Topper Open & Rooster Southern Autumn Traveller at Hill Head Sailing Club
by Roger Cerrato 14 Sep 2022 22:17 PDT
10-11 September 2022
This Autumn's ITCA (GBR) Southern Topper programme kicked off with an Open Training Day at Hill Head on Saturday September 10th.
Under the careful eye of Harris Goodman and his coaching team the 30 participating sailors enjoyed 2 good sessions afloat as well as plenty of time ashore to pick the brains of the coaches! Helena Lucas MBE was also in attendance as the Training day was a secondary indicator for the South Toppers RTG. It was noted that some of the usual suspects from the front of the 4.2 fleet elected to take advantage of the light airs to try a 5.3 rig, more of that later.....
Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny and yet more Toppers arrived for race day! Following a briefing from PRO Luke Morrison a fantastic fleet of 42 boats launched onto the Solent helped by HHSC's efficient beach team. The 42 entries were splint into 27 in 5.3 rigs and 15 in 4.2s, many of whom were entering their first Topper Traveller.
Race 1 and first blood in the 4.2s went to Henry Noel with a win whilst in the 5.3 fleet Jake Davies was enjoying his opportunity to sail with the bigger rig and took a win. Quick turn arounds where the name of the game to ensure we got the full programme of 4 races and the fleet where soon in sequence again. The 4.2 winners gun in Race 2 went to Lucas Keen whilst in the 5.3s Jake showed us that Race 1 was no fluke with another bullet!
Lucas notched up another win in Race 3 for the 4.2s whereas Henry Martin found his form in the 5.3s to take his first win of the event, closely followed by another 5.3 first for Henry in Race 4. R4 in the 4.2 fleet was won by Charles Wood who'd been steadily improving all day.
Once back ashore sailors, parents and club volunteers gathered in the clubhouse for refreshments prior to the prize-giving. Prize winners in both fleets were very pleased with their vouchers from Rooster Sailing and all those competing in their first Topper Open were awarded with a Rooster Dry Bag. Henry thanked all the volunteers from HHSC during his winner's speech and the Topper class is looking forward to coming back in 2023!
Our next weekend of Southern Topper fun is at Portchester SC on September 24th/25th, usual format of Training on Saturday followed by Racing on Sunday. Sailors can enter either or both days via www.itca-gbr.co.uk/calendar
Overall Results:
4.2 Fleet
1st Lucas Keen - Stokes Bay SC
2nd Henry Noel - Warsash SC
3rd Charles Wood - Warsash SC
1st Girl - Megan Cerrato - Warsash SC
5.3 Fleet
1st Henry Martin - Portchester SC
2nd Jake Davies - Warsash SC
3rd Ethan Rhodes - Warsash SC
1st Girl - Emily Brushett - Warsash SC