Please select your home edition
Edition

Topper North Travellers at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

by Ava Harris-Scott 6 Oct 2022 03:16 PDT 24 September 2022
Topper North Travellers at Hollingworth © Peter Bramwell

On arrival, despite the limited water, the wind, and direction looked promising. It was the second North Topper Traveller of the series, hosted by Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club, and 20 young sailors were getting ready for a competitive day of racing. After a briefing the Toppers took to the water in a breezy 12-14 knot wind.

The first race got away with Ava Harris-Scott (Elton SC) rounding the windward mark first with Jasper Bramwell (Hollingworth Lake SC) and Charlotte Cooper (West Lancs. YC) just behind her. Jasper overtook on the downwind leg and Ava chased hard. On the second upwind the knot came undone from Charlotte's mainsheet putting her almost last and having to work her way back up the fleet.

Jasper finished first, with Kyla Baxter (Covenham SC) just behind, then Ava.

With the wind building, the 2nd race began. Jasper, George (Ripon SC), and a few others were over the line and had to make there way back. Ava led the fleet for two laps until Charlotte overtook her on the upwind.

Being unable to count laps Charlotte and Ava both thought they were finishing but quickly realised they had another lap to do; this let Kyla catch up but not overtake.

In the middle of the fleet Millie Hayfield (HLSC) and Mathew Baird (Budworth SC) were battling it out. In the end Charlotte finished first, Ava in second, Kyla in third and Jasper got a fourth.

After the second race the top three (Jasper, Ava, and Kyla) were all on equal points.

After a lunch break, the sailors all got back out for the third race of the day. It was a clean start, and the left-hand side was favoured on the first beat. Jasper rounded the windward mark first with Ava close behind. On the second beat the wind favoured the right-hand side. George Spence (Ripon SC), Fred Buckley (Yorkshire Dales SC), and Harriet Wood (Elton SC) traded places all throughout the race.

Lara Eagleton (Scaling Dam SC) was on for a great result until she death-rolled downwind close to the finish, getting her mast stuck in the mud.

Sailing a 4.2, Nayth Kukla (Windsford Flash SC) missed the start due to mechanical failure but fought back up to second 4.2. Jasper finished first overall, closely followed by Ava then Charlotte in 3rd and Kyla in fourth.

After the result in the third race this put Jasper in first overall Ava in second and Kyla in third, the discards would come in soon so Charlotte would discard her 16th and be on equal points with Ava, this meant it all came down to the last race.

The race began and Jasper was over the line again, but quickly turned around and went across on port. Kyla was also over and did not turn back she was only told on the second beat so was forced to retire from the race.

Tristan Shaw (Budworth SC) tacked off and had a good first beat. Charlotte capsized next to the windward mark but got it up quickly and remained in first. Charlotte and Jasper battled it out all race, but Jasper got the win with Charlotte just behind and Ava in third.

The 4.2 sailors battled it out all day where Annabel Hayfield (HLSC) managed to remain ahead overall and secure first place despite a strong final race from Nayth in second with Hugo Calvey-Sutcliffe (Burwain SC) in third.

Many thanks to Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club for organising an excellent day of racing in good winds, rounded off by Rhiann Bramwell handing out some amazing prizes from Craft Insure and Hawk Marine. The next event will be at Leigh and Lowton on 5th November.

Thank you Craftinsure and Hawk Marine Products Ltd for your generous sponsorship.

Overall Results:

Newcomer award - Nayth, Winsford Flash Sailing Club
Endeavour Award - Lucy, Elton Sailing Club
Award for first time competing in Topper event - Alfie, Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

