Largs SC Traveller Countdown

The clock is ticking, the tension is building, the weather reports are being watched with prayers to the wind gods. After the unbelievable freak weather at the Youth Nationals and the awful repeat at the RS Feva Open Training Day a few weeks later surely the best has been kept for the 2009 Topper Traveller at Largs Sailing Club this coming weekend, 30/31st May?

32 boats at Annandale, 36 at Loch Vennacher, join us this weekend and lets see if we can top 40 for the first time this year. There will be a Development Fleet for the less experienced, younger or more "relaxed" sailors and of course some top flight competitive Topper racing for the rest.

Be there or be square.

Click here for the Notice of Race

and Entry Form

G.

Patrick's Perfect Pico Performance

Well, not quite perfect but pretty good. Here is a report of Scottish Topper squad sailor Patrck's performance for his school at the Pico challenge event on Colwyn Bay, 16 and 17th May 2009. Here is the report as presented in the Sedbergh School Magazine...

A Race series of 10 races, a best team performance with quality at all levels and a complete range of wind conditions saw us achieve 2^nd in the team event and a trophy for Patrick Shellcock for the most improved sailor with his eventual position of 5^th in the Gold Fleet.

As the fleet launched off the beach one of the vicious squalls that was going to characterise Saturday swept across the bay. Over half the launched boats capsized occasioning the first duties of what was to become a very busy day for the safety boats. Eventually, however, the fleet launched and a race was run before lunch with some sailors, to say nothing of the race committee, confused as to whether or not they had sailed or completed the race! However, the Sebbergh Sailors were certainly out there in force. Lunch served and the racing continued with three races completed with a shrinking fleet as the less able or less warm sailors retreating to the safety of the shore. Out of 39 boats registered only 18 survived to the end of the 3^rd race but all 6 of the Sedbergh boats were still there and qualified for the Gold Fleet. Dr Ripley had to sail one rescued boat back to the shore and after his experiences with windshifts and squalls even he had to admit how difficult the conditions were.

The traditional barbecue and Sedbergh v “The Rest” touch rugby had its habitual result of the “Rest” admitting defeat! Further race debriefing continued at the Llandudno Superbowl setting us up for a Sunday of what was expected to be easier sailing conditions.

Sunday dawned not with less wind but without the squalls and wind shifts that had made Saturday so difficult. Some of the Sedbergh prudently reefed and set out to the Gold course where 3 races were held in the morning with, bizarrely, a stage in the middle race where not only did some seals come to spectate, but almost zero wind which caught a couple of sailors unawares. However a solid set of results in the top third of the fleet saw Sedbergh consolidate its position in the rankings. The rain downpour between race 1 and 2 didn’t help with the hypothermable conditions which saw safety boats and sailors alike bemoan the temperature and some sailors retreated to the beach. The end of the third race was greeted by the sun which cheered some people up.

The cups of soup and hot chocolate at lunch were much appreciated before the final three races were held in the afternoon in the best conditions of all with a steady Force 3 and the sun shining. These “Champagne” sailing conditions saw most of our sailors in action again while a couple regretted their decision to take the afternoon off! Patrick Shellcock (SJS) had his best race winning race 9, while the others again saw some top half fleet positions.

The results saw Rydal Penrhos dominate most of the podium places in the Gold fleet apart from Patrick Shellcock who got the most improved sailor for his position compared to last year’s results. Harry Batty who had received a similar result within the Silver fleet in 2008 saw himself placed mid fleet in the Gold fleet this year which again is testament to his improvement. Final detailed results are not yet available.

The Pico challenge is one of only two regular salt water competitions that we enter and the extra element of waves, salt and tide certainly change the dynamics of sailing.

SJS – Patrick Shellcock

P – Robin Shellcock, Harry Batty

W – David Cole, Alex Pugh, Luke Collins.

Next Traveller dates

With two events completed and seven still to sail the series remains wide open. Entries so far have exceeded 30 at both events and we have also had a Regatta fleet too. We are looking at providing dedicated coach support to the regatta fleet for future events so hopefully this will boost numbers still further.

The challenge is now for Largs SC on 30/31 May - can you better the 2009 record of 36 boats to the startline, set by Loch Vennacher SC?



