International Topper World Championships 2026 at St Pierre Quiberon, France - Day 3
by John Heyes 31 Jul 07:57 UTC
27-31 July 2026
The fleet launched at noon in a 8/9 knots westerly on Wednesday.
In the second heat of the Finals series for the Topper 5.3 Gold fleet Hari Clark had to work hard throughout the race to keep ahead of Ziyan Chu (CHN 830), where in the previous race, Clark, the 2024 Topper 4.2 World Champion had enjoyed a very clear lead. At mark 1, there was often many boats in a close bunch, resulting in a lot of shouting, hitting the mark and sailors taking their penalties as the sailors coming in on port tried to find a gap that probably wasn't there.
In Race 2, On the first upwind, Clark was passed by Chu, but regained the lead on the top reach where his lighter weight paid dividends. At the leeward gate, the fleet split with half the fleet rounding the port and the other half the starboard buoy. By the second downwind Hari had increased his lead and was around 20 metres ahead of Ziyan Chu, with Toby Hailey (GBR 606) and Jo Hulse (GBR 181) hot on their heels. Hari took his second gun of the day keeping a clear lead in the last leg of the race after the wind shifted 15 degrees right.
For the third race of the day, after several general recalls due to over eager sailors, Hari Clark again deployed his signature pin end start, despite a small right end bias, and worked the left-hand side of the course. On the first downwind, the 5.3 Gold fleet caught up with the Topper 4.2s who were on their penultimate downwind before the finish. Hari Clark maintained the lead on 2nd upwind, just ahead of Ben McCaldin (IRL 701) closely followed by Wanqui Luo (CHN 842), who was involved in a tight tussel with Sophie Venning (GBR 095).
General recalls were the order of the day for both 5.3 fleets however there was more pushing the line and BFDs in the gold fleet.
It was noticeable that whilst the fleet was spread out by the end of the race, every boat was still in contention and fighting for every boat length. The light and shifty conditions today continue to favour the lighter and tactical sailors. While Hari Clark ended the day with three bullets, he was not always first on the upwind legs, but usually on the downwind, his speed advantage helps to increase his lead and by the end of the race is tens of metres ahead.
In the Topper 4.2 Championships, the full day's programme of three races was completed, with a close battle developing between the leading contenders of Freddie Smallwood, (GBR 588), Jake Day, (GBR 355), Léoghan Bath (CAN 809) and Isabelle Simpson (GBR 038). Runaway Irish 4.2 National Champion Ben Chaix (IRL 405) signalled his intent with a bullet in race 6, just ahead of Jimmy Zhao (CHN 846).
Results so far can be found here.