Update 18:45: The problem with the e-mailing of Entry Forms is now resolved - all sailors entered for this event should receive an entry form this evening to print, sign and bring to registration. If you do not receive a form tonight then please contact secretary@gbrtopper.co.uk

Our apologies, but there has been some problems with the e-mailing of Entry Forms that sailors bring with them for Largs this weekend. We are working on the issue at the moment and hope to have it resolved shortly when we will mail out the forms again to all sailors who are registered for entry. In the meantime, please don't contact the office as we are aware of the problem. We will update this News thread with further information once we know more.

Please note that the ITCA (GBR) office will be closed from Monday 23rd August until Tuesday 31st 2010. Anyone wanting a Championship number for the Zone Championships needs to join online and contact secretary@gbrtopper.co.uk before Thursday 19th August otherwise they will have to wait until after 1st September to receive a number.

Those sailors travelling out to Lake Garda for the GUL Topper World Championships 2010 should check the ITCA website regularly before leaving home for the latest news.

Some details have just been posted today regarding timing of the registration, measurement and opening ceremony.

Dates for the 29er Class Association Open Training including the RYA Transition Training Selectors throughout the Winter 2010/2011 are now available.

A booking form (with all of the dates) is available by following this link. Bookings must be received at least 21 days prior to each training. The first is on September 4/5 at Grafham, so don't delay in making your booking.

Details on the RYA Transition Selection process can be found by following this link.

Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club have sent a message to say 'thank you' on behalf of the Wales Air Ambulance for £105.52 raised by the Topper Class sailors and families during the National Championships.

Some members have been experiencing problems (slow or no reponse) when registering for events (such as the next National Series event in Largs). This has been due an on-going migration of the Sailracer servers (Sailracer handle all event entries, results etc. for us). It is expected that the migration will be completed by the end of next week, but in the meantime if the system seems to be slow or not responding we appreciate your patience whilst this work is completed.

Due to this we have extended the date before the late entry fee is applied on the National Series 4 at Largs SC to the 4th September in order that those sailors going to the World Champiosnhips will have time to enter on their return.

In addition we are not able to process new memberships until the end of August, however anyone wishing to sign up can contact secretary@gbrtopper.co.uk - particularly if you require a Championship Number for the National Series 4 at Largs SC and Susan will issue you with a number.

As usual for a large event there are a number of lost and found items from the National Championships at Pwllheli SC. Lost and found items can be placed in the Classified Ads section to hopefully get re-united with their owners. There are a number of such ads that will be placed in the relevent section over the coming few days. Members can create a login to the website to add their own items or send descriptions to webmaster@gbrtopper.co.uk and it will be added for you.

The Topper 4.2 is going from strength to strength. This year saw a very successful National Series and an excellent National Championships, both sponsored by Sailing Solutions.

The 2010/11 season will bring further developments, the first of which is that all Topper 4.2 National Series events will be run using separate courses to the 5.3 fleet, aiming to give more, shorter races each day.

Building on the success of the Topper 4.2 Nationals at Leigh and Lowton, where there was an entry of 43 boats, there will again be a stand-alone Topper 4.2 Nationals where we hope to break the 50 boat barrier and would like to make 75. As before, those normally sailing a 5.3 are welcome to see if they can beat the regular 4.2 sailors. An announcement on National Series venues will be made shortly.

The Topper 4.2 National Squad, under the guidance of Head Coach Dave Cockerill, has also been a huge success, bringing on younger and lighter sailors quickly and ensuring they learn skills rather than struggle on windy days. Applications for the 2010/11 Topper 4.2 National Squad are open (click here to download application form) and the second and final indicator event will take place at Carsington Sailing Club on 16 and 17 October, coincident with Craftinsure National Series 5, but using a separate course.

The ITCA (GBR) office will be closed during the Topper National Championships. As such it will not be possible to respond to any e-mails or messages until after the 2nd August.

Rachel Scarfe was a Topper sailor a few years ago and has since progressed into keel boats and is now in the British Keelboat Academy National Squad.

She hit the news recenty as one of a crew of three aboard the J-109 "Jeez Louise" that was involved in a rescue of a crew member from another yacht in the Irish Sea during deteriorating conditions.

Click here to read the rest of the story and see how sailing a Topper today can build the life skills needed for the rest of your sailing future...

All sailors will receive a Competitors Handbook at registration, but this year we have also made it available to download so that you can plan your arrival and know the unloading, trailer, boat park and other arrangements before setting off. Visit the new National Championships website and select the Noticeboard tab to download this and any of the event documents.

Also remember to visit the National Championships website regularly before you depart and if possible whilst at the event to read the blog, download new documents and notices, view protest information and results (key information will also be projected in the bar area). And don't forget to sign up for your SMS package on the website that will send information directly to your mobile phone (see earlier news article).

The ITCA (GBR) AGM will take place at Pwllheli Sailing Club on Monday 2nd August at 19:00 - we hope that as many members as possible will attend - the AGM will include a sailors discussion on key topics so you have an opportunity to shape the class going forward. Click here to download the AGM.

As many of you who were at the National Championships last year will know the blog proved a very popular way of keeping up to speed as events unfolded. This year it will be bigger and better (see below), but needs your help. Each Area is nominating a person to help with the blog, but we need more. The plan is to have one or two people each day updating the blog with information received from the race office and bridge and other snippets of information from various people on the water or around the sailing club (it’s very simple – just like typing an e-mail). We also have the possibility of placing a person on the Press Rib each day who could phone in information and maybe take a few photos or video we can upload later. If you could help us build the blog in one way or another please e-mail webmaster@gbrtopper.co.uk with your details, what you would be prepared to do, whether you have a laptop you can use if you are able to update the blog and which days you can help. We will then put together a rota of people. We plan to give some instructions on how to blog, probably on the Friday or Saturday before the event, but if you are not there at these times we can cover this on your nominated day.

ITCA (GBR) is pleased to announce that this year, building on the blog that was run last year, we have created a dedicated website for the National Championships.

The new website hosts all of the information that sailors and supporters will need over the course of the Championships, including a regularly updated blog, fleet status, all sailing instructions and changes to instructions and all protests including times and locations. There will also be a rolling screen in the bar area at Pwllheli Sailing Club (like last year) with most of the same information. Click here to access the new National Championships website.

In addition to the website, we have introduced SMS technology so you can get results straight to a mobile phone in one of two packages:

Race results:

- Summary of race results straight to your mobile in real time as they are published by the Race Office
- Podium series overalls
- Race position for nominated sailor (you decide who to follow when signing-up)
- Overall position for nominated sailor

Race results and protest/notices:

- All the above, plus
- Any protests involving the nominated sailor and the time and place of the protest hearing
- Official race notices

The cost of the SMS package (for the whole week) is just £5.00 for the results or £7.50 for the results and additional protest information and official race notices. To subscribe to the SMS package of your choice, go to the new National Championships website and click the big button on the right "Register for Race Alerts" and follow the instructions – payment is similar to on-line entry and is made by debit/credit card.

There are still some spaces on the Committee and Finish boats for the Topper National Championships. This is a very valuable, rewarding and often fun job. You need to have good concentration and be a team player. Anyone who is interested in helping all of the sailors, including of course their own, please contact Susan Wellerd as soon as possible.