4/5 April Annandale Sailing Club Traveller 1

25/26 April Loch Venacher Sailing Club Traveller 2

30/31 May Largs Sailing Club Traveller 3

6/7 June East Lothian Yacht Club Traveller 4

4/5 July Chanonry Sailing Club Traveller 5

18/19 July Tarbert Loch Fyne Yacht Club Traveller 6

15/16 August Royal Forth Yacht Club Traveller 7

12/13 September Prestwick Sailing Club Traveller 8

19/20 September Loch Tummel Sailing Club Traveller 9

Scottish Toppers on the Web

Just a brief reminder to check out the Scottish Toppers web site. Run by Topper sailors for Topper sailors this site is a mine of information on all matters Topper in Scotland. This is also the site to access full event details, link to entry forms and to check those results...

Latest additions include entry details for the Brown Cup and a video of 2009 Topper Inlands at Grafham. Click here to access the site.

Scottish Schools Sailing Championships and Open Training 2009

The 50th Anniversary of the Brown Cup will be held over the weekend of 13th &14th June with the Regatta being on Monday 15th June. The training weekend on 13th &14th June will be limited to 40 boats on a first come first served basis. Application forms will be posted on the website soon.
The Regatta on Monday 15th June will feature Topper Class & Handicap Class. School Teams of three boats and there be individual prizes for the Topper Class & Handicap Class.
Note: You do not have to enter the coaching weekend to enter the Brown Cup.

Further details here

Eric Twiname 2009 Photography

Paul Wyeth photography were the official photopgraphers at the Eric Twiname Championships last week and there are may excellent photos available on their web site www.pwpictures.com

Here is Emily showing how it is done...

Eric Twiname Success

Great news from the Eric Twiname inter Zone and Home Countries Championships at Rutland last weekend.

Open to all Zone Squad (that's Scottish Topper Squad for us) level sailors who are not also in the GBR or GBR Intermediate Squad there was a good turnout from Scotland and the team finished second overall.

Racing was very close on the choppy and at times windy but always very cold orange fleet race course and the OOD, mindful of the forecast calm for Sunday made sure to complete four races on the Saturday making for some tired legs at the evening festivities. Always a feature of the Twiname, this year these included organised games and inter team competitions to keep all well entertained. Sure enough Sunday was a flat calm so the AP over A was wisely broken out at 12.30 allowing an early trip home. Especially welcome for those with a 500 mile trip home (eg Oban!) but Richard still took till 01.15 to get home.

Best Scot this time was again Jamie Noyes who has been on fire since winning at Annandale and pulled off a very impressive third place overall to gain the boys and overall bronze medal. Also in great form was Emily Robertson who in ninth overall was Bronze medallist in the girls fleet.
The team prize depends upon the best three results and it was Alexander "Chuckie" Still who did the honours with a solid 17 in the tricky conditions. Not good enough by his own standards but an impressive performance to the rest of us...

Most improved prize (not really a prize - just a mention here!) was Patrick Shellcock who after two races was well inside the top 20 and most embarrassing moment goes to Sammi who at the start of race three was mounted by another competitor right in front of the medic boat who promptly whisked her off to a waiting ambulance were she experienced that floating feeling of "gas and air" whilst they debated whether her leg was broken or just her cartilidge torn. As it was Sammi is made of tough stuff and after a good sleep was back up and ready to race the next day - if a little bruised.

Completing the ensemble were Joanna Barrie, Aaron Murray and Ian Symon who all put up a good fight in the middle order.

Well done everyone, you have done us proud. First place next year?

Click here for full results via sailracer.co.uk

G.

Inland Championships at Grafham

At last we have access to the results!  Click here.

In what was a very difficult weekend, top of the Scots was Andrew MacGowan in 22nd with strong showings from Angus Gray Stephens and Jamie Noyes (proving he is not just a light wind flyer) and top scotsgirl this time was Emily Robertson.

Well done all.

G. 

Sailing Solutions Topper 4.2 National Championships

Well done Scottish Topper sailor Joanne Foster for securing 3rd place in the UK 4.2 National Championships at Grafham Water this weekend...

Your daddy is very proud as are all the team in the Influenza A(H1N1) Central Scotland Control Room.

I am sorry I could not be there but it really has been a bit of a busy week for our NHS staff and Public Health Team!

I understand Saturday was a testing battle of chase the breeze as only one race was held in a viurtual calm. Sunday was a complete contrast as competitiors awoke to a lake covered in white horses and three hard races were fought out in a "honking" breeze.

The pictures show Joanne receiving her prize from GBR Topper squad Head Coach Dave Cockrill on behalf of Sailing Solutions the 4.2 Championship sponsor.

The UK 4.2 National Championships take place alongside the Magic Marine UK Inland Championships from which I will post a report as soon as I hear how our Scottish Toppers have performed!

Well done everyone.

G.