RYA Scotland Zone Championships 2010

Checking out the event list on the Helensburgh SC website I see that the excellent new clubhouse will be in frequent use this year with a busy programme of events planned for 2010. For Toppers there are two of particular note the Junior Regatta on 17/18th june and the RYA Scotland Zone Championships on 24/25 September.

Helensburgh SC

Largo Bay Regatta. 2nd January 2010

With no racing at Strathclyde Loch and just two hardy Toppers at Royal Tay on Boxing Day I know there must be some stir crazy young sailors out there. Well there is still one chance for a good day's racing before we all return to school or work.

Why not pop down to Lower Largo in Fife on Saturday 2nd January for the very first Scottish regatta of 2010. There is a briefing at 11 AM followed by 3 planned races. The beach is a great place for parents/drivers etc to stroll of those Christmas pounds or exercise your hairy friends (dogs - not husbands). The club is small but very friendly and the Largo Bay soups are legend.

420 and Oppi's welcome too but lets have a fleet of top Toppers please.

Details are at Largobaysc.org.uk

Here is a local area map the best approach is down Durham Wynd from the main road as Main street can be very narrow in places.

The weather forecast looks good with 6 days to go but check the web site the day before to confirm as the club will cancel early if conditions look unfavourable so as to avoid any wasted journeys.

G.

Reflections on 2009

As Santa Claus beds down his reindeer in the North Pole stables and heads off for his well earned holidays it is perhaps time to reflect on the year that was. Below is the review of 2009 which featured in the most recent ITCA Topper News. All those of you who are ITCA members should have received your copy in the post. All those of you who are not memebers should please consider joining for 2010. You can do so at http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/

ITCA is the name for the voluntary organisation which represents all Topper sailors in the UK. Without ITCA there would be no Topper events in wehich to participate. By joining you support our association and you also ensure we will keep you informed all the fabulous opportunities to get the most out of your Topper sailing.

It was a busy winter for Scottish Toppers with National Squad training supplemented by a very well attended programme of RYA and ITCA open training events at venues from Channonry in the far North to Annandale in the South by way of clubs at Port Edgar Largs Loch Lomond Helensburgh and Monklands. Special mention must go the West Area open training led by Laurie Marsden assisted by Robin Paris which has been so popular it is in danger of needing a waiting list or qualification series.

When racing began in April it was Scottish Squad sailor Samantha Foster and the JDP's Jamie Noyes who set the early pace with a thrilling battle at windswept Annandale. Tied on points the Easter Egg went to Jamie on most firsts count back. Local sailor Jessica Campbell was third with Alexander Still in fourth.

Loch Vennacher, which was both a traveller and leg one of the Inlands, was a stark contrast in weather with light and shifting winds but Jamie showed his class with another victory. Emily Robertson took second, Angus Gray-Stephens was third and Alexander fourth again.

Next up was a trip to the Inlands at Grafham with a large Scottish Team making the drive South but it was a delighted Joanne Foster who stole the headlines with a third place in the 4.2 National Championships. The following weekend saw the strong Scottish Squad take second at the Eric Twiname Championships despite one of the team finding herself in an ambulance after a dramatic collision when she was sailed over by an out of control port tacker. Fortunately the suspected broken leg was only deep bruising and Sammi was back the next morning but alas the wind was not, so it was an early drive home for the Scots.

Next up was a trip to Largs in the West where it was back to light winds and no racing on the Sunday. Importantly this left no discards and no way back for those who had misjudged the tide on Saturday. Andrew MacGowan took his first victory of the season followed by local sailor Alistair Kent and Alexander Still was third.

Mid June saw the traditional visit to East Lothian YC, the 2011 Nationals venue and a fantastic weekend of sea sailing in rolling waves and a perfect force 4. This was Andrew MacGowan’s dream conditions and he took advantage. Jamie second, Angus third and Emily fourth.

In early July a smaller than usual fleet headed North to Channonry near Inverness and it was Jennifer Abraham who read the light winds best to record her first traveller victory. Joanna Barrie second and Jessica Campbell third.

Tarbert Loch Fyne was our next destination and a great event sailed in winds of 20 to at times 30 mph. This was memorable for another epic battle this time between new 420 partners Jamie and Angus Gray Stephens. Alexander and Jessica settled for third and fourth respectively.

August saw thirty five Scottish Toppers gathered at Pwllheli for what was a great week at the UK Nationals. High points included six Scottish squad boats in the gold fleet, race wins in bronze for Aaron Murray and Rory Kilgore and a very proud moment for your correspondent when Joanne Foster received a spot prize for sportsmanship after sailing off the race course to ask a RIB to assist a sailor in distress.

August should have seen the Scottish Champion crowned at Royal Forth but despite a great welcome and strenuous efforts to get the racing in, the whole country was being battered by gales and only one race was sailed so the Championship was postponed to Prestwick Youth Regatta where it was great to see GBR Junior squad member Andrew MacGowan become Scottish Topper Champion 2009. Jamie was second and Emma Palmer third with Alexander fourth.

The season finale was Loch Tummel in September which was also the second leg of the Inland Championship. After six close races with five separate race winners the victory for the weekend went rightly to Alexander Still with Jessica second and Rory third. Kyle Maxwell-Cox ended his Toppper career with a popular fourth as he plans to move into Lasers next year. Jamie did enough to secure both the 2009 Inland Championship and the Scottish Area Travellers Trophy. Joanna Barrie was awarded the Donnie Meldrum trophy for a remarkable performance in 2009 stepping up from the Regatta fleet last year to the Scottish Squad and 8^th overall in the Travellers. Well done everyone. Follow next year on www.scottishtoppers.blogspot.com.

Christmas Cancelled due to Snow???

Sorry folks but it is official, Christmas has been cancelled. Well to be exact the world famous Starthclyde Loch Christmas Regatta has had to be cancelled due to the adverse weather. (I know it is world famous because we told our friend Chris about it before he went back to Perth, Australia.

Check the SLSC website for the official notice here.

Royal Tay Yacht Club Boxing Day Bonanza on 26th December - first race starts at 11.30 AM.

Largo Bay New Year Regatta - Saturday 2nd January 2010. Weather report on Largo Bay web site looks good, click here.

Scrooge.

Strathclyde Loch Christmas Regatta - be there!

Traveller 2010 Final List

Its not perfect I know but this is it. The 2010 Travellers list.

Annandale, 24/25 April 2010
Dalgety Bay, 22/23 May 2010
Helensburgh, 19/20 June 2010
Largo Bay, 26/27 June 2010
Prestwick, 4/5 September 2010
Loch Tummel, 18/19 September 2010

Graham

Scottish Topper Travellers 2010

Once upon a time there was a little girl called Emma. Emma loved to sail and Emma's Mum loved to see Emma loving to sail so Emma's Mum took on organising Topper events and Emma's mum seemed to love organising sailing events so everyone left Emma's Mum to organise all the Topper sailing events. And everyone loved to grumble about the sailing events and how they seemed to always clash with other events and how they always seemed to come one weekend after another and never leave enough time off for club sailing or holidays but everyone seemd to love grumbling so they just kept on grumbling and Emma's Mum kept on orgaising and everyone was happy.

The the little girl called Emma grew up into a fine young woman, and the fine young woman looked around and found a world beyond the world of Toppers and decided that she loved to sail in the world beyond the world of Toppers and Emma's Mum saw that Emma was happy and loved to see Emma sailing in the world beyond the world of Toppers so she moved on to organising the world beyond the world of Toppers and oh boy does that leave a lot of organising to do! And a lot of grumbling - over to you.....

