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The topper and Optimist Open attracted nearly 30 Toppers and 10 Optimists, and it was great to see so many young faces on the water, shame only four were from the club, well done to those that entered, and lets hope we have a few more next time. Phil Kilburn set an interesting course, with gybes and a good beat, plenty of toppers went in including Lawerence when he was in third place. ... more soon. Report Below. The topper results should appear on Topper Midland Website, press for link.
Toppers and Optimists at Notts County – Sat 21st May
A great weather system sat over and around the UK last weekend. Great, that is for sailing events in the Midlands. Lucky then that Nottinghamshire County SC were hosting the latest Midlands Traveller Series events for the Topper and Optimist classes. The club looked great from the approach gravel track; the recently cut grassy rigging and launching area leading onto the lake where a nice F3 South Westerly breeze was just picking up a gentle chop with wave tops glinting in the early summer sunshine. Pauline in the galley was ready with breakfasts which the visitors from around the region, together with the club’s junior Saturday Club and participants of a couple of other training courses going on, enjoyed as they parked up trailers and started to prepare for a fabulous day on the water.
Phil Kilburn, PRO for the day, gave the briefing – the wind direction meaning the length if the water could be used to give a 600m 1st beat. Nearly 40 boats launched for the first of 3 races through the day. In the 26 strong Topper fleet, Matt Venables from Sutton SC eventually managed to fight off strong competition, including 5 National and Intermediate RYA Junior Squad members, to take the top spot. He repeated this result in race 2 which, with one discard to use, gave him the Topper Class win. As the breeze picked up to a strong F4 through the early afternoon Ed Connellan from Middle Nene SC came through strongly to take top spot in the 3rd race. RYA North Zone squaddie Sophie Otter from Hollowell SC sailed a great event and managed to come in 3rd overall to split up the Junior Squad sailors. Local sailor, Lawrence Logan, sailed a consistent event to come in 5th.
The Optimist fleet of 10 boats, also well supported by RYA Junior Squad members, enjoyed close racing in the good breeze, the shifty conditions at the first mark due to a clubhouse wind shadow making for difficult tactical decisions up the beat. Arran Holman of Hollowell took two bullets in the first and second races, giving him the top spot for the Optimist Class on the day. Local sailor, Andrew Kilburn, took a good win in race 3 to give him overall 2nd place. The other Notts County sailor, Tom Smith, was the first Optimist Junior (age 12 or under) giving him the Optimist Midlands Challenge Trophy – a fine glass display case of knots – all to be learnt of course! With sailors coming from as far afield as Trearddur Bay on Anglesey and Scaling Dam near Whitby this was Midlands ‘plus’ traveller which everyone enjoyed.
The NCSC Club Commodore, John Parr, presented the prizes and trophies. He encouraged a well deserved round of applause from the assembled sailors for their hard working parents and supporters. The prizes and vouchers for the winners were generously made available by Speed Sails – sponsor of the Midlands Optimist Series.
The day ran smoothly and many thanks are due to the club members who did the hard work supporting the racing, manning the safety boats, to Pauline for running the galley and to the Commodore and Kim for work behind the bar as well as officiating at the prizegiving.
Report: James Logan, NCSC