PosRigChamp NoFull nameClubR1R2R3R4Pts
1stTopper 5.3170Jasper BramwellHollingworth Lake SC1‑4113
2ndTopper 5.3398Charlotte CooperWest Lancashire YC‑161326
3rdTopper 5.392Ava Harris‑ScottElton SC‑32237
4thTopper 5.3604Kyla BaxterCovenham SC234(OCS)9
5thTopper 5.3171George SpenceRipon SC4‑76515
6thTopper 5.382Fred BuckleyYorkshire Dales SC66(SCP)416
7thTopper 5.3599Harriet WoodElton SC‑957618
8thTopper 5.375Lara EagletonSDSC78(DNF)722
9thTopper 5.3272Tristan ShawBudworth SC5‑14121027
10thTopper 5.3598Emre FranklandYorkshire Dales SC‑1199927
11thTopper 5.3269Luke RobinsonScaling Dam SC‑121081129
12thTopper 5.3134Millie HayfieldHollingworth Lake SC101113(SCP)34
13thTopper 5.3137Matthew BairdBudworth SC812‑171535
14th4.2671Annabel HayfieldHollingworth Lake SC14‑17111338
15thTopper 5.3175Xavier BramwellHollingworth Lake SC131610(DNF)39
16th4.2158Nayth KuklaWinsford flash SC‑1513151240
17thTopper 5.3696Lucy LewisElton SC‑1815141443
18th4.2212Hugo Calvey‑SutcliffeBurwain SC171818(DNC)53
19thTopper 5.3117Alfie WhitehillHollingworth Lake SC201916(DNC)55
20thTopper 5.3181Ruby TildesleyCovenham SC19(RET)DNCDNC61

Related Articles

South and Southwest Regional Junior Championship
Exciting, high-quality competitive racing for 5 classes at Weymouth There were 145 sailors competing in Topper 5.3 and 4.2, Optimist, RS Feva XL, RS Tera Pro and Sport and ILCA 4 classes. The excellent race team led by PRO Paul Kimmens delivered exciting, high-quality competitive racing for all classes. Posted on 26 Jun
NEYYSA Championship at Ullswater
They had it all: heat, sun, torrential rain, wind, calm, thunder and lightning We had it all at Ullswater, heat, sun, (torrential) rain, wind, calm, thunder and lightning but nothing switched the smiles, sailing and socialising off at the North Region Youth & Junior Championships at Ullswater. Posted on 25 Jun
Welsh Regional Junior Championships
74 boats have a glorious weekend alongside a number of Welsh Sailing initiatives The event was hosted with Dale Yacht Club, Celtic Sea Watersports and Windswept Watersports and attracted a total of 74 entries, including 18 sailors keen to develop their racing skills in the coached regatta fleet. Posted on 25 Jun
London & South East Topper Regional Championships
43 sailors enjoy 8 fantastic races at Itchenor Sailing Club This year, Itchenor Sailing Club hosted the L&SE Regional Championship, drawing 43 sailors for eight races over two days in the picturesque Chichester Harbour. Posted on 24 Jun
Topper Irish Nationals at Lough Erne Preview
Around 50 talented young sailors will travel from all over Ireland to compete Lough Erne Yacht Club is looking forward to welcoming Topper sailors to the Irish National Championships over the weekend of Friday 4th - Sunday 6th July. Posted on 22 Jun
All set for NEYYSA Championship at Ullswater
Youth and juniors from all over the NE and Yorkshire will battle this weekend With less than 24 hours until the first warning signal at the North Region Youth & Junior Championships organised by North East & Yorkshire Youth Sailing Association (NEYYSA) and hosted by Ullswater Yacht Club final preparations are in hand. Posted on 20 Jun
Cambridgeshire Youth League at Grafham Water
33 sailors took part in windy conditions The second leg of the Cambridgeshire Youth Sailing League took place at Grafham Water Sailing Club on Saturday 14th June. Despite the forecast for strong winds, 33 intrepid young sailors set sail in gusty conditions. Posted on 18 Jun
Topper Southwest Traveller Series at Saltash
35 young sailors battle out it on the Tamar The Topper Southwest traveller series consists of 11 events in beautiful locations across the South West with a mix of inland, estuary and coastal venues. The event held in Saltash was the fifth of the Southwest Topper Travellers events for 2025. Posted on 10 Jun
Topper North East Championship at Sheffield Viking
The first open event at the club for 12 years Recent history will show that Sheffield Viking have not held any open events for the last 12 years and so it was an absolute pleasure to welcome 20 Toppers for the NE Area Championships on the 31st May. Posted on 6 Jun
Still all to play for in the NEYYSA Series
Off to Pennine SC this weekend Sailors are gearing up for the next round of the North East & Yorkshire Youth Travellers Series which resumes at Pennine Sailing Club on Saturday 7 June after a short siesta over the half term period. Posted on 6 Jun