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Savvy Navvy 2024

Topper Traveller at Crawley Mariners Yacht Club

by Diana Thomspon & Duncan Newell 27 Apr 2023 18:00 UTC 22 April 2023
Topper Traveller at Crawley Mariners © Diana Thompson

Crawley Mariners is the second event is the Spring Series in the London and South East region. We had a great turn out for a small club with 4 home sailors and 14 travelling helms signed in at Hedgecourt Lake.

Although very little wind was showing on the shoreside socks, a 2-3mph easterly wind on the lake, and a forecast of it rising to 10mph in the afternoon, reassured us that the four races for the day should go ahead as planned.

The first start got under way with the light winds resulting with a tight fleet as they rounded the windward mark. Dan Hebditch rounded first and developed a good lead, which he maintained throughout to take the win, followed by Sam Clancy and Oscar Lay.

Race 2 start was clean, and with the wind increasing, a clear leading group formed, with the following pack chasing hard throughout the race. Dan Hebditch took the win, followed by Harry Mitchell and Sam Clancy.

During lunch, the wind increased as forecast, and switched round significantly to SW. A new course was set to maintain an upwind start, and the helms headed out for our two afternoon races.

Race 3 had a clean start, with the new course providing a longer beat to the windward mark. Some very close racing lead to an incredibly tight finish with seconds separating the leading group. Dan Hebditch again took the win, followed by Leah May and Harry Mitchell.

Race 4, again saw a clean start and some keen racing with Sam Clancy finishing first followed by Oscar Lay and Harry Mitchell.

In the 4.2 fleet, we had a fleet of 4 young sailors in very light airs producing some interesting racing. Toby Lay was dominant with 4 victories, followed by Tom Brown and Harry Rahilly.

Thank you to Rooster Sailing for their support and assistance with the prizes.

5.3 Fleet Results:

First (Home Sailor): Oliver Gatton
First (Open Novice): Leo Bolton

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4Pts
1 GBR 47524Dan HebditchChipstead SC11173
2 GBR 47928Sam ClancyDesborough SC23916
3 GBR 48320Harry MitchellErith yacht club52338
4 GBR 46919Oscar LayDesborough SC IBRSC34529
5 GBR 45959Oliver GattonCrawley Mariners YC756617
6 GBR 46465Callum HarrisShoreham SC4771418
6 GBR 47028Leah MayIBRSC10621018
8 GBR 44598Evan HellyerEvan Hellyer888420
9 GBR 45975Fraser FergusonShoreham SC11104822
10 GBR 46686Leo BoltonKing George SC6913924
11 GBR 48307Seb GattonCrawley Mariners YC121110527
12 GBR 48645Oliver WillettKing George SC915111232
13 GBR 49075Austin RogersBuzz Active1313121136
14 GBR 47707Thomas IrvineCrawley Mariners YC1412151341
15GBR 46705Liam Taylor 1514141546

4.2 Fleet Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4Pts
1 GBR 48476Toby LayDesborough SC IBRSC11114
2 GBR 45093Tom BrownPapercourt SC22228
3 GBR  4546Harry RahillyDesborough SC & Queen Mary333312

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