Having spoken with lots of likely candidate clubs and looked at previous events and attendance numbers the list of provisional venues for 2010 is starting to come together and despite my best efforts there will be clashes and weekends one after another and we cannot fit in several of our first choice events for a variety of reasons.

The provisional 2010 travellers list is therefore currently Annandale, Dalgety Bay, Helensburgh, Largo Bay, Prestwick and Tummel. That is one in the South, two in the East, two in the West and one in the North "ish". This list may still have to change or expand.

The Brown Cup will be at Loch Earn in it's usual early June slot with two days of training beforehand.

We have also have two Nationwides which we should support - Derwent Resevoir , which is more or less the same distance for most of us as Annandale and is a great venue with a super camping field so I would hope to see every Scottish Topper there in June and Largs which is in early September.

The RYA Zone Championships will be in late September venue tbc (? Loch Earn).

I am also in discussions with possible sponsors and "Emma's Mum" (see above) is compiling a bid to the RYA seeking funding for coach support for a Development Fleet at every event.

The RYA Yearbook goes to press very soon and I would like to have our dates fixed by then so further news as I can share it.

Graham

Where has all the Topper News Gone?

Hi Folks,
I was just wondering what is happening in the world of Scottish Toppers and I thought I would cast an eye over that useful Scottish Toppers blog that is always do up to date and informative.... What no posts since October? Have all the Toppers been in hibernation?

Well I know that is not the case! perhaps we are just too busy to remember to share our hectic training schedule with the wider world?

I am currently busy trying to put together next years Open Series events or at least I would be if i could get a minute between working and acting as a delivery driver to Topper training, school events, scout camps, gang shows, swimming pools, parties and the like.

I do know that you have all been very bust (oops, freudian slip, not credit crunch bust, I meant busy) with one thing or another. A chance meeting with the Milford clan last weekend (both days, different venues) confirmed the good news that the West squad had a great first weekend of training at Largs with an overnight at Inverclyde. Well done Laurie, sounds great, hope the new Optimist members did not cause you too much trouble!

The Scottish Squad have now had their first Cumbrae weekend which seems to have gone very well by all accounts. Weather not too bad, nothing broken, rain arrived just in time for packing up on Sunday - as usual.

The same weekend Lesley drove to Alton Towers to collect Sammi from a Scout event on the Saturday and to transfer her to Northampton SC to catch the second day of the first ITCA (GBR) Youth Sqaud weekend. My turn to to the driving next weekend (both the car and a support RIB, brrrrr...) It was howling windy (remember the gales that weekend) but I believe Scottish honour was upheld as Sammi may not have been the fastest round the course but was definitely the last boat still racing when all sailing was abandoned in the face of 40 knots plus.

The next weekend we were off to Largs for a day of Open Training with Joanne whilst Sammi was hanging from a tree. (Venture Scout Hamock camp - sleeping in the open between two trees under a tarpaulin) Joanne and Kae (Clark) had a great day learning to "review". A great excuse for a chat if you ask me! It was also really good to see a number of Scottish Toppers past and present benefiting from Largs SC club training led by our 2009 Development Fleet coach Emma Wilkie. Then my next trip was back to the Royal Tay Yacht Club for our weekly visit to their winter series where Lesley is crewing a 420 for Sammi.

What else is happening? Oh yes that Open series for 2010, well I guess I should start another post for that one. Meanwhile please send me your Scottish Topper News. We all want to know what is happening and our avid readers will soon tire of hearing what I do every weekend...

Graham

Brown Cup 2010

Here is advanced notice of the planned dates for the Scottish Schools Sailing Championships 2010 , the Brown Cup to take place on June 12-14, 2010

The Championships will be at Loch Earn Sailing Club and will preceeded by two days of Open Topper Training with some top coaches and the Championship proper will take place on Monday June 14th.

Further details will be posted on the Loch Earn Sailing Club web site next spring.

G.

Largo Bay New Year Regatta

East Squad - RYA Scotland Area Training

Applications are now invited for East Area Race Training at Port Edgar this winter. Training is for under 16s in Toppers and under 18s in Lasers and for all ages in RS Fevas. Toppers and Fevas are available for hire from Port Edgar.

The training dates are to be 31Oct/1 Nov, 28/29 November, 6/7 Feb 2010, 6/7 March 2010 and 27/28 March 2010.

Details from ryascotland or from James Urquhart, Sailing School Principal at Port Edgar.

GUL Topper World Championships 2010

ITCA has just confirmed that the the 2010 GUL Topper World Championships will be hosted by Malcesine Sailing Club, Lake Garda supported by ITCA (Italy) from 21st to 27th August 2010.

The Notice of Race will be pulished by the end of January 2010. Click on http://www.itcaworld.org/ to see further details as they are announced.

Information about Malcesine Sailing Club can be found here.

West Squad and Open Optimist Training anounced

From Angie at RYA Scotland;-

Hi guys

Hope you are all well and having fun. If the thought of not sailing until 2010 makes you cry there are some options over the winter.

West Squad is available for Topper, Opi and Feva sailors, closing date for applications is this Sunday and applications and information can be found here

http://www.ryascotland.org.uk/newssct/detail/Pages/T15%20News.aspx.


Also for Opi sailors there is beginner race training on Sunday afternoons at Strathclyde Park and a few weekends of training also.
Details can be found here

http://www.scottish-optimists.org.uk/

Well done for all your hard work this season.
Cheers

Angie :-)

Scottish Topper Squad 2010

Following a very successful Scottish Sailing Squad Fitness Assessment Day at Inverclyde involving Topper, Optimist, Laser, Windsurfer and Double Handed (mostly 420) Squad applicants it would appear from my initial observations that the successful 2010 Scottish Topper Squad applicants will be

Kae Clark,
Joanna Barrie,
Samantha Foster,
Joanne Foster,
Alexander Still,
Ian Symon,
Ian McLaughlin,
Dean Malcolm,
Andrew Mitchell,
Patrick Shellcock,
Aaron Murray and
Lewis Marr.

This is an unofficial list based on who I saw at Largs and various informal parent's comunications.

The official squad list will be confirmed by RYA Scotland at a later date once all the administration is completed.

The Scottish Squad coaching team will be led by Robin Paris with a dazzling array of guest coaches in support....

G.

Further Squad Successes

Further news on Scottish sailors gaining National Squad places. Congratulations to Annandale's SC sailor Jessica Campbell who has secured a place in the ITCA (GBR) National Intermediate Youth Squad and to Loch Tummel SC sailor Joanne Foster who has been invited to join the ITCA (GBR) National 4.2 Squad.

Well done girls.

G.

Squad Surprises

Being a lowly class rep I have no idea yet who has and has not been offered Scottish Topper Squad places this year and I suspect there may be some National Squad members or newly appointed 420 and Laser Squad members to reveal themselves too. So suspected Squad selection surprises shall have to wait till a further blog. What I can say for definite is that there will have been far more applicants than there are National Squad places available ands there are far more training opportuinities than just the National squad. So if you have not yet been offered a Scottish squad place then do not dispair. Much of the best training, and certainly the best fun, is to be found at Regional and ITCA Open training events and there are plenty of those over the coming months.

For a start there will be East and West Squad Training, the details of which are about to be released. Keep and eye on the RYA Scotland Racing Pages. For girls there is also the RYA All Girls Programme which takes place at four National venues each winter. Details of that are on the ITCA (GBR) Website. And once the weather begins to warm up again there will be some ITCA Open training events if I can set them up. Details will come out by e-mail to those whom I know and will be on this site and the Scotland pages of the ITCA (GBR) site for those I do not.

Keep smiling. There are very many ways to enjoy your Topper and more than one route to being the best sailor you can be.

G.

