Topper Super South Championship 2024 at Warsash Sailing Club
by Roger Cerrato (ITCA Southern Area Rep) 18 Sep 23:21 PDT
14-15 September 2024
Each year the three Topper areas of South West, Southern and London & SE come together for a joint "Super South" traveller event and this year it was hosted by the Southern region at my home club of Warsash SC. With 44 entries split into 29 x 5.3 and 15 x 4.2 rigs good racing was assured for all!
As competitors arrived at WSC it was a beautiful morning but lacking the important ingredient, wind! After a short discussion amongst the organising team RO Ben Owen confirmed that we'd hoist the AP allowing time for the wind to build and for all sailors and parents to enjoy a bacon bap!
Once launched the sailors enjoyed 4 great races with Sam Dence (5.3) and Finlay Rhodes (4.2) leading the charge with two bullets each. Once back ashore sailors and parents enjoyed one of Warsash' famous Sausage Sizzles in the garden at Shore House.
Sunday was more of the same, an initial postponement for an hour or so before launching into a light, but building, breeze. With a swift turn around between races the fleet again enjoyed 4 races, this time with one General Recall for the 5.3s to keep everyone on their toes! Finlay continued to dominate the 4.2 fleet whilst Henry Ross made a late charge for the 5.3 title, ending with three race wins and just missing out overall to the consistently fast Oscar Lay.
At the prize giving we were able to reward the Area winners, Overall winners and Endeavour award recipients with some fantastic prizes courtesy of our event supporters Lewmar, Xtremity.net, Marlow, Baltic Lifejackets and Rooster.
The Rooster Southern Topper Traveller Series concludes next month at Spinnaker SC. Entries are open here.
Sailor's report - Finlay Rhodes (4.2 fleet)
Day 1 started with a briefing at 10 am followed by an AP/1, a one hour postponement to allow a breeze to develop as forecast. Then the fleets were released into Southampton Water where it joins the Solent. The committee did a great job in getting 4 races away as was planned before the time expired.
At the end of day 1 after a building breeze the 5.3 fleet was led by Sam Dence from Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club with Oscar Lay in a close 2nd place. The 4.2 fleet was leading by Finlay Rhodes into day 2 after some close battles with Hendricks Long, Sacha Garra and Joel Keen.
Warsash Sailing Club then hosted their famous sausage sizzle, finding hungry homes for nearly 200 sausages and an opportunity to socialise in a sunny club garden. There were lots of spot prizes for sailors from the sponsors Lewmar, Xtremity.net, Marlow and Baltic Lifejackets making for happy sailors raring to go for another day.
Day 2 proved similar with an initial lack of breeze so we saw the AP/1 again, with sailors launching keenly at 10am and benefitting from a short tow out of the river where the breeze was already filling in. It increased steadily during the day and again a proficient committee, marks and safety fleet went to work getting another 4 races away.
The 5.3 fleet saw a change at the top as Henry Moss from Downs Sailing Club fought their way up the table with bullets in all three of the last races. It wasn't quite enough however and the day and event was won by Oscar Lay.
In the 4.2 fleet Finlay Rhodes from Warsash Sailing Club continued to find form and ended the day with three bullets and a second winning the 4.2 event with 7 points and two races spare after some great racing battling with Joel Keen for the front of the fleet.
There were many great prizes handed out at the prize-giving with some very grateful sailors including the endeavour winners who showed great perseverance and embodied the spirit of the Topper 'friendly class'.
Finlay says "I am so excited to win at Warsash, my home club. I would like to thank Roger Cerrato, James Noel and Stu Davies for the help and coaching over the past few years. I'd also like to thank Warsash Sailing Club for hosting training and this Super South Traveller Event. I'd also like to thank all the competitors and the race committee for making it such great racing. I'd like to thank all the parents for bringing the sailors and I'd like to make a special mention to my parents for helping me get to all the events and supporting me."
