The Topper Worlds 2016, in full swing at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough this week, have been showing that Ireland is well ranked in the current fleet. But the future could well be in Asia, as the younger sailors from Thailand and China have been setting the pace in the junior division.
In all, 197 boats are competing, and the 84-strong home division have been giving a good showing in very close racing at the top of the main section after three days racing the Topper 5.3. Just six points cover the top eight places, and while England’s Sam Cooper (West Lancashire YC) is currently leading with a scoreline of 2,1,1, 2, and discarding a third, Jack Fahy of Lough Derg & Royal St George is just one point astray on a score of 3,1,1, 2 and discarding a fourth.
Whoops! Is that a head and sail contact at the Rooster Topper Worlds 2016….?
Scotland’s Harris Cartwright slips into the ranking in third, but then Sophie Crosbie of Royal Cork and Michael Carroll (RCYC/Kinsale YC) are fourth and fifth, with Michael O’Suilleabhain next of the Irish in eighth, only one point behind Carroll as three boats are tied on fifth.
It’s a different story in the Juniors racing the Topper 4.2, where Max Yang-Ngam of Thailand (Phuket YC) discards a second to leading by 9 points to the 19 points of second-placed Rabbit Su of China, while Britain’s Curtis McKay is third, but on 26 points. The large Chinese contingent (28 in all) are doing well in his section, while Ireland’s best is currently Hannah Dadey-Young (Ballyholme YC) at 10th overall, with Aoife McMahon (Howth) at 14th.
Gravity is on your side when you’re getting 197 Toppers afloat at Ballyholme – it’s when you’re getting a tired fleet back up again after racing that the teamwork really shows...