Helensburgh

If you are thinking of sailing at the Helensburgh Nationwide please enter immediately. Late entry fees start from the 11th October which makes it an expensive delay!

Also please check with your friends that they have entered too.

Entries are required on line at www.gbrtopper.co.uk

Thanks

G.

Plans for 2010

Hi Folks. Thought I would share my early thoughts so far re the calandar for next year. Provisionally I am trying to agree dates which suit Toppers but can as far as possible also fit with Oppies and Lasers so we can all travel together. This will not work for all our events but should work for the larger venues. We can then add a few smaller events of our own and that should give a good mix.

I have not spoken to West or East Squad coaches yet but I would like to try what some other areas do and hold a couple of one day "Sprint Cup" events on the Sunday after a Saturday of Area Squad Training. This would involve holding an open event with for or five races (with prizes etc) on the Sunday. The Coaches would be there to provide support and between race coaching for their Squad but the event would be open to all so the Scottish squad sailors could race too.

At the moment the Calendar would look something like this

Christmas mini series (very informal)
Strathclyde Loch Christmas Regatta
Boxing Day Bonanza at Royal Tay Yacht Club
New Years Day Regatta Largo Bay Sailing Club

Sprint Cup 1 (non series - ? March) Port Edgar
Sprint Cup 2 (non Series - ? March) possibly Monklands or Loch Lomond
Traveller 1 - ? Royal Gourock Early April Toppers only
Traveller 2 - ? Annandale Late April Topper and Oppi
UK Inlands - Grafham and Eric Twiname Championships (both May)
Traveller 3 - ? East Lothian - Early June - Topper, Oppi and Laser
Traveller 4 - ? Helensburgh - Mid June (Youth Regatta - Oppi)
Traveller 5 - ? Loch Lomond - Early July (Oppi too)
Topper Worlds tbc possibly Holland or Germany
Topper Nationals - Pwllheli early August (highly recommended - over 30 Scottish boats last year)
Traveller 6 /7 probably Glen Coe and Prestwick
Traveller 8 - ? Loch Tummel (Oppi and Laser too)

I will update as negotiations continue and UK dates are confirmed

G.

Top Scots win National Squad places

Congratulations Alexander Still and Samantha Foster on securing National Topper Squad places for 2009/10. Excellent performances in the GBR Nationwide Indicator Series at Derwent Water, Poole, Mumbles and the Topper National Championships have won Alexander (14) and Samantha (15) places in the RYA GBR National Junior Squad and Purple Marine ITCA GBR National Youth Squads. Both squads will be training throughout the winter with regular weekends, a week long residential tarining camp in April and pre-Worlds and pre-Nationals warm up training at the event venues.

Well done both. Maintaining Scottish Topper's profile at the very highest level.

STOP PRESS West Squad sailor Jordan Black has secured as place in the ITCA (GBR) Topper Intermediate National Youth Squad. Well done Jordan.

5TH CRAFTINSURE TOPPER NATIONWIDE EVENT:

This is just a reminder that the Helensburgh Sailing club is to host the 5th Craftinsure Topper Nationwide Event on the 24th and 25th October 2009.

Full entry details are available on the sailing club website – www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk. Entries for the Main Fleet are taken via the Sail Racer online entry system and I would ask you to note that entries after 10th October will be liable to an additional cost. In addition the more local entries we can get the more likely we can encourage the sailors from further afield to travel to the event. So go on enter now!!!!


For those looking to take their sailing forward and try racing we are keen to encourage you into the Regatta or Development Fleet. This will be run on a separate course but still give you the opportunity to be involved in a larger racing event. There will be assistance on and off the water so please take the opportunity to get try it. You can register for this event via the email link set up on the website. Entry for the regatta fleet will be £20.

There is a full social program and catering facilities at the club throughout the event and again all details can be seen on the website.

Fabulous Travellers Finale at Loch Tummel

I have finally recovered from the shock of being OOD at a very well supported Loch Tummel and have produced the following report:-

Thirty nine Toppers gathered at Loch Tummel for the final leg of the 2009 Travellers trophy and also to sail the second leg of the 2009 Scottish Inland Championships which had begun at Loch Vennacher in April. The event was hosted jointly with travellers for Optimists, Solo’s Europes, Lasers, Radials, 4.7 and a small handicap fleet. This made for just over 100 boats on the main course sailing trapezoid courses with varying numbers of inner and outer loops.

The travellers Trophy has been a close battle between arch rivals Jamie Noyes and Alexander Still this year and the two close rivals could not wait to get on with the action. (see picture)

The Toppers were away first in each start sequence and sailing mostly the outer loop. A light westerly wind built to a good force 3, occasionally 4, shortly after the start. Race one was dominated by Samantha Foster, clearly enjoying home waters for once who led from the first leeward mark and held a clear lead to the finish. Kyle Maxwell Cox led the chasing pack from Alexander “Chuckie” Still.

Race two looked like a replay of Race one with Samantha in commanding form slipping past Chuckie and Kyle up the second beat to round the inner loop windward mark clear ahead. Unfortunately the rest of the fleet were correctly sailing the outer loop course. Kyle led to the finish followed by Chuckie then Jamie Noyes. Samantha recovered to sixth by the end.

Race three and Samantha was clearly taking no chances with the course. Finding herself in the leading pack again she “death rolled” and capsized. Now in virtually last place she had plenty of boats to follow but could only recover to 16th. Chuckie was leading the fleet home, this time holding off a strong challenge from Rory Kilgore and Jessica Campbell. Jamie was 4th and Kyle seemed to be doing the gentlemanly thing, waiting for Sammi and finished 5th!

With 103 boats across 7 fleets and 18 starts we all retired to the beach whilst I tried to make sense of the results!

Sunday dawned with a flat calm and then a gentle Easterly zephyr. The clouds however were saying different and the OOD determinedly launched the doubtful fleet at 11.15 with a warning to expect the same Westerly breeze as the day before. After nearly an hour of boat swapping and mark moving we were toying with the idea of an early lunch when the Westerly arrived as predicted at exactly 12 noon. By 12.15 Race 4 was underway. The gusty wind was swinging from West to South West and causing quite a few snakes and ladders. This time it was Jessica Campbell who made the most of it. Kyle was back on form in second and Rory made up the top three.

Race 5 and an over eager fleet led to a general recall and brought out the first black flag of the weekend. Relegated to the back of the queue the Toppers got away cleanly this time and it was Jamie Noyes who made the best of the opportunity leading the way to a comfortable win. Rory kept on the pressure with a second and Chuckie rounded of the top three. Disappointed Dad award went to me when Joanne Foster, holding her best position of the weekend tipped it over in exactly the same place that her sister had the previous day and lost 22 places!

Race 6 and there was all to play for. Five separate race winners in five races. It was Jessica who made the running in what was the lightest wind of the weekend. Chuckie came through for second with Jamie Noyes pushing him all the way. Rory and Kyle followed on and Ros made her first appearance in the top six. A major port starboard tangle at the top mark saw Sammi shut out with no way back from the middle order and a very dissapointed Aaron dropped from 2nd to 9th with a 20% scoring penalty.

A lengthy scoring exercise followed as the results were fed into various programs to calculate the Tummel Traveller Result, the 2009 Inland Championships Result and the 2009 Scottish Topper Traveller Result.

Loch Tummel Traveller

1st Alexander Still

2nd Jessica Campbell

3rd Rory Kilgore

4th Kyle Maxwell-Cox

2009 Inland Champion

Jamie Noyes

2009 Travellers Trophy

Jamie Noyes

Full Results will be posted on sailracer and the Loch Tummel SC website.

