Leigh-on-Sea Topper Traveler
Forty three boats signed on despite a forecast for fresh winds, but unfortunately with the wind building to15-20 knots before the start, some of the lighter helms did not make it to the start line. Sailing a trapezoid course into a clean, but gusty southwesterly, defending champion Matt Johnson established a small but comfortable lead over Nathan Ackroyd and Dan Bigsby to take the gun. The second race was slightly lighter and the first two positions were reversed, Nathan Ackroyd looking comfortable in the lead. Dan Bigsby and James Patience repeated their first race positions to consolidate third and forth. Towards the end of the race, the wind eased, and some of the reefed back markers struggled to finish against the, now turned, tide. The final race started in a steady force 4, but with an ominous cloud formation tracking down the west of the course. By the second beat, the hand anemometer on the committee boat was registering an un-forecasted 30 knots. The top boats could be seen screaming along the first reach in a ball of spray, and capsizes were seen throughout the fleet. With no sign of the wind abating, and the support crews busy, the race was shortened to two laps. Matt Johnson came through Nathan Ackroyd to take the event. James Stekelmacher and Emma Mackley made good use of their boat-handling to come in third and forth, pulling them up the overall rankings.
1st 44978 Matt Johnson Great
2nd 8617 Nathan Ackroyd Norfolk
3rd 45823 Dan Bigsby NH&EB
4th 45315 James Patience NBYC
5th 35197 Emma Mackley Stewartby
6th 45924 James Stekelmacher Cam SC
7th 45096 James Wilson Rollesby Broad
Leigh-on-Sea GP14 Open
In marked contrast to the previous day’s Topper Open, a light southwesterly developed for the GP14 fleet. Za & Libby Jelliffe led the first race home, ahead of James Ward and Richard Whitehill. The wind was slowly backing, and in the light conditions, only two rounds were sailed, luckily with the upwind leg remaining a beat. For the second race, the course was set to the south-east, and another two lapper completed. This time George and Megan Rogers led home local sailors Steve Jones and Steve Browne. For the final race, the course had to be moved to face East, and with shorter legs, three rounds were fitted in before the tide left the shore. Mark Wolf and Ian Campbell finished ahead of the two Steves, and took the event on count-back.
Overall Results: 1st 13421 Mark Wolf & Ian Campbell BTYC
2nd 13823 Steve Jones & Steve Browne LSC
3rd 13316 James Ward & Richard Whitehall