Topper UK National Championships day 5

by Ian Escritt on 5 Aug 2011 ITCA Topper UK National Championships at North Berwick East Lothian Yacht Club, are being held between 30th July and 5th August 2011.

Awaking to torrential rain on day five, the organisers set three races but unfortunately visibility was too poor to launch. On the beach there was a sea of blue and red umbrellas due to the weather and a sale in the local pound shop, (£1.49 bargain), eventually the mist lifted allowing all fleets to launch.

As throughout all this week the PRO manfully tried to set his line and get the starts away, he succeeded in running one race before the harr descended onto the course again sending the 280 Toppers scurrying back to shore for an early finish.

In Gold fleet Laura Gilmore (Strangford Lough) kept up her impressive performances by winning her fourth race of the championships followed by Curtis Mearns (Leigh and Lowton), Felix Crowther (Queen Mary).

Joe Henderson from Sunderland went to bed on Wednesday evening believing he was in Bronze fleet but due to an admin error he was promoted to Silver fleet, he made the most of his good fortune winning the Silver fleet from Finn Murphy (Portishead) and Angus Couper (Queen Mary).

Bronze winner was Joanne Foster (Dalgety Bay), second Marthur Osman (Oxford) and James Mapley (Felpham).

Overall Laura Gilmore is leading (four points) with a comfortable lead over Matt Venables (10 points) Giles Kuzyk (13 points) and Curtis Mearns (13 points). Full results available here.

Day six is underway with the best wind of the week a solid 15 to 18 mph.

Topper National Championship website