Scottish Topper Championships

With our regular correspondent on taxi duty to the Mumbles Nationwide, we have Cameron Still to thank for the following round up of events closer to home:-

Once again the Topper Circus dropped in on Prestwick Sailing Club, this time, however, the conditions were absolutely perfect for good class racing and the event was the re-schedued Scottish Topper Championships postponed from a storm bound Royal Forth.

With 29 starters in shifty conditions the fleet were presented in race 1 with a port bias line.

Alistair Kent absolutely nailed the start on the Pin end, whilst Andrew McGowan slightly to Port pulling an enthusiastic trigger start, capsized. Jamie Noyes clawed Alistair back to take the win with Alistair a credible 2nd and a superb 3rd for Kyle Maxwell with Andrew Recovering well to take 4th. No doubt the result would have been different had Andrew pulled off the trigger start.

Race 2 set off in similar shifty conditions, with Andrew assuming the lead and Jamie following closely behind, Emma Palmer back in her old purple boat 3rd and Emily Robertson 4th.

Race three and final race on Saturday, Andrew once again scored a great start to lead the race, with Alex (Chucky) Still getting to grips with the conditions in 2nd keeping a hard working Jamie into third and Alistair Kent 4th. This meant that Jamie and Andrew tied on the Saturday evening with Alistair Kent 3rd followed closely by Chucky in 4th slot.

Sunday Morning the Clyde was like a millpond with little expectations for breeze to fill until mid-day the race officer flew the AP. With a beautiful sunny day the sea breaze kicked in to about 8 knots to provide further trying race conditions. The younger sailors relishing the opportunity to pitch there wares in lighter conditions. Race 4, provided an interesting mix with Andrew taking an OCS, Emma clearly back in the groove taking the win, Jennifer Abraham keeping the girls on top with 2nd then Jamie consistently up there in 3rd and Rory Kilgore as usual chasing the girls getting a well deserved 4th. Young Lewis Marr pitching up into the top ten for the first time with a confidence boosting 8th.

Final Race of the series and once again Andrew proved to be on song with the win, Jamie closely fought to take 2nd and Jennifer Abraham taking 3rd and Chucky 4th. The overall results stood at Emily Robertson 5th, Alex (Chucky)Still 4th, Emma Palmer 3rd, Jamie Noyes 2nd and Andrew McGowan retaining the Scottish Championship crown.

Andrew reflected on the event with a big thank you to all involved at Prestwick for running the event, made all the better for the near perfect weather.

Just to show those younger Topper Sailors that the good guys get to wrong, Alan Henderson from www.fotoboat.com has some great footage of Andrew capsizing whilst trying to pull off a trigger start.

Cameron

Prestwick - Scottish Championships take two.

For those not heading to Wales for Event 4 of the Topper UK Nationwide Series next weekend, good luck at Prestwick. Following the gales at Royal Forth let's hope for better luck this time as we attempt the sail off for the Topper Scottish Championships 2009.

This will be a shared event with Lasers, Optimists and Fevas. For the notice of Race click here.

After Prestwick it is straight off to Loch Tummel for the final event of the Traveller Series. Don't forget this is also leg two of the Inland Championships with the results taken combined with the races at Loch Vennacher to calculate the overall Inland Champion 2009. This is another multi class event combined with Optimists, Lasers, Solos and Europes so it should be great fun. Sadly the miserable summer has left large areas of the club grounds resembling a Scottish bog so camping and motor home space is not available. There are a number of local camp sites together with various B&B and hotels or for the very brave there always seem to be lots of fishermen in tents along the Foss road so you could try that option...

For details of the Tummel Event see the club website - click here.

PS Dont forget to enter for the RYA Zone Championships at Largs. Just three weeks to go!
The link to enter is via the Scottish Toppers Web site.

Luke takes Silver Medal at 470 Worlds

Former RYA Scotland squad member and Skandia Team GBR sailor Luke Patience has pulled off a dramtic Silver medal at the 470 Worlds. Well done Luke.

See http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=148373

for a full report.

Helensburgh Nationwide

Please sign up now for the Helensburgh Nationwide in October. For anyone who sails a Topper in Scotland or ever has sailed a Topper in Scotland this has to be the number one event of the Autumn!

Click here for google maps.

Helensburgh has a fantastic new clubhouse and is looking forward to welcoming the Toppers for what will be the final event in the UK Nationwide series 2009.

For details click here.

Irish Topper Nationals at Blessington

As most Scottish Toppers were sitting out the gales at Royal Forth, Angus Gray-Stephens was in Ireland as part of the GBR Junior Squad Team selected by Head Coach Dave Cockerill.

This three day event took place at Blessington Sailing Club and unlike the Scottish Equivalent the weather conditions were kind and all nine scheduled races were completed.  Angus did extremely well to secure 12th place overall in what is likley to be his final National event in Toppers as he is off to the 420 Nationals with new sailing partner Jamie Noyes next week.

Jamie and Angus have already completed the 2009 Youth Nationals in the 420 this year and are looking an extremely promising team.  Good luck chaps!

A Full report and results from the Irish Nationals is available on the Irish Topper web site.  Click here to link to the relevant home page. 

Scottish Championships blown away

The stage was set, the competitors ready and the welcome warm but the weather was against us. As the fleet set out from Granton East Harbour and into Wardie Bay the brisk South Westerly breeze was exactly what was needed for a "proper" championship event. The OOD set a trapezoid course with a single outer loop and the racing began on time at 1pm. The early leader was Andrew MacGowan but the chasing pack were not in the mood to let him get away. At the end of the first run the leader was clear but the fight for the minor placings was close between Jamie, Alexander, Emma, Rory, Emma, Emily and Samantha. With some serious squalls to catch the unwary Andrew was playing it safe at the front but just a little too safe and at the last mark Jamie had the lead down to just a few lengths. The two boats split to opposite sides of the short final beat and at the finish it was Jamie who took line honours.

With the wind now building towards a force six there was a lengthy delay as the RIBS tended to tail enders and an increasing number of capsizes in the waiting fleet. Several sailors were jealousy eying Joanne's 4.2 sail as the wisest choice of the afternoon showing it does pay to check the forecast. (thanks dad!)

After a significant delay to ensure the smaller sailors were safely rescued race two was underway on the same trapezoid course. The first beat was proving a real test but once the leaders were across the reach and into the run the fun really started. With the wind now steadily over 30 knots and the run on the more gusty South side of the course at least half the fleet simultaneously spun out with those who survived disappearing in a ball of spray downwind. Survival was now definitely the order of the day and even those who tried to tack round were finding it almost impossible to make progress downwind without a periscope. As Joanne rounded the second windward mark in seventh place (yes seventh) and looked ever more likely to make the top 3 it was a disspointed Dad who saw the N over A broken out as the conditions became unsailable for all but the best swimmers.

With all the sailors safely tallied back ashore it was clear that with the club anemometer showing regular numbers in the 40 knot range that the OOD had made the right call and the Barbecue was fired up a little early. An excellent spread was served by the freindly Royal Forth Team and we headed home with hopes of 4 more great races to come.

Sadly Sunday morning saw conditions stubbornly refusing to improve and after a short delay and a discussion with the sailors all attempts at holding further races were abandoned. So it was Jamie Noyes who took the prize for winning the only race of the weekend but with only one race to count there was no series and so the Scottish Championship now rolls over to the next available event. Prestwick Sailing Club on 12th and 13th September. (And don't forget the season finale and part 2 of the Inland Championship at Loch Tummel SC the week after - 19/20th September)

See You there.

Thank you Royal Forth for a great weekend. Sorry about the weather.

G.

