Topper Scottish Championships at Helensburgh Sailing Club

Christine Wood, Calum Bell, David Rosie, Andrew Homer at the Topper Scottish Championships at Helensburgh © Dougie Bell

Hannah & Eilidh hitching a tow home after the Topper Scottish Championships at Helensburgh © Heather White

David Rosie - Scottish Topper Champion 2015 © Dougie Bell

A total of 13 Toppers arrived at Helensburgh Sailing Club youth regatta for the final event in the 2015 Sailingfast Scottish Topper Travellers Series and their Scottish Champs. With the Traveller Series still undecided and the knowledge that a new name would be on the Scottish Championship Trophy there was lots for the competitors to aim for.

Light easterly breezes were forecast for the weekend and the Race Officer warned the fleet that he was hoping to get up to four races in on the Saturday. With a long sail out to the course he reminded competitors to have enough food, drinks and sun cream as they were going to be out on the water for several hours.

Race 1 started in a 5 knot easterly with David Rosie and Calum Bell fighting for the lead with David taking the gun. With the leading 2 finished, unfortunately the breeze disappeared and a strengthening tide meant that the rest of the fleet were unable to finish within the time limit.

Following a delay for the wind to resettle from the north the fleet got away cleanly for a 3 lap windward-leeward course. By the end of the race the leading two were the same as race one closely followed by Andrew Homer.

Race 3 started quickly after the end of race 2 and the fleet got away but the recall flag was put up and nobody returned to restart. David, Calum and Andrew pulled clear from the rest of the fleet to finish but Calum was deemed to be the startline offender allowing Tom Aitchison into third place. With the wind dying the Race Officer sent the fleet home just as the rain started.

Sunday dawned wet but with slightly more wind than forecast. Race 4 started approximately on time with a 5-8 knot easterly. Normal service was resumed for the leading 2 with Finlay Tulett having a good first beat and retaining this position to finish third.

For race 5 the wind swung to the South East and a sharp chop made the conditions tricky for the competitors upwind. Calum led the way with Andrew sailing through David upwind to claim a second. With his third place, David now had an unassailable lead for the Scottish Champs title and headed in, leaving the rest of the fleet fighting for the other positions.

The final race got underway in a dying wind with Andrew leading on the final leeward leg but Calum went the other side of the start-finish gate to pass Andrew and win the final race. Christine Wood finished in third place to secure her position as top girl in the Scottish Championships.

Overall Results: