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2024 Noble Marine ITCA Topper Nationals at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy

by Jessica Powell (Topper Sailor 611) & Mike Powell 23 Aug 23:42 PDT 3-9 August 2024
Lane holding upwind during the 2024 Noble Marine ITCA Topper Nationals © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Very quickly after the Topper World Championships in Mar Menor, Spain, the Topper fleet were back in the UK for the Noble Marine ITCA GBR National Championship held at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) in early August.

With over 130 Sailors entered in the 5.3 fleet and approximately 30 sailors in the 4.2 fleet, this would ensure we would have some excellent fleet racing. Also, for the second year running, we had the regatta fleet, so our new up and coming Topper sailors could experience the Nationals and have a great time.

WPNSA is a brilliant sailing venue and the class association had arranged some very good evening activities to make the event very enjoyable including having a sailor's hub which was lots of fun. Additionally, Rooster, who are one of the class sponsors were on site all week with an excellently stocked shop to support our sailors.

The weather forecast for the week looked very varied ranging from light winds at the start of the week, to heavier wind conditions being forecast towards the end of week. With the Nationals now being extended back to 6 days, it was going to be very important for the sailors to always be hydrated and nourished throughout the whole week.

For the 5.3 fleet, the first 3 days would be a qualification series and this qualifying place gives the sailors a non-discardable carry forward score, based upon position. Harry Mills (Saltash SC), following on from his recent win at NS5 Derwent led the way, qualifying first with very consistent results, including 2 race wins. 2nd in qualification was Jasper Focardi Dolling (Dovey YC) followed by Thomas Semmens (Brixham/Paignton SC) in 3rd place.

Day 4 would be the first day of the Gold and Silver fleet split with a planned format of 3 races per day. For the gold fleet, race win honours were split between 3 different sailors, Zac Chappell (Parkstone), event leader Harry Mills and Jessica Powell (Draycote Water SC). Harry was still leading the Gold fleet at the end of day 4 with Zac, Jessica and Thomas close behind.

The Silver fleet was clearer cut, with Tayah Gilboy (Paignton SC), who had just missed out on making the gold fleet stamping her authority on the first day of the finals with some brilliant sailing resulting in 3 straight bullets!

Onto day 5 and it was a very windy Thursday. The Race Committee decided that the 5.3 Gold Fleet would launch first with the Silver AP'ed ashore. With conditions building only 1 race was completed for the Gold fleet with defending 2023 National Champion, Jessica Powell taking the race win from George Spence (Ripon SC) in 2nd. At that point all further racing was abandoned and all sailors safely returned to shore.

Onto the final day and Jessica Powell now held a narrow 1-point lead from Harry Mills and with 3 races planned, it would be all to play for. Jessica continued her winning form from the day before and won the first 2 races of the final day, sealing back-to-back Topper 5.3 National Champion titles, the first girl to ever achieve this in Toppers. 2nd Place would go to Harry Mills who sailed strongly all week, just pipping Zac Chappel in 3rd.

Tayah continued her Silver fleet domination with 2 more race wins and a 2nd place on the final day, finishing the event with a strong 30 point lead over 2nd place sailor William Le Grice (Warsash SC).

The 4.2 Fleet would run to a different format, this being a single fleet championship over the 6 days of sailing with 20 races planned (4 discards). With over 25 sailors entered and the sailors running on a separate course, this enabled the sailors to have some excellent racing. Recently crowned 4.2 World Champion, Hari Clark (Draycote Water SC) would be looking to add the 4.2 National Championship to his honours, however there were a number of other sailors who were looking to contend for the title such as Phileas Rouselle (Hamble River SC), Ralph Hadley (Tankerton Bay SC / Whitstable YC) and Henry Cruse plus many more.

Over the first 2 days, there was 5 different race winners for the 6 races, but it would be the consistency of Hari Clark over these that put him in a strong position with no finish outside of the top 3. Into day 3, Hari's continued strongly, with Ralph Hadley nearly matching Hari's results. Phileas was also sailing very well but had used 2 of his discards early in the series so needed to look to improve his consistency going into the 2nd half of the event if he was to challenge for the title.

Day 4 would start to bring some heavier wins, in particular on the final race of the day, which mixed the results up a little. However, Phileas brought the consistency he needed and won the day closing the gap to series leader Hari. With no sailing taking place on day 5 due to the high winds it would be all to play for between Hari, Phileas and Ralph for the event win.