Scot wins national Championships

Scottish sailor Calum Airlie has won the British Open Optimist Championships. Sailing in very difficult conditions in the week long championship sailed at Largs SC Calum came through a dissapointing first day then put together an incredible sequence of top results to attain third place going into the final day. An outstanding sequence of 1, 2, 7 gave Calum victory from the 350 strong fleet.

All of us her here at Scottish Toppers congratulate you Calum, very well done.

Click here for the full Y and Y report.

Scottish Topper Championships

The Scottish Topper Chamionships take place this weekend, Saturday 15th August to Sunday 16th August 2009 at Royal Forth Yacht Club, Granton Harbour, Edinburgh.

The Entry Form and Sailing Instructions are available at http://www.rfyc.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=1HUgaaJhzXk%3d&tabid=37&mid=394.

Registration is from 09.30 to 11.00 on Saturday with a brifeing at 11.30. There will be six races over the weekend.

See you there.

G.

RYA Scottish Zone Championships

With the Nationals completed thoughts quickly turn to the RYA Zone and Home Countries Championships which take place all over the UK on 26th and 27th September 2009. This is a key indicator event for the selection of sailors for the various RYA supported Junior Squads including the Topper and Optimist.

The Scottish Zone Championships will be hosted this year by Largs Sailing Club. Entries should be completed on line at https://www.sailracer.co.uk/events/enter-v2.asp?eventid=37641

Pwffheli Update

Final Day, sunshine, not much wind. Fleet launched on time. Wind looking good from NW at 10 knots across whole course. Gold Fleet starts. General Recall. Wind dies and backs to South. Short delay. Course re-laid. Wind fills at 8 knots. Gold Fleet away at 13.20. Silver and Bronze follow. All three fleets comlete races one in about 60 minutes. Is there time for one more ?

Gold Fleet away again. Wind dies and much of fleet unable to cross line. General recall signalled. Further delay. Wind veers again and dies. AP over A broken out at 14.30. "No more racing today".

Championship complete. 5 Qualifiers, 7 Championship Races, 3 discards.

Prizegiving at 6.30 pm

Well done all Scottish Toppers Abroad.

13 Joanna Barrie, 71 Jordan Black, 78 Emma Palmer, 122 Andrew Mawyer, 127 Katie Milford, 139 Sophie Joseph, 146 Angus Gray Stephens, 167 Patrick Shellcock, 170 Erin Mills, 172 Lewis Marr, 176 Araan Murray, 218 Joanne Foster, 255 Jessica Milford, 301 Kyle Maxwell-Cox, 306 Andrew MacGowan, 307 Andrew Crockett, 339 Ian Symon, 356 Andrew Mitchell, 381 Jamie Noyes, 382 Rosalind Dunlop, 383 Heather Sword, 385 Ian Sword, 389 Alexander Still, 390 Ian Maclauchlin, 398 David Abraham, 515 Kae Clark, 522 Jennifer Abraham, 550 Rory "pass me a new boom" Kilgore, 582 Ruaridh Mills, 592 Jessica Campbell, 594 Calum MacIvor, 618 Samantha Foster, 628 Emily Robertson, 698 Ryan MacIntyre.

Full Results will appear on sailracer.co.uk soon.

G.

Nationals Blog from Pwllheli

HERE is the direct link to the Nationals blog with live "ish" feeds from the race course.

Fast Fuel

Scottish Toppers at the Nationals are undoubtedly some of the best fed in the fleet thanks to generous support by Scottish Toppers Abroad sponsors Tunnocks, Sainsbury and Marshall's Pasta. With six hours afloat every day and three highly competitive races not to mention the rigors of launching and recovery keeping the young sailors well fed is a top priority of they are to perform at their best all week. The support of Tunnocks, Sainsbury and Marshall's ensures we can give the sailors exactly the sort of high quality, high energy food they need to perform at this level. Every Morning the gas stoves is fired up in the dinghy park and the entire Scottish Team are fed hot pasta before going afloat for the day with a supply of teacakes and caramel wafers for between races.

Thank You Liz

Day Four at Pwllheli and the racing continues. Another good day yesterday. Three races completed in champagne sailing conditions. A race win and a third place for Andrew MacGowan and a third place for Patrick Shellcock in Bronze were the highlights.

Thirty four Scottish Toppers here, six in the Gold fleet, turnouts of over 40 at recent Scottish Travellers and a very active RYA and Open raining programme sees Scottish Toppers in a very healthy position.

Much of the credit for this success must go to out going Scottish Area Rep, Liz Palmer who had been at the helm since 2006. Liz has now retired as Area Rep and the tiller has been passed to your correspondent, Graham Foster who joined the ITCA Committee on Tuesday as Scottish Area Rep and is hoping to be able to at least continue some of the good work Liz has delivered.

Liz was formally thanked for all her work on the ITCA GBR Committee at the helpers reception on Wednesday night. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all Scottish Topper Sailors, parents and coaches to echo the words of ITCA chairman Charles Glover in thanking Liz for all her hard work over the years. Well done Liz, what would we have done without you?

From Andrew MacGowan competing for places in the top ten to Ian Sword competing in his 4.2 in the Regatta Fleet we all appreciate what you have done for Scottish Toppers and wish you well.

Day Three at Pwllheli - news from the front.

No sailing at all yesterday for the main fleet due to high winds and three metre high vertical faced waves that prevented a course being laid.

Needless to say the Regatta fleet showed everyone up by having two good sessions in the bay although they were two up with two reefs in!

Fleet launched today on time with promising wind but visbility has now dropped to unsafe levels and race one has had to be abandoned. The fleet are now returning to the beach.

Picture shows 300 Toppers heading out this morning.

Latest news from the Nationals - Scottish Toppers on Tour

There is a live update on the nationals being posted every day on www.gbrtopper.co.uk. Today was a fantastic day's sailing enjoyed by all 31 of the travelling Scottish Topper fleet. The fleet launched in good order from Pwffheli's large sandy beach at around 12 noon and the OOD managed to run nine excellent races of approximately 45 minutes each. This keeps all three flights on target for the qualification series which should be completed by Tuesday. With 326 boats competing in the main fleet this was a very impressive achievement and if this is the standard all week then this will be an excellent championship.

Top of the Scots is Andrew MacGowan with results in the top ten and good performances today seeing Angus Gray Stevens, Jamie Noyes, Alexander Still, Sammi Foster and Emily Robertson all recording individual race scores inside the top 20.

Strong winds forecast for tommorow....

G.

Scottish Toppers at the Worlds

For those who did not go and are regretting it I highly recommend the championship blog to be found on the ITCAworld web site. A good way to bannish those lingering doubts unless you yearn for 6AM starts, endless protests, controversy and twelve hour days waiting for wind.

In the final reckoning our local hero Andrew MacGowan defended Scotland's honour with a very creditable tenth place in exceptionally testing conditions. Our other Scottish rep Ian Symon also did very well to finish 59th.

Well done Andrew and Ian. We look forward to hearing all the details at the Pwllheli.

Scottish Toppers at the Nationals

Looking forward to seeing lots of you at the UK Nationals at Pwllheli (best pronounced Pff-elli for us Scots though the locals seem to get some c's and k's in there too!).

I believe there are at least 31 Scottish Toppers making the trip so there should be a great presence in the dinghy park. Scottish Topper coach Kirsty will be there to support all those who are not in UK (GBR) National Squads with some hints and tips to ensure all goes smoothly.

For parents new to the event rendezvous in the dinghy park at the sailing club. We are expected to park up in Zone areas so we will try to have some saltires flying so you can find us. We should also have the Scottish Topper Pagoda if Liz has room in her car.

