with sunshine and a Force 2-3 southerly wind but with increasingly strong gusts of up to Force 5. The wind was blowing predominantly down the lake but there were very large shifts and later in the day, big slamming gusts coming over the trees on the side of the lake.
The race officer set an interesting course with two beats and a great reach across the bottom of the lake. The first race got away cleanly but with an individual recall signal, although no-one returned over the line. Hannah Lytton from Papercourt led around the first mark and held her lead for over two laps. Behind her the following 7 boats had a very close race with many place changes. On the final lap Clive Jackson managed to take the lead and go on to take line honours from Dan Fenn and Sammy Bonella after Charlotte Fenn was disqualified for being OCS. The second race was held back-to back with the first and Clive Jackson established an early lead which he held to the finish. A close race was held for the next few places and at the finish Kirsty Lytton took second place and Ollie Machell in third.
After a superb Papercourt lunch the fleet returned to the water to find the gusts had increased in strength, but the sun was still shining. Jonty Freeman established an early lead which he held to the finish, with Sammy Bonella a comfortable second and Charlotte Fenn third. The final race was again held back-to-back and this time Kirsty Lytton established an early lead. She was overtaken by Charlotte Fenn on the second beat but Hannah Lytton overhauled her later in the race to take the race with Charlotte second and Ollie Machell again third.
Praise must go to the race officer who got the races off with very little delay and clean starts after the first race. Respect should also be given to the many younger sailors who are new to the Topper and survived the day despite many capsizes and very tricky and blustery conditions. Well done to all.
Overall Results:
1st Clive Jackson – Papercourt SC, and 1st Adult
2nd Hannah Lytton – Papercourt SC, and 1st girl
3rd Charlotte Fenn – Pevensey Bay SC
4th Sammy Bonella – Papercourt SC
5th Ollie Machell – Papercourt SC
6th Kirsty Lytton – Papercourt SC
1st Non-squaddie - Alisha Manuel – Welsh Harp SC
Endeavour Prize – Lucy Harris – Papercourt SC
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Results
For full Topper Open Results click here
