A famous Laser sailor in the Seventies, Ed Baird, is reputed to have said that spending time on the water was what counted. The 258 young sailors competing in the Royal Cork Yacht Club hosted Topper World Championships last week got plenty of that with up to 15 races over the week and undoubtedly have felt the benefit. The calibre of the fleets was outstanding, with intense competition in very taxing variable conditions.
The best performances from the Northern Ireland contingent came from Luke Simpson from County Antrim YC on the north shore of Belfast Lough and Tom Driscoll on the opposite side of the Lough at Royal North and Ballyholme.
Luke finished sixth overall in the enormous 98-strong Gold fleet, and Tom followed in seventh. Ballyholme's Cormac Byrne was also in the top quarter, sails at Strangford SC at 13th, and Emily McAfee (Ballyholme) at 23rd. Another BYC competitor, Katie Brow, finished in the top half at 47th, and at 48th was Calum Pollard, a club mate of Luke Simpson at County Antrim YC. Calum was racing a 5.3 for the first time after winning 2022 4.2 National Championship and topping that year with the World Championship win at Lake Garda.
Luke Simpson (left) with Calum Pollard of County Antrim YC Photo: Bob Bateman
Luke Simpson reflected on his performance. "It was a great event. Good organisation, a great venue, and plenty of wind with very tricky conditions kept everyone on their toes. Overall, I am very happy with my performance coming second in the qualifying series and finishing 6th overall in the Gold fleet.
Tom Driscoll Seventh overall at the Topper World Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman
I'm looking forward to competing in the British Nationals at Plas Heli next week and hope to improve on my 4th place from last year".
One of the sailors who learned from his time on the water was 13-year-old Calum Pollard, one of the youngest in the Gold Fleet. "As this is my first year in 5.3, my goal was to get into the Gold Fleet, and I was delighted to achieve my goal and race in the Gold Fleet. The size of the fleet was immense, and I had never been on such a big start line, but the number of boats made it feel small as there was no space. I was pleased to get a 13th on the final day and other top 20 results during the week. The conditions were a mixed bag, and I was pleased to be able to handle the stronger breeze. It was a great learning experience, and I had a fantastic time with all my friends and meeting new people".
A long startline at the Topper World Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman
Joseph Robinson (BYC) was third in the Silver fleet, counting three seconds and a third, and Rose Kelly of East Down YC on Strangford Lough was 25th in the 60-strong fleet, with Sophie Cairns (BYC) at 40th. Ronan Hodge of Strangford SC counted an excellent 3rd to finish 23rd in the Bronze division.
That adage about time on the water certainly holds for 14-year-old Rose Kelly. She began her sailing in mid-week club racing at East Down Yacht Club and said, "Without its continuous support and endless encouragement, I would never have been able to progress my journey so far".
Rose Kelly from East Down YC 25th in Silver fleet Photo: courtesy Kelly family
Then Rose participated in the Around the Lough Youth Series, where she met other Topper sailors from Killyleagh and Strangford, increasing her competition experience. After her leap into the RYANI Squad, her interest in racing grew. After much more work, Rose was ready to compete in the Worlds. "I had never seen so many boats of the one class", which she emphasises provided her with a magnitude of learning and, "so with the final two days being medium winds, I went home feeling well stretched and tired".
Northern sailors also achieved good results in the 60-strong 4.2 fleet. From Lough Erne YC in Co. Fermanagh, Adam Green was 8th, counting a second and 12th as his best scores. Polly Robinson and James Eadie from Ballyholme were 19th and 29th, respectively, James scoring a top place of second.
On then to the 2024 Worlds in Mar Menor in Murcia, Spain.