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Championship No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Pts |
|---|
| Topper 4.2 Fleet |
|---|
| 1st | 47860 | 616 | Finlay RHODES | Warsash SC | ‑2 | 1 | 1 | ‑2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 2nd | 46221 | 56 | Joel Keen | Stokes Bay | ‑7 | 3 | ‑5 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| 3rd | 49272 | 88 | Henry Cruse | N/a | ‑4 | ‑4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 21 |
| 4th | 48664 | 83 | Hendricks Long | Warsash SC | 1 | ‑6 | 2 | ‑7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 22 |
| 5th | 49081 | 603 | Mattie Svendsen | GTSC | 6 | 7 | ‑8 | ‑10 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 29 |
| 6th | 4760 | 61 | Sacha Gerra | Parkstone | 3 | 2 | ‑10 | 5 | ‑10 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
| 7th | 48133 | 241 | Reuben Wealthy | Stokes Bay SC | ‑11 | 9 | 6 | ‑13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 35 |
| 8th | 47684 | 586 | Brooke Browning | Bristol Corinthian YC | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | ‑11 | ‑11 | 10 | 6 | 42 |
| 9th | 49189 | 596 | Finley Kirkby | Bristol Corinthian | ‑10 | 8 | 4 | ‑12 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 46 |
| 10th | 47662 | 152 | Emily Doughty | Spinnaker | 8 | ‑12 | 11 | 3 | ‑12 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 50 |
| 11th | 47676 | 91 | Thomas Murphy | Warsash SC / Hamble River SC | ‑14 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 12 | ‑13 | 12 | 57 |
| 12th | 26935 | 51 | Martha Hart | Hamble River SC | 12 | ‑13 | ‑13 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 64 |
| 13th | 46364 | 22 | Henry Pashley | Hamble River SC | 9 | 11 | 12 | 8 | ‑14 | 13 | ‑14 | 14 | 67 |
| 14th | 44502 | 34 | Alfie Tollit | Shoreham SC | 13 | ‑14 | ‑14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 75 |
| 15th | 47312 | 149 | Oscar Hillman | Hamble River SC | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 15 | 15 | 15 | DNF | 93 |
| Topper 5.3 Fleet |
|---|
| 1st | 49180 | 600 | Oscar Lay | Desborough SC
Island Barn SC | 2 | 2 | ‑6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ‑7 | 2 | 13 |
| 2nd | 47730 | 261 | Henry Moss | Downs SC | 6 | ‑7 | 3 | ‑13 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| 3rd | 49176 | 513 | Harry Dence | Island Barn Reservoir SC | (OCS) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | ‑6 | 18 |
| 4th | 47776 | 346 | Henry Noel | Warsash SC | 4 | 5 | 1 | ‑7 | ‑7 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 21 |
| 5th | 49177 | 516 | Sam Dence | Island Barn Reservoir SC | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ‑13 | 12 | ‑17 | 24 |
| 6th | 46703 | 55 | Sam Mason | Silver Wing | 3 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 10 | ‑11 | ‑14 | 35 |
| 7th | 47355 | 340 | Samuel Wade | Stokes Bay SC | 5 | ‑11 | 10 | ‑14 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 36 |
| 8th | 48627 | 66 | Lucas Keen | Stokes Bay | 7 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 | ‑10 | ‑11 | 38 |
| 9th | 49199 | 374 | James Broad | Hill Head SC
PYC | ‑17 | 12 | ‑15 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 48 |
| 10th | 44598 | 391 | Evan Hellyer | Aqua Sports | 9 | (DNF) | 14 | 10 | ‑16 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 57 |
| 11th | 48409 | 699 | Tiphaine Ungari | Wembley SC | ‑16 | ‑18 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 58 |
| 12th | 49232 | 629 | Charlie MacKenzie | Salcombe YC | 12 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 15 | 14 | ‑16 | ‑16 | 67 |
| 13th | 47786 | 573 | Meg Webb | Warsash SC | 8 | 6 | 12 | 9 | ‑18 | 17 | 17 | ‑18 | 69 |
| 14th | 47833 | 199 | William Le Grice | Warsash SC | 18 | 10 | 9 | ‑21 | 4 | 12 | 19 | (DSQ) | 72 |
| 15th | 48315 | 239 | Eve Wealthy | Stokes Bay SC | 13 | 14 | ‑18 | ‑18 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 74 |
| 16th | 47732 | 343 | Edward Lee | Saltash SC | (OCS) | 13 | ‑19 | 15 | 10 | 18 | 14.5 | 8 | 78.5 |
| 17th | 48196 | 579 | Victory Montgomery | Dittisham | ‑19 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 16 | ‑18 | 15 | 81 |
| 18th | 49234 | 260 | George Reynolds | Salcombe YC | 11 | 21 | ‑25 | 20 | ‑22 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 87 |
| 19th | 48744 | 156 | Thomas Robinson | Stokes Bay SC | 10 | 20 | ‑21 | 17 | 13 | 19 | ‑22 | 12 | 91 |
| 20th | 46939 | 228 | Sophie Le Grice | Warsash SC | 20 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 20 | ‑21 | ‑23 | 107 |
| 21st | 47731 | 283 | Amalie Ballantyne | Starcross YC | 15 | 17 | 16 | ‑22 | 21 | 21 | ‑23 | 20 | 110 |
| 22nd | 46895 | 280 | Tom Smith | SGBA | (DNF) | ‑24 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 126 |
| 23rd | 46913 | 188 | Leo Kaneko | Dittisham SC | 22 | 19 | 22 | ‑24 | 20 | 23 | ‑24 | 21 | 127 |
| 24th | 49290 | 526 | Alexander Murray | Swanage SC | 14 | 22 | 24 | 25 | ‑26 | ‑26 | 25 | 25 | 135 |
| 25th | 48356 | 326 | Matteo Gerra | Parkstone | 21 | 23 | 20 | 23 | ‑25 | 24 | ‑26 | 24 | 135 |
| 26th | 47653 | 193 | Martina Vasili | Paignton SC | 23 | 25 | ‑26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | ‑27 | 22 | 145 |
| 27th | 42676 | | Alfred Brosnan | Shoreham SC | (DNF) | 26 | ‑27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 14.5 | 26 | 147.5 |
| 28th | 48681 | 29 | Holly Williams | Parkstone YC | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 180 |
| 28th | 49231 | 645 | Charlotte Simmonds | Salcombe YC | (DNC) | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 180 |