The competitors have to rig up their boats and present them for measurement before they can start racing but this is mostly a formality as Toppers are so one design. The boats must be fully rigged and with two reefs in the sail to show that a reef can be put in on the water for safety reasons. You must be able to reef without undoing knots or shackles. You must also have on the sail you want to race with and that will be stamped with the nationals logo once it has been checked.

The other main things which are checked are the position of the sailcloth loop on the boom which must be in the right place to stop the mainsheet possibly catching a sailors head and the length of the tiller extension. It needs to be as long as possible but if it is too long you may need to saw off an inch so bring a hacksaw! Measurers are generally friendly and relaxed and Sailing-Solutions are generally parked nearby if you urgently need to buy spares.

Measurement time is reserved for Scottish Boats on Saturday between 2.30 and 4 so try to present then if you can. You can measure at other times but you will have to wait your turn.



Please do introduce yourself if you do not know anyone. It can all be quite daunting but we want everyone to feel part of our Scottish Topper family and you will be made welcome.

Last year we did hot pasta for our kids before launching and on return and we will be trying to do this again at Pwllheli. It relies on someone getting the water on at the Pagoda so please join in.

The main fleet tends to be out all day so if we share our parental responsibility turns then we should all get some sight seeing, or shopping or laundry done whilst the kids are out. The regatta fleet is much more relaxed, sails closer in and tends to stop for lunch and for breaks so Regatta Fleet parents may have to spend a lot more time in and around the dingy park - but again if we share, it is much less of a chore and it is good for the kids to get to know some different parents too.

There is a day when we will be "on duty" which means it is the turn of the Scottish Topper parents to help with launching and recovery, trolley sorting (into championship number order) and to man things like the tally board, the clothing stand and to help in the race office with messages etc. This is a really good way to get to know each other and feel part of the Scottish Topper Family.

There is a lovely sandy beach and good waves nearby for body boarding. We launch off the curved sandy beach which you can clearly see i the aeriel views on Mutimap.

See you all there, don't forget to bring some sunshine...

Graham

West Squad Summer Training Camp at Loch Earn

I am just back from three very successful and very wet days assisting Laurie and Robin with coaching our fast improving West Squad. Twelve young Topper superstars were put through their paces with everything from early morning PT to late night tactics and strategy (how do you show video analysis when the hydro have taken down all the power cables and the whole area is in complete darkness). Improvisation saved the day and movie night simply started a little late when the lights came back on.

Laurie got literally washed out of her tent in the torrential downpour of Tuesday night. Robin said "Oh was it raining last night I slept like a log" and racing on the final day was abandoned as the strong winds of the first two days finally fell away to nothing. All in all a great event, full of fun mixed with serious training and plenty of top tips. It is a measure of Laurie's coaching success that nine of these sailors will be at the UK National Championships next week.

Well done everyone. A big thank you to Loch Earn Sailing Club for being our hosts.

G.

Tarbert Loch Fyne - The inside story

Some reflections on the TLFYC Traveller which I hope was a greta success.

Firstly a big thank you to my hosts the Gray-Stephens who provided room and Board for the Foster traveling circus.

Second a big thank you to Ian for the use of First by Farr as Committee vessel. We could not have asked for a more helpful host. A 45 foot "mothership" for the Toppers to flock to and rendez-vous and a great working platform anchored on station in the right place on both days before we even had the Toppers out of the harbour.

Thirdly well done to TLFYC and all our helpers. Stepping in at a late stage to host the event when our original plans went awry was a generous move and a brave one when it transpired that most of the usual helpers where away on holiday in July but no one who did not know that story would have guessed that the regatta helpers were anything other than the "A" team, well done everybody.

Fourthly a big thank you to the Ardrishaig RIB who swelled the safety numbers on both days despite have to make a quick switch of boats mid-event. And thanks to the Ardrishaig Commodore who loaned the replacement vessel.

Thank you, young David Kent for bringing Dad in another RIB - it was really good to have that extra cover in the wild conditions of Saturday afternoon and to the crew of Animal who were also standing off the race course throughout.

And of course a big thank you to Paul, Alan and Alison (nee Fiona) for keeping me in check all weekend on the Committee Boat.

As for the racing - these are the main memories looking back.

Apologies to all for the delayed start, everything was ready to go, great course laid, nice long line for the moderate sized fleet (23 boas) and 10 degrees Port bias, no five degrees, no it's neutral, no it's Committee boat end, no its now a reaching start, ooops - has anyone seen the start mark? Try again. Same story. Try again, same story. Fortunately Ian came to the rescue with a spare anchor from First by Farr and on the fourth atempt we got what we needed, a mark that would stay still.

Race one was the Rory Kilgore show. Angus Gray-Stephens led off the start line into a short chop caused by the 24 knot North Westerley over Tarbert Bank but when he capsized at the windward mark ensnarling several competitors it was Rory who was poised to pounce, sailed around the confusion and into an impressive lead. Leading the chasing pack was Jamie Noyes who was working his socks off both upwind and down but just could not close the gap on a delighted Rory. Samantha Foster pleased Dad by posting a third.

Race 2 was quickly off with the minimum of delay to await the last few stragglers and was a rather more conventional affair. Angus did not capsize this time.


Race three was kept short to allow race four to be held immediately thereafter and was briefly delayed as we had to give CPR to Fiona Kilgore as the news was radio-ed through that Rory had broken another boom! Fortunately it was only a gooseneck this time and quickly replaced. With Gales forecast for Sunday I was following the "bird in the hand" school of race management in case Sunday was blown off. Most notable memory of this one was Alexander Still's puppy dog eyes as he crossed the line after round two with a good lead but after a long hard day at the office was clearly praying for the shorten course flag. I was having none of it however and "Chukie" had to earn his win the hard way, which he did - and in style.

So with four good races in the bag the fleet headed ashore to feast on local delicacies (and what a feast it was!) and pour over the results to date.

Angus held a small lead over Jamie with Chuckie in third, Jessica Campbell was just ahead of Sammi in fourth and fifth but the girls were facing a strong challenge from Kyle Maxwell-Cox and Jordan Black.

Sunday morning saw sailors anxiously assessing every gust and rain cloud but with conditions outside the harbour looking very sail-able races five and six were held exactly on time at 11 and 12 respecively allowing for a very respectable return to pack up by about 1.30pm and the prize-giving at 3pm. A close shave as the wind picked up to the forecast 30 plus knots just as the last Topper rounded the final leeward mark.

In the final analysis Angus could not quite overcome the fast charging Jamie and Chuckie held on for third. Jessica was a clear fourth. Sammi had a disaster at the start of race five with a detached downhaul and despite flying in the gusty and shifting conditions, taking back 15 places in one race, could not hold off Jordan and Kyle in the final reckoning.

Overall results were was listed below.

Well done TLFYC. Well done Scottish Toppers. Well done Jamie Noyes.

Next Scottish Topper event is the Scottish Topper Championships at Royal Forth in mid August.

See you all at the Nationals?

Tarbert Loch Fyne Traveller Results

Excellent Traveller at TLFYC this weekend. Lots of wind, six good races, close competition, fab food and a warm welcome.