Onto Day 6 and the winds were slightly higher than forecast and with 4 races planned; to recover the lost time on the previous day it was going to be a real challenging day for all of the sailors.

Phileas won the first race of the day, followed by Finlay Rhodes (Warsash SC) taking his first win of the event in race 2.

With the wind starting to build further, it was looking every more likely that the 4.2's would now only do one more race, resulting in a reduced number of discards. It would all come down to the last race between Hari and Phileas to decide the 4.2 title. Henry Cruse, again another new event race winner took race 3, and with Phileas coming in 5th, just ahead of Hari, this gave Hari the overall 4.2 National Champion honours by 3 points.

Just under 20 sailors entered the Regatta fleet which is an amazing number. The Regatta Fleet is aimed at our newer up and coming Topper Sailors who are just getting into sailing and racing. They would get to experience the brilliant atmosphere of the Topper nationals, whilst having loads of fun with a number of races and when it was too windy, completing a number of on land exercises, all developed to help improve the sailors knowledge and learning, but most importantly making new friends.

Thomas Croxton (Hollowell) won the races with a string of first places, followed by Audrey Yang (Bartley/Draycote Academy). There was big smiles all round and the sailors had a real fun week - well done to them all !

Congratulations to Jessica Powell (611) on retaining the 5.3 2024 National Championship and to Hari Clark (147) for winning the 4.2 National Championship.

A huge thanks to our Class Sponsors, Noble Marine Insurance, Rooster, Topper Sailboats, Harken and Optimum Time for supporting ITCA GBR and making this event such a huge success

A special mention needs to go to Topper Russ (Dent) who was on hand all week to support all of our Topper sailors with spares and repairs as well as giving lots of Topper guidance.

And not forgetting, thankyou to all the volunteers, both on the water and on land who give up their time to make the event happen.

With the 2024 National Topper Championships being over, the sailors will be looking ahead to the 2024-2025 National Series. NS1 is at Carsington Water on 28th/29th September 2024. Look out for entry opening soon on www.itca-gbr.co.uk/calendar

Overall Results:

