http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/ International Topper Class Association (Great Britain) en-gb 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 webmaster@nospam.com hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.419.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc Hoodies are now available to order for the Sailing Solutions Topper 4.2 National Championships that are being held at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club on 15/16 June 2013. If you would like one please can you get your order in by Friday 7th June so that the Hoodies can be printed in time for the event. You can order yours by clicking on this link:Order Topper 4.2 National Championships Hoodie http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.418.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc As in previous years, we are planning to offer coaching support at the 2013 Topper World Championships in Loctudy, France. If you are NOT in the RYA National or Intermeduate Squads and are interested in coaching support at the Worlds please email sally©thebuddens.com expressing an interest.Support will include:Vital Pre-Event information on the venue etc from the Head Coach;One day Pre-Event coaching in Loctudy - probably Saturday 20th July;Daily pre-race and post-race briefings;On the water support every day.Once we have an indication of numbers we can work out the costing and book coaches.Please email your interest by 31st May.  http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.414.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc What is special about your sailing kit? Why do you chose the kit you wear, do you have a particular pair of boots, hikers, base layers, etc. that fit you better, work for you better, last longer, keep you warmer, etc. than other brands. If so the Editor of the Topper Times would love to know.I also want to know what you eat before, during and after racing, what is your diet in the week leading up to a major event? Do you have a favourite food that works for you? Do you have any recipes or meals that you would like to share with everyone else?Please send your comments with photographs if you have any to tteditor@gbrtopper.co.uk.Many thanksCaroline Randeria http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.413.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc The International Topper Class Association are seeking an International Secretary to help promote and communicate the Topper vision, develop, encourage and support its international community whilst providing the international administrative lead and support.  Please see the ITCA World website -http://www.itcaworld.org/vacancies http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.410.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc ITCA (GBR) is the Class Association for Topper sailors in the UK. We are known as "The Friendly Class", with sailors keen to welcome new members and parents and supporters who are always happy to help one another and promote good sportsmanship. We organise coaching and racing events for Topper sailors both at a regional level and nationally, and although the Topper is sailed predominantly by junior saiors we have active members of all ages in our fleet.Click here to Join Us http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.405.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc There are some great photos from February's Virtual Rigger Winter Regatta on the Virtual Rigger Facebook page here:Virtual Rigger Facebook Page  http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.404.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc Have you thought about what you might be sailing next year? If you're considering moving on from Toppers, why not try a 29er? The 29er family offers a range of routes and a wealth of opportunities:Join their Facebook page (29er UK), talk to real sailors, find out answers to your questions , make new friendsThey can put you in touch with your nearest 29er hub, anywhere in the countryThey offer Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced training – and routes into the RYA 29er Youth SquadsThey can arrange for you to try out a demonstration boatThere is always help on handSuperb exciting racing with big start lines To find out more see the links on our Youth Transition page or contact Angie Alloway at the 29er Class Association (classliason@29ersailing.org.uk). http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.403.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc The RYA has now published the final version of the Topper Squads Notice of Selection for 2013-14. These tell you who is eligible for selection, and what events are used as indicators for the squad selection team. Whether you are just starting out in a Topper or are already in one of the Zone or National squads, it's worth having a look and noting down the dates of key events in your diaries. Click on the Race Coaching and Squads menu item for more details.For selection to the 2013/14 and later squads the intension is that only the current Topper sail (blue,red and white) will be permissible as an entry requirement and that sailors will undertake to use this sail in training and events. The reason for this is to provide better coaching and racing in what is a one design class. The older Hyde sails (three fingered clew) which have been out of production for a number of years require very different sail settings and provide for inconsistent coaching across the squad.  http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.401.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc A total of 150 boats attended the Winter Regatta at Weymouth over the weekend of  9th/10th February making a great start to the 2013 Topper season.  On arrival, early on Saturday morning  we did not know what to expect with the wind as there were different forecasts, although we knew we were going to have to get well kitted up.It was really great to see so many friends again and race against them because I had not seen many of them for since well before Christmas.We eventually launched after a short postponement, it was quite windy and I was looking forward to a breezy and exciting day.  Three very good races were held on the Saturday and a further 4th race held on Sunday, after which the Race Officer took the sensible decision of abandoning sailing due to some squally weather coming through which  did make it quite exciting sailing back in. Congratulations go to Crispin Beaumont for winning the Winter Regatta overall and for everyone who came and made it a great event.  Also many thanks to the Race Officer, safety boat crews and everyone else who worked hard and made the Winter Regatta such a great weekend.  I would definitely recommend that as many people as possible try to attend the next one at Datchet Water in April.  Thomas Wallwork (Topper 47303, Championship No. 396) http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.400.