I will make this a full report once I have had some sleep but for now here are the results:-

Main Fleet
1st 45003 ELYC Jamie Noyes
2nd 46060 TLFYC Angus Gray-Stephens
3rd 43581 RGYC Chucky Still
4th 46640 Annandale SC Jessica Campbell
5th 45419 Largs SC Kyle Maxwell-Cox
6th 45742 Loch Earn SC Jordan Black
7th 45625 Loch Tummel SC Samm Foster
8th 46575 Annandale SC Joanna Barrie
9th 45747 Loch Tummel SC Patrick Shellcock
10th 45631 Cove SC/Helensburgh SC Rory Kilgore
11th 44578 Helensburgh SC Jennifer Abraham
12th 41189 Largs SC Alastair Kent
13th 42056 Largs SC Rosalind Dunlop
14th 45409 Helensburgh SC Kae Clark
15th 44404 Loch Lomond SC Andrew Crocket
16th 43842 Largs SC Dean Malcolm
17th 46611 Largs SC Iain McLaughlan
18th 45189 Loch Tummel SC Joanne Foster
19th 9087 RNYC Jack Aitken
20th 44145 Glencoe BC/Loch Tummel SC Ruaridh Mills
21st 14575 Helensburgh SC David Abraham
22nd 46172 Largs SC Lewis Marr
Development Fleet
1st 36521 TLFYC Niall Morrison
2nd 45515 Glencoe BC/Loch Tummel SC Ryan McIntyre
3rd 36760 TLFYC Seumas Morrison
4th 45006 TLFYC Nathan Barker

Chanonry Traveller Final results

Hi Folks, here is the link to the Tarbert Traveller 2009 Results. Just clicjk the title above.

G.

Enter Now for Topper Nationals 2009

Friday 19th July is the last date to enter the Topper Nationals 2009 at the standard fee. The entries page can be accessed by clicking here.

Tarbert Traveller this Weekend

I hope everyone is ready for Traveller number six at Tarbert Loch Fyne Yacht Club this weekend 18/19th July. The traveller circuit this year is still looking wide open and last year this event had one of the best turnouts of the season. With the Topper fleet already exceeding 40 boats at two events this year we will be hoping for another excellent event this weekend.

This year it will be your own correspondent (me) as OOD so I expect to have plenty to talk about in my next blog.

Angus Gray Stephens is the host boat so should be able to help with any queries you have about accomodation, food, travel directions etc but if you can find Tarbert then you will be able to find the yacht club just before the Ferry pier. If in doubt ask anyone who was been to the Scottish Series. Sorry, let me re-phrase that - ask anyone who has been to the Scottish Series sober!

See you all there. Ps bring the midge repellent.

G.

Parkstone Nationwide

Eleven hours to Poole on Friday and guess what - it rained, and rained and rained. Consolation was that it was so misty in Poole Harbour that we could not even see the 204 Toppers as they headed off to the race course North West of Brownsea Island. Sailing in six to ten feet of water made for "interesting" wave patterns on the race course in the mixed wind conditions of between 10 and 20 mph from the South West. Unsurprisingly the black flag made an early appearance as the very competitive Topper fleet clashed with a committee boat that was swinging in the tide causing great difficulty in getting safe transits or judging where the line was likely to be in the final minute.

There was a great showing of Scottish boats and in the final reckoning it was Andrew MacGowan who was top Scot in 13th place with Angus Gray-Stephens in 22nd. Alexander Still continued his impressive season with a 49 and Sammi Foster delivered a solid performance in 82nd. Last to make the top half was Emma Palmer in 97th demonstrating just how competitive Topper racing at this level has now become.

Joanna Barrie held off the challenge of club mate Jessica Campbell as the Annandale duo recorded 112 and 122 respectively with Ian Symon in 123.

Despite missing three of the races and breaking ANOTHER BOOM Rory Kilgore posted a 154.

Aaron Murray also had a tough weekend learning the cost of the black flag but still managed 167, ahead of West Squad newcomer Andrew Crocket from Loch Lomond in 175. Welcome to the Nationwide circuit Andrew, we look forward to successes to come. Emily and Patrick rounded off the Scottish Traveling Party with disappointing results attributable to both sustaining a mixture of bailer damage, gear failure and ill health over the weekend.

At the front of the fleet it was Christopher Eames who manged to pip Michael Becket for the overall win with Alexander Alcock in third. First girl was Felicity Foulds in 10th.

For full results click here.

Well done everybody. See you at the Nationals.

G.

Jennifer's Joyful Journey

Twenty Toppers converged on Fortrose near Inverness for leg 5 of the 2009 Scottish Travellers Series at Canonry Sailing Club. In very testing conditions with lights winds over a tricky tide it was Jennifer Abraham who reigned supreme after the three races which could be completed on the Saturday. Sunday dawned bright and completely still and despite four hours of stemming the tide off Fortrose Harbour there was nothing even the best of the fleet could do but repeatedly cross the start line only to be swept back over it in the calm spells.

So Victory to Jennifer - well done and great to see a new face at the front. Let's hope this becomes a regular feature.

As for the rest, well I was not there but as news filters through it seems that Annandale sailors were rewarded for their long drive with the next two places, Joanna Barrie holding off Jessica Campbell for 2nd and third. Go the Girls.

As for details I am not sure who won race one but suspect it must have been Jennifer. Sammi took race two. Calum MacIvor and Sammi had good battle whilst leading Race three but paid the price for getting out in front when the wind completely died on the final reach leaving the unlucky pair to be swept away by the tide then filled in from behind as the middle order arrived. The new wind did eventually arrive but as the former leaders sprinted for the finish they found themselves well behind and battling to avoid double figure places at the end.

I will post a link to the results when I find them.

Next event for the squad sailors is the National Indicator/CraftInsure Nationwide at Parkstone. 200 entries so it will be a tough one for the Scots after the 500 miles to Poole. See you there?

G.

Next Event is Chanonry on 4/5 July

The Scottish Topper Traveller Series comes to Chanonry on the 4/5 July - see our web site <http://www.chanonry.org.uk> for more details. Basically there will be two fleets or classes for entrants;

1. Main Topper Fleet - 3 races per day
2. Regatta Fleet for beginners - 2 races per day

The regatta fleet will race over a short inshore course from the club start line. These will be fairly informally run with plenty of briefing and advice for competitors.

The main fleet will be racing from a committee boat start outside the cruiser moorings. Anyone who has taken part in the RYA Area Squads (e.g.
NoSSS) or been through the Start Racing course should be able to compete in this fleet but the choice is yours and we can help your decision on the day.

In addition we hope to run pre-event training on Friday the 3rd probably starting on the water at 10:00. This depends on the Topper Class providing a coach; more on that to follow.

We in the north don't often get a chance to participate in such an event at such close hand so please come along and make it very well attended so that the event will be repeated in the north in future! Please put these dates in your diaries and make plans. It would help me if you could let me know what those plans are!

Would addressees please pass this information on to anyone else that might be interested - many thanks.

If anyone has any queries please contact either Helen Jenner (01463 811080) or myself.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!


Richard
Evans
m: 07777670525
t: 01381 620746 or 01381 629009

Craftinsure Nationwide 2: Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club.

Last weekend was the 2nd Craftinsure GBR topper nationwide at Derwent Resevoir, most of the Scottish team had arrived on the Friday night and set up caravans and tents and rigged boats in order to have no stress for the first counter event this year. The competitors were briefed at 10.30 on Saturday morning and all got ready for a 12.00 start. It was blowing a consistent 15knot wind, so all the team went out with a smile on their faces. The start was, as usual, postponed and finally after a chilly hour of waiting around the race committee started the first race. The competitors spent 6hours on the water as the committee had decided to do 4 races on Saturday, as the wind was not looking promising for the next day. All four races were completed and the shattered sailors headed into shore for a well-deserved shower, which only a few lucky people got as the clubs water supply cut off and no water was supplied to the club for the rest of the night. The sailors however still managed to stay high spirited and all had a nice relaxed night enjoying the quiz the club put on and then sitting chatting until retiring for a well deserved nights sleep.