5.3 Gold Fleet

PosRegionChamp NoSail NoHelmClubQLFR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
1stMidlands61148677Jessica PowellDraycote Water SC4‑431111213
2ndSouth West68047621Harry MillsSaltash SC1612‑1293123
3rdSouth West31348600Zac ChappellParkstone YC7143‑2732424
4thSouth West50549098Thomas SemmensBrixham YC/Paignton SC3326544‑3027
5thEast33648679Harry WemyssHickling Broad SC/ Snowflakes SC/GYG SC101258‑2088556
6thNorth West9248681Ava Harris‑ScottElton SC852346‑2410763
7thNorth West17048719Jasper BramwellHollingworth Lake SC6867(DNF)5112063
8thSouth East51349176Harry DenceIsland Barn Reservoir SC1197161326‑3764
9thEast28548974Nathan ClarkWaveney and Oulton Broad YC/Draycote Aca251189413‑27373
10thSouth23647776Jake DaviesWarsash SC51014(UFD)23651578
11thNorth East17148618George SpenceRipon SC13‑201715212141285
12thSouth East35248320Harry MitchellErith YC and King George SC20141026310‑3017100
13thSouth34047355Samuel WadeStokes Bay SC/JETs1621211411‑31136102
14thScotland26449184Emily ShearerCCCDS97262218‑37921112
15thSouth West20248508Joel TideyParkstone YC172271325(RET)1716117
16thSouth37449199James BroadHill Head SC/PYC2624‑421077428124
17thEast52148709Jensen JakobNBYC/Snowfakes SC30‑482012934718130
18thWales13048165Steffan WilliamsNew Quay YC2823131130‑32229136
19thNorth West13347264Reuben LawranceBudworth SC4727951920‑2911138
20thSouth61447830Ethan RhodesWarsash SC14151624422218‑46151
21stSouth East18347647Isla ToddIsland Barn Reservoir SC37161225826‑3128152
22ndNorth West27247553Tristan ShawBudworth SC12172221361628‑42152
23rdWales18949096Jasper Focardi DollingDovey YC21325(UFD)2214UFD14154
24thSouth East11349187Gloria SmithIsland Barn Reservoir SC3442191715‑452013160
25thSouth West57748513Nicola RichardsCastle Cove SC233315181427‑4632162
26thSouth East60049180Oscar LayDesborough SC IBRSC31‑47181947111627169
27thSouth East26147730Henry MossDowns SC35181120(RET)253231172
28thSouth64947796Seb SittonWarsash SC19462831(DNF)192410177
29thSouth West25247782Felix HarleParkstone YC182624‑5038282519178
30thEast57546007Thomas MatthewsGrafham Water SC1525363337‑441235193
31stSouth6648627Lucas KeenStokes Bay21313236461519‑47200
32ndSouth West50247399Holly NortonParkstone YC29‑36352931233425206
33rdSouth West20347350Louis VossParkstone YC393433(DNS)17483522228
34thSouth East55448660Alex BaldingIsland Barn Reservoir SC4435‑433521183641230
35thEast19448526Robert HoleHunts SC27293837‑39293338231
36thSouth East39144598Evan HellyerAqua Sports4330(DNC)3010304049232
37thSouth West34347732Edward LeeSaltash SC42384127‑44174129235
38thSouth West57948196Victory MontgomeryDittisham SC/Paignton S C22222953484323(DNC)240
39thScotland27348818Tristan SomervilleHelensburgh SC3228302835‑584939241
40thSouth West53347926Millie SmithParkstone YC5344‑483216393723244
41stSouth34649200Henry NoelWarsash SC5654‑552333422124253
42ndScotland61848096Dougal JacksonSt Mary's Loch SC3843‑464129334443271
43rdEast20944144Joshua Blackman NorthwoodHunts SC504037‑5628463834273
44thSouth11946447Ava FrancisLymington Town SC36‑59454726541555278
45thNorth West35844484Laura ParsonsBudworth SC62193134493845‑56278
46thSouth East51649177Sam DenceIsland Barn Reservoir SC40393449‑53412650279
47thMidlands62744036S BainesRudyard Lake SC51‑52394232494726286
48thSouth East5546703Sam MasonSilver Wing SC33415146433648(SCP)298
49thWales12847220Clay Sanderson‑WoodLlandegfedd SC5450‑603950215236302
50thEast54748246Keah EdwardsCam SC57374744(DNF)354345308
51stScotland21349195Rohan O'KaneClyde Cruising Club DS/Largs SC41574943244058(UFD)312
52ndWales29549193Thomas VenningPort Dinorwic SC6032444545‑555140317
53rdSouth East32145975Fraser FergusonShoreham SC58‑55403834475051318
54thSouth23948315Eve WealthyStokes Bay SC48‑56535141515348345
55thScotland27048568Logan BrownHelensburgh SC4953545240‑565452354
56thNorth East60448758Kyla BaxterCovenham SC245861(DNS)DNF616033361
57thSouth West62949232Charlie MacKenzieSalcombe YC63515054(DNF)525544369
58thSouth East80942079Ian MaPapercourt SC5245565551‑595954372
59thEast16944888Toby TurnerSnettisham Beach SC45625948(DNF)6039DNC377
60thSouth15648744Thomas RobinsonStokes Bay SC61495857525056(DNC)383
61stNorth West66847928Sophie ThorougoodBudworth SC55605758(DNS)575757401
62ndSouth4646452Lewis MillerSpinnaker SC59(DNS)5240DNSDNCDNCDNC407
63rdNorth West2149285Freya AntonelliBudworth SC4661(RET)DNCDNC53RETDNC416