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc Each year the four GBR nations of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, come together to fight for the Home Nations Trophy. This comprises teams of Lasers and Toppers from each nation competing against each other over a weekend.This year the event took place over the weekend of 2-3 February. It was the turn of Scotland to act as hosts, with the teams competing at Largs Sailing Club, Ayrshire, which is the same venue as the upcoming Youth National Championship (held at Easter). After an exciting weekend's racing in challenging conditions, England finished as overall winners, followed by Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. You can read a full race report here:Home Nations Trophy 2013 - Race ReportWell done to all who took part, and particularly to the winning Topper team of Callum Escritt, Chloe Barr, Harriet Ward, Joseph Mullan, Rhiannon Flack, and William Birch-Tomlinson.   http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.398.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc The International Topper Class is pleased to announce that we have launched our new web site.  Still the same address, but a new look and feel. The new website contains all the details for the 2013 Topper World Championships, with information about the venue, offers on ferry bookings, etc, as well as some great video links and background as to how the Topper has journeyed from it's beginnings to a top class racing dinghy.Just in case you have forgotten the address, you can find it here:www.itcaworld.org  http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.397.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc Membership subscriptions for 2013 are now due for renewal. Our Membership Fees for 2013 are:Individual:£35.00Family - First Member: £35.00Family - Other Member:  £15.00Associate:£16.00Overseas Associate:£18.00Group:£55.00Individual and Family Members are people who own or sail Toppers, and Family Members are all normally resident at the same address; Associate and Overseas Members are members who don't sail in ITCA (GBR) restricted events; and Group Members are organisations such as sailing clubs.Our fees for 2013 represent a small increase on last year's fees. We are almost entirely run by volunteers who have worked hard to keep the increase to a minimum. We hope you will agree that our Topper Class Association continues to provide excellent value via our racing and training events, our Topper Times magazine, our area organisations, and our representation of our members' interests at national and international levels. We do hope you have enjoyed your membership for the last year, and that you will renew for the year ahead. If you have any suggestions as to how we can improve what we do please feel free to contact your Area Representative or email me via the class secretary (secretary at gbrtopper.co.uk) at any time. We will be sending emails to all members over the next few days explaining how you can renew your membership for 2013.Tom Dixon, Chairman.  http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.396.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc AFerryGroups are offering a 5% discount for competitors traveling to this years Worlds in Loctudy. Decide when you want to travel and where from and also check what you expect to pay (as there might be some other deals out there). Then if you are interested contact them on 0844 576 8845 and quote reference 'ITCA 2013'.The discounts have been primarily set-up for Brittany Ferries but they can also offer the same discount on other operators.Terms and conditionsBookings are subject to the terms and conditions of the operators regarding the dimensions and type of vehicle/trailer travelling. AFerryGroups will obviously advise the association member accordingly at the time of booking and assist with the appropriate advise if any issues arise.When the association member calls and quotes the agreed reference, they will process payment for the booking via debit or credit card (2% fee for credit card payments) and send the booking and payment confirmation to the member via email. Members will then be able to quote their booking reference at the port where their tickets are issued for them. All the relevant contact details for amendments will be on the confirmation. http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.395.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc Our 2013 Annual General Meeting will be held at Grafham Water Sailing Club on Saturday 4th May. The meeting will start after sailing has finished in the Crewsaver 5.3 5.3 Inland Championships and the Sailing Solutions 4.2 National Series 3. An Agenda will be published in due course. http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.379.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc Topper Times is looking for some good photographs of the Olympic or Paralympic Sailing. If you have taken any, please can you forward them to the Topper Times editor (tteditor at gbrtopper.co.uk)?Also, we are looking to update the photos that we use on the news items of our website. If anyone has any good photos from any of this year's major events that they don't mind being displayed against our news items from time to time please can you send them to webmaster at gbrtopper.co.uk (ideally less than 500kb for the website).Thanks. http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.374.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc The National Schools Sailing Association has announced that the 2013 NSSA National Youth Regatta will be held at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club between 21st and 27th July. The event is open to sailors under the age of 19 on 31 August 2013.You can find more information on the NSSA website here: http://www.nssa.org.uk http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.352.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc The minutes of the 2012 Annual General Meeting are now available to download (here and from the Downloads page). http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.348.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc The ITCA accounts for the year ended 31 October 2011 are now available to download from the Downloads section of the web site. Pleae note that these are only visible to members, so you need to be logged in to see them. http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.308.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc                                              Topper International Ltd have launched a new loyalty card for their customers.The TOPPER CLUB CARD will entitle members to discounted parts and accessories on all TOPPER SHOP products and give you the opportunity to enter exclusive promotions and competitions throughout the year. In these tough economic times it is a great way to reward boat owners and loyal customers. Membership is FREE. You can register for your card on the Topper website http://www.gbrtopper.co.uk/news.php?item.306.1 2013-05-20T07:31:09+01:00 Website Administrator Misc With the ever increasing number of motor homes/caravans on the Topper circuit we tryi to keep an up to date mailing list of “owners”.  If you would like to go on the mailing list for information on where to park at events etc please could you send your email address to squads©gbrtopper.co.uk. If you have any queries regarding motorhomes at national events please contact Carol Williams - squads©gbrtopper.co.uk