Scotish Toppers Website Re-launched

The Scottish Toppers web site has been re-launched. Run by Topper sailors for Topper sailors this site is a mine of information on all matters Topper in Scotland. This will also be the site to access full event details, link to entry forms and check those results...

Click here to access the site.

Book now for ITCA Open Topper Training at Annandale

There will be an open ITCA coaching weekend at Annandale Sailing Club on 28th Feb and 1st March 2009.

The training is open to all Topper sailors, from those who can sail around a triangular course and would like to learn to race around one to those aspiring to win a Topper Nationwide event this year.

In particular these open training events aim to encourage club sailors to gain the confidence they need to join the Scottish Travellers Trophy Series (see previous post below), the first event of which is back at Annandale in early April.

Places are limited to 20 so book now by e-mail to Scottish Area Topper Rep Liz Palmer. 

ITCA Winter Regatta at Weymouth - Results

Despite the poor forecast five races were completed with victory going to a dominant Felicity Foulds who finished first in all five!

Full results are available here.

Topper Winter Championships

Time to wish good luck to Iain, Andrew and Emma who will be flying the Saltire for Scotland this weekend at the Topper Winter Championships in Weymouth Bay.  Sailing from the National Sailing Academy at Portland which is the venue for the 2012 Olympics our brave warriors will need to hope for more wind than is currently forecast or it will be a weekend of cold drifting...

Watch out for results on GBRtopper.co.uk or possibly Sailracer

Area Squad News

A good turnout of young Topper stars of the future braved the blizzards on 7th and 8th February at Port Edgar for the first East Squad of 2009. Saturday proved an excellent day despite the cold start although Sunday was a little too still for sailing and the coaches were left running plans B, C and D instead. Well done all.

Next East Squad date is March 8th and 9th at Port Edgar.

Next West Squad is March 14th and 15th at Loch Lomond. Details and application forms on the rya website. Closing date for forms to reach the RYA office is Friday 27th February.

Next North Squad is also March 14th and 15th but at Chanonry. Details and application forms on the rya website. Closing date for forms to reach the RYA office is 7th March.

keep up the good work all you Topper sailors and coaches...

RYA Zone Championships 2009

The 2009 Volvo RYA Zone and Home Country Championships will be held on 26 and 27 September 2009.

The RYA Zone Championships are probably the most important event of the year for Junior sailors hoping to qualify for any of the RYA Junior Squads. (In Scotland - Optimist, Topper, Feva, Windsurfer). Racing takes place in every RYA "Zone" or "Home Country" on the same weekend all across the UK.

"They (the Zone Championships) will constitute a crucial part of the competition calendar and form the focal point of all the individual zone/home country activities" says the RYA. Aspiring members of the 2009/10 Scottish Topper squad should have this event in their diaries now. The venue will be confimed later in the year, the most recent venues having been Loch Vennacher in 2007 and Largs in 2008.

Entry will open in May 2009 by going to www.ryaracingevents.org.uk

Scottish Topper Traveller Series 2009 - Update

Here is the updated traveller list for 2009. It looks like a great series across a good range of venues. Lets hope for lots of entries, great winds and perhaps even a little sunshine! Those events which will form the Inlands and the Area Championship will be announced in due course. As there are 9 events listed 5 from 9 will count.

4/5 April Annandale Sailing Club Traveller 1

25/26 April Loch Venacher Sailing Club Traveller 2

30/31 May Largs Sailing Club Traveller 3

6/7 June East Lothian Yacht Club Traveller 4

4/5 July Chanonry Sailing Club Traveller 5

18/19 July Tarbert Loch Fyne Yacht Club Traveller 6

15/16 August Royal Forth Yacht Club Traveller 7

12/13 September Prestwick Sailing Club Traveller 8

19/20 September Loch Tummel Sailing Club Traveller 9

West Squad at Annandale

Twenty Eight young sailors gathered at a very cold Annandale Sailing Club for West Squad Training on January 31st and February 1st. Head Coach Laurie Marsden set a professional tone with a squad fitness session (mud bath) before introducing the young sailors to the key skills of succussful big fleet starts. There then followed a series of short on the water practical sessions each designed to practice those key skills.

With temperatures hovering just above zero and a fresh and gusting breeze which found more than few sailors testing the icy waters of the Castle Loch, all were very grateful for the exceptional welcome provided by the Annandale SC members, especially the kitchen staff who provided a steady stream of hot chocolate and some fantastic hot food all served with a smile.

Sunday morning brought good news and bad. The mud problem was no more because the ground was frozen solid and coach Laurie wisely opted for a more "theoretical" warm up in the comfort of the clubhouse. This was followed by more practical exercises on the water and with a lighter breeze there were fewer issues for the volunteers in the safety boats although the shifty wind still led to an occasional early bath.  Click here for more pictures

After another excellent hot lunch it was time to "put it all together" and Sunday afternoon was spent on a series of practice starts and short races which kept everyone on their toes. The team prize went to "little bow peep and his sheep" who were judged to have held the best lanes after each start.

After a final debrief and some top weather tips from Emma the tired sailors headed home for a well earned rest. We are all looking forward to the next West Squad weekend on 14/15 March and will be watching the RYA Scotland web site for details. http://www.ryascotland.org.uk/racingsct/Pages/areasquads.aspx