5.3 Silver Fleet

PosRegionChamp NoSail NoHelmClubQLFR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1stSouth West65347857Tayah GilboyPaignton SC64111‑21169
2ndSouth19947833William Le GriceWarsash SC75‑97712799
3rdNorth West67344165Emily DengatePennine SC74113611‑203108
4thSouth West64549231Charlotte SimmondsSalcombe YC816413‑15102116
5thSouth West26049234George ReynoldsSalcombe YC78‑25681338116
6thSouth East30645506Finlay ToddIsland Barn Reservoir SC681019397‑24116
7thWales66648667Alexa AtkinsBarry YC/Cardiff Bay YC70238(UFD)869124
8thWales7248154George SimsLlandegfedd SC771422‑212111127
9thMidlands2748672Oscar RoweDraycote Academy66‑27114202319143
10thNorth West13744627Matthew BairdBudworth SC10841210‑3194147
11thSouth East8748652Callum HarrisShoreham SC / IBRSC711218‑4072220150
12thNorth West17548707Xavier BramwellHollingworth Lake SC90‑17151417415155
13thNorth West17948718Anabelle BramwellHollingworth Lake SC95‑24512101221155
14thEast11844016Nate SparrowBASC / WOBYC654527(DNC)686157
15thSouth57345155Meg WebbWarsash SC8752618‑281410160
16thSouth East55749182Isobel JefferiesWPSC/QMSC8928142335‑34162
17thEast56845701Tabitha Blackman NorthwoodHunts SC6721245‑272526168
18thSouth West36647731Isabel WilliscroftPaignton SC73‑482920181812170
19thMidlands36148798James BurtonNotts County SC9318171514‑2814171
20thWales60949201Daniel PlantNeyland YC/TMSC992910‑3451717177
21stMidlands9947076Daniel RileyWavemakers109816‑3641629182
22ndScotland52448264James McPhersonHelensburgh SC80322119‑331913184
23rdNorth West21948152Connie MurphyBudworth SC96151317‑341533189
24thEast22446389James PipeWaldringfield SC7913251122‑4141191
25thSouth East12548102George SumnerIBRSC7626‑3822191337193
26thMidlands17746512Alex StaintonHollowell SC69332‑45234038205
27thSouth22846939Sophie Le GriceWarsash SC922223‑31262616205
28thEast22947450Claudia SavorySnettisham Beach SC823139‑4945115213
29thMidlands25047181Laurie LambDraycote Water SC / Staunton Harold SC88793716(UFD)DNC220
30thSouth West2948147Holly WilliamsParkstone YC8520(SCP)44123528224
31stEast23245374Sofia EatonSnettisham Beach SC83302229‑413230226
32ndScotland35948800Cicely BlairSt Andrews SC104‑443626242423237
33rdScotland12348665Lotte KohnLoch Venachar SC8435(OCS)28373432250
34thMidlands30546770William ClarkeHollowell SC911641432936(DNC)256
35thEast69147625Faith TurnerSnettisham Beach SC86‑502825254646256
36thScotland51147746Lewis FlynnPrestwick SC1023630‑41383318257
37thScotland37549196Emilia EwerPrestwick SC103‑512027473827262
38thSouth West26746698Alex MurrayParkstone YC11241‑4821302931264
39thWales9548571Sophie VenningPort Dinorwic SC9437379‑514543265
40thWales60247389Max AttrillCardiff Bay YC1073834243230(DNC)265
41stSouth East55949183Sylvia JefferiesWPSC/QMSC10533353236‑4425266
42ndScotland34549271Finlay NuttPrestwick SC724933‑53353753279
43rdSouth West30248105Daniel CullenParkstone YC1001943‑51404236280
44thEast34848069Sally KerrySnettisham Beach SC101344216‑545044287
45thSouth62648878Megan CerratoWarsash SC11443‑4533423139302
46thNorth East69347354Lucy‑Laura MillerSheffield Viking SC974740384349‑50314
47thWales11146768Rhys DoyleCardiff Bay YC115‑534435394342318
48thEast62047209Elisabeth CollinsCam SC1103950‑54482748322
49thNorth East25347000Simeon ShackletonOtley SC1114256304939(DNC)327
50thMidlands31548535Tom MoriartyDraycote Water SC1184653‑56445322336
51stWales36447306Georgia ScottDale YC/Ppsa113544650‑575235350
52ndMidlands58244437Edward CroxtonHollowell SC/Hollowell SC1164051425051(DNC)350
53rdSouth West5848628Isla WillisParkstone YC11955473952‑5640352
54thWales36947173Griff AttrillCardiff Bay YC106‑565247554747354
55thSouth West18846913Leo KanekoDittisham SC11752‑5546465549365
56thEast30847461Hugo JuryNBYC120574955‑594845374
57thSouth24548185Charlie ShiresStokes Bay / JETs1252(RET)DNCDNCDNCDNC379
58thSouth East10947853Max PoetChipstead SC121‑585452565452389
59thNorth East25441988John Paul ShackletonOtley SC122‑595748585851394
60thSouth East29648602William MarshWhitstable YC98(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC413
61stSouth West21545513Eloise Harford TappParkstone YC123(DNC)DNCDNC5357DNC422
62ndEast50929734Yasmine BrahamNorfolk Broads YC/Snowflakes SC124(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC439

