ITCA London and South East Topper Traveller Series 2022 - Overall

Topper Travellers at Hastings & St Leonards SC © Richard Morley

London and South East season has now come to a close with the final event at Papercourt SC. Its been the biggest year ever with fourteen traveller events from February to November, and with an incredible 157 5.3 sailors and 43 4.2 sailors attending various events throughout the year.

We had flat water events like Island Barn and Chipstead, to central London at the Docklands near Canary Wharf to river events like Medway and Tamesis on the Thames. In contrast we had open sea events at Downs, Hastings, and strong tides at Whitstable.

Probably the highlight for the year was a Shoreham where we had 20+ Knots south westerley, huge waves with sailors constantly surfing downwind and glorious sunshine. Incredibly challenging conditions with whereby kids gained enormous knowledge and skills in one day of sailing.

Topper Travellers at Shoreham - photo © Warwick Baker / www.warwickpics.com

The series was won by Leo Yates, who won an incredible eight events over the year, and with discards taking into account, he ended up with a perfect score of 8 points. He was followed closely in various stages by Lily Browning in the first half of the year with two seconds and a third, and Oliver Gatton with two first places.

Seb Robb started well in second half of the year by winning the Island Barn Traveller. However second place in the series went to Rory Clow, where consistency counted with three seconds and multiple top five places, and once again sail well throughout the year.

Third place went to Seb Robb from Downs SC, after his first place at Island Barn, and two second places and other top fives especially in the second half of the year.

Topper Travellers at Hastings & St Leonards SC - photo © Oli Yates

In the girls, the first half was dominated by Lilly Browning followed by Leah May, Isla Todd and Gloria Smith. However in the second half of the year with Lilly out of Toppers, Leah came to the forefront and dominated the girls to come first out of the girls and fourth overall.

Isla Todd kept up the consistent set of top ten results to end up second girl (seventh overall), following by Gloria Smith who sailed well all year to get third girl (twelfth overall).

The Endeavour award was given to Lucas Symons, who had improved enormously over the year in all conditions through his consistent attendance at many travellers, Worlds and Nationals.

In the 4.2 fleet, the first half of the year unfortunately had very few sailors but the numbers suddenly increased in the second half with Oscar Lay and Callum Harris both battling for first place at each event. Oscar won four events and Callum won two, and Sam Dence joined the battle with one win.

The racing was very close but Oscar's multiple first places gave him the overall win, followed by Callum in second and Sam in third.

Topper Travellers at Shoreham - photo © Warwick Baker / www.warwickpics.com

5.3 Fleet - Series Results:

Topper Travellers at Papercourt - photo © Dave Symons

4.2 Fleet - Series Results:

Topper Travellers at Shoreham - photo © Oli Yates