Sunday morning came too quickly for the tired team. The first race was scheduled to start at 10 and as there was a light breeze the fleet was on the water at 9.30 heading to the course. Although the wind died to almost nothing resulting in a shortened course for the 2nd start and a tricky decision for the race committee. The fleet headed in and had to wait an hour in the hot sunshine (not that anyone complained) before it was announced that all racing was abandoned! The floods of sailors jammed into the small changing rooms all rushing to get changed and get their boats packed away. The prize giving followed soon after and the winner ‘ Michael Becket’ thanked the competitors for a good weekend racing.

I think that all the Scottish team will agree with me when I say that it was a very good weekends sailing and all those who competed did very well, we ended up with a good set of Scottish results (even Ian who unfortunately didn’t complete any races due to breaking his thumb in during Race 1). To all who was there WELL DONE!

For results click here

Sammi

Brown Cup Results

Thirty nine Topper sailors gathered at Loch Earn on Monday for the annual Scottish Schools Sailing Association Championship. This year was the fiftieth anniversary event.

First place in the Topper class secondary schools event went to Alexander "chuckie" still with Emily Robertson second and Calum Tait in third. First primary school Topper went to Aaron Murray with Joanne Foster in second and Ruridh Mills in third.

The full results are available at http://www.lochearnsc.com/brown_cup.html

G.

Scottish Toppers On Top Again

Scottish Topper Squad sailor Patrick Shellcock has been showing the Seniors How It’s Done, at the Laser 3000 Nationals.

Patrick returned from the 2009 Laser 3000 Nationals at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, last weekend clutching the Junior National Champion Shield.

Sailing alongside fellow pupils from Sedberg School, Robin Shellcock (P) and Harry Batty (P), Patrick judged the Force 2 to 3 winds on Saturday brilliantly, to negotiate the very congested pre-start and secure a good position at the outset. Although a rig problem forced retirement from the first race, they came 8th and 9th in the next two races on Saturday. The next day, Patrick pulled out an even more impressive performance to enjoy what looked to the spectator’s eye to be equal 4th with two other boats, but which officially judged him as 6th. This was good enough not only to gain Sedbergh School 3rd place in the Silver Fleet, but to claim the coveted Junior Shield. Well done Patrick - perhaps you were listening during those cold winter sessions at Cumbrae! We are all proud of you.

G.

Results and Next Traveller Dates

For East Lothian Traveller Results click here

Forthcoming Events:

Loch Earn Open Training this Saturday and Sunday 13th and 14th June 2009

Brown Cup Scottish Schools Sailing Championships - Monday 15 June 2009

Topper UK Nationwide 2, Derwent Resevoir Sailing Club, 20th and 21st June 2009

East Lothian serves up a cracker!

Sorry no results available on line yet but I can tell you East Lothian served up a really smashing weekend of competition for the FORTY Toppers who took part in Scottish Topper Event 4 which took part alongside the annual multi class regatta. Classes this year included the Scottish Skiffs, Lasers, Laser Radials Optimists and RS 200's.

Fabulous Pictures by Alan Henderson available for purchase on Fotoboat.com

I can also tell you conditions were very testing, especially on Saturday with big waves following several days of prevailing North Easterlies and sudden squalls causing lots of exciting downwind pitch-poling conditions for the Skiffs.

Only two races were held on Saturday, with three more on Sunday. Andrew Macgowan was on form and dominated the Main fleet with Jamie, Emily, Alexander and Angus all doing well too. It was good to see Rory Kilgore doing well with Calum MacIver challenging hard despite the long drive from the North!

I do know that Sammi had a bad day on Saturday having to battle back from last place after missing the upwind gate in the first race and then breaking her boom just before the second.

Kyle Maxwell-Cox was well up there and Patrick Shellcock and Iain Symon are becoming more familiar faces at the front too.

I did not take my boat and spent my weekend enjoying the sunshine and ferrying the troops between Tantallaon and the sailing club!

I will look out for the results and post a link if they go up somewhere..

G.

Largs Photography by Fotoboat

Alan Henderson was at Largs last weekend following the Topper traveller and took some great photos. Check out the results on the Fotoboat by clicking here.

East Lothian Topper Traveller

East Lothian traveller this weekend. Be there or be square!

For the notice of Race, Entry Form and Event Flyer go to the East Lothian YC website by clicking here.

Briefing: 12 noon

First Race: 13.00

We did it! 40 Toppers at Largs...

Largs SC was the venue for Scottish Topper Traveller number three and 42, YES! Forty two Toppers turned out to enjoy the fun. Well done everyone.

With 36 boats opting for the Main Fleet just six were left to enjoy the closer supervision and shorter courses of the Development Fleet. In difficult conditions with a light and variable wind in the Largs Channel racing was very close. Ross MacLean found the conditions to his liking and was able to hold off the challenge of Andrew Corlett. David Elphringham was a strong third despite being chased hard by Jamie Lyon who scored two third places in the six race series. Sarah and Jono Bradford did well despite not sailing in the very calm conditions on Sunday.

For Developemnt Fleet race by race results click here.

In the Main Fleet the racing was extremely close, clearly demonstarting the effect of the excellent winter's coaching that many of these sailors have enjoyed and the considerable effort invested by all in East, West and Scottish Squads not to mention the many miles travelled to GBR, Intermediate and JDP Topper squads.

Andrew MacGowan stamped his early authority on the event by winning Race one from Jamie Noyes with Alexander Still in third and an impressive fourth for Patrick Shellcock in a steady Force 3 which proved to be by far the windiest race of the weekend. Race two saw the windspeed already dropping to single figures and Jamie turning the tables on Andrew with Angus Grey-Stephens third. This time it was Joanna Barrie posting an impressive fourth.

Race three was going largely to form until the wind dropped to almost nothing and the tide began carrying the becalmed leaders up the Clyde. The chasing pack took full advantage sailing right around the calm patch and it was Alistair Kent who pushed through to take the win closely followed by Ian MacLaughlin with Joanna Barrie showing new confidence to take third and Alexander Still fourth. With several of the early leaders choosing to throw in the towel as the tail enders breezed past hero of the hour was Andrew who had the presence of mind to stick it out, take the pain and hold on to finish 16th. Not good but good enough to hold onto first place overnight. With the forecast suggesting a flat calm, racing looked unlikely to happen on Sunday and with all three races to count those carrying a discard were left praying for wind.

Sunday morning and the early risers were all for packing up but by the 10.30 start time a light breeze was filling in and the fleet boldly set out to drift round the optimistic race officer. Patience was rewarded however and before long the fleet set off for race four in a light North Westerly, this time on the shorter triangle course. Jamie Noyes sailed off into thre distance despite later having to retire feeling unwell with Ailstair Kent taking second, Andrew third and Jessica Campbell in fourth.

With no Jamie it was left to Andrew to lead the fleet round race five this time with Kyle Maxwell-Cox in second closley followed by Jennifer Abraham and Alistair Kent showing impressive consistency in the increasingly testing conditions to take fourth.

At this point the wnd seemed to fall away altogether and the parents on shore were virtually at the point of hitching trailers and revving engines for home but the OOD had other ideas and after a further hour it was a rather a surprise to the shore crews to see the start signals for race six.

Andrew MacGowan showed remarkable determination to hold on for the win against the light weight flyers but was closely followed by Kyle, Alistarir and Jessica. Final finisher of the weekend was young Niall Ferguson in 33rd. Well done Niall.

All in all an excellent event. Brilliant sunshine for the parents, six races for the sailors. Next stop North Berwick for the East Lothian Traveller next weekend, 6th and 7th June 2009.

For full race by race results click here.
Overall Results
1. Andrew MacGowan
2. Alistair Kent
3. Alexander Still
4. Jessica Campbell

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.