4.2 Fleet

PosRegionChamp NoSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13R14R15R16R17R18R19Pts
1stMidlands14747533Hari ClarkDraycote Water SC21232112241‑9136‑10‑87644
2ndSouth61948176Phileas RousselleHamble River SC471‑141525‑11123‑842113547
3rdSouth East16044929Ralph HadleyTankerton Bay SC/Whitstable YC‑10231323.5145722‑123335‑1249.5
4thSouth8849272Henry CruseN/A3342‑10‑86333‑136574862166
5thEast26816708Henry LambertHunts SC‑1311‑13551057‑20641311254272
6thSouth61647860Finlay RhodesWarsash SC (& JETS)896944945265‑128‑11771‑1494
7thSouth24148133Reuben WealthyStokes Bay SC / Jets‑1648411676114311‑181113‑194128123
8thSouth22546720Olaf StortonBosham SC‑2213‑20‑18611131861151095105293136
9thSouth60349081Mattie SvendsenGoring Thames SC‑2312176718‑1915915987254106(DNF)150
10thSouth8348664Hendricks LongWarsash SC‑21‑1711712‑16119109812101089987150
11thSouth West28046895Tom SmithSGBA14‑20121714‑19812‑197114667612139158
12thSouth5646221Joel KeenStokes Bay‑17858933.58‑221216131416‑1811131513167.5
13thSouth West58647684Brooke BrowningBristol Corinthian YC15‑211616815‑1713‑1781474991215104175
14thSouth West32847182Sacha GerraParkstone YC11871117910118101015‑20‑1917‑20161618194
15thSouth West59649189Finley KirkbyBristol Corinthian YC1216‑181015.571510‑181315141314121314‑1810203.5
16thSouth East21447765James MartinChipstead SC/Whitstable YC56151313131414161712(DNF)1117(DNF)161111(DNF)204
17thSouth East4347030Jonathan ShieldsTonbridge Town SC714912‑191412161516‑18161718161817‑1915232
18thSouth15249035Emily DoughtySpinnaker SC185141518171817‑23181718‑21‑201915191716261
19thSouth East58446520Adriana BaldingIBRSC20‑22‑22212121‑22191419212215131517211411284
20thSouth West32647125Matteo GerraParkstone YC‑2623191915.51216‑2572324(TAL)16152214252017287.5
21stSouth West13644839Dylan CullenParkstone YC61010202423‑2521122219TAL222323(DNC)1822(DNF)297
22ndSouth West26946309James MurrayParkstone YC‑24‑26232420202020‑2520231719221421202122326
23rdSouth West10748685Emelia WillisParkstone YC915212222222323‑24‑252221‑24242022232421334
24thSouth East63930202Martha ShorterPSC/ IBRSC111924‑2523‑2521221321‑252425252424222520343
25thSouth West31145790George GreenoParkstone YC‑25‑25‑2523252424242124202023212123242319359
26thSouth West68547835Hattie SteeleParkstone YC19242626262626262626(DNS)(DNF)26(DNF)25DNC26DNFDNS409

Regatta Fleet (4.2)

PosChamp NoSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10Pts
1st807Y65Thomas CroxtonHollowell SC111111‑814(DNF)11
2nd16646927Audrey YangBartley SC/Draycote Academy‑9332‑73232220
3rd57630199Grace MontgomeryDittisham SC/Paignton SC242‑5254‑75125
4th445802Sorley MorrisonEmsworth Slipper SC5‑1244346‑98337
5th24443525Poppy ShiresStokes Bay SC35(RET)‑756753438
6th17347762Elizabeth StaintonHollowell SC‑139764‑10146643
7th6147466Edmund HoltWavemakers‑15251014(DNS)521544
8th50848318Teddy ScottDraycote SC869899310‑12(DNF)62
9th51248193Alice LeeSaltash SC61011‑148‑121187768
10th15718744Polly RobinsonStokes Bay10‑13‑1296796101269
11th28841818Will SmithSGBA‑11881110810‑1591074
12th8043940Khadeejah ParkarWavemakers‑171463‑1721414151482
13th7342010Frankie WebbWarsash SC4111012‑15‑15151111882
14th8545507Thea LongWarsash SC‑147‑14131313131314995
15th6347194Noah SpencerWavemakers7‑151515111112‑16131195
16th25734352Hannah SwintonN/A1616131712161712(DNC)(DNC)119
17th677303Eleanor ClarkeHollowell SC12(DNS)(DNS)16161416171613120

Regatta Fleet (5.3)

PosChamp NoSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10Pts
1st6426692Eve PickardWavemakers‑3‑1111111118
2nd6546169Izzy Beechey BeecheyWavemakers‑2222‑42222216
3rd6247183Leo TaylorWavemakers1‑44323333(DNF)22
4th8144301Maryam ParkerWavemakers‑433‑434444328

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