Hoodies are now available for this year's Sailing Solutions Topper 4.2 National Championships. You can order yours by clicking on the following link:

4.2 Nationals Hoodies

We are putting together a package for pre-event training and event support at the Topper 5.3 Worlds in Workum and trying to establish the numbers involved.  Please can anyone interested contact Carol Williams at [email protected] for further details.

For anyone planning to go to the Wales Area Championships, please note that the date has changed to 23/24 June. The venue remains Llandegfedd SC. More details are available here.

The 420 Class Association will be present at the Inlands to answer questions for those looking to move on from Toppers this summer. Transition Squad sailor James Taylor (age 15) and the Class Association Chairman Jackie Taylor will be there to answer questions people may have about 420s.

The class is now running 3 days of Class training at Torbay YC, where the 420 Natioanls are being held. This is in the June half-term week just before our Largs event, and they can accommodate people who may just want to do a day or so as they are hoping to attract some potential newcomers to their fleet.

If you are interested you can find more information by clicking here - 420 Training Events.

There is also an information leaflet about transitioning to a 420 here - 420 leaflet.

Jonny McGovern, the 420 Transition Squad coach, has put together a 420 introduction video that you can find here - 420 Introduction Video.

The NoR and SSIs for the Sailing Solutions 4.2 National Series 3 at Grafham this weekend have now been posted with the event documents.

If you are arriving at the Inlands on Friday there will be a  Fish & Chips van outside the Club on Friday evening. The club is also laying on dinners on Saturday night. Saturday night dinners can be booked at registration, and there is a choice of:

Lasagne, Garlic Bread and Salad; or
Chicken Tikka with Rice and Poppadom; and
Apple Pie & Custard.

The cost is £9 per meal, and meals will be served downstairs in the clubhouse from 17.30 - 18.30.

We are running free Topper taster sessions at the Inlands on the 5/6^th of May. This is aimed at younger siblings or sailors who have not yet tried a Topper. The sessions are being run by Adam Millington who is one of our qualified coaches and will be available on Saturday from 12 till 4pm and on Sunday if wanted. Sessions will start on the lawn in front of the clubhouse and there will be a choice of 4.2 and 5.3 rigs for you to try. So if you’re interested, bring some kit and come and have a go!

For any other information please contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

If you are thinking ahead to the 2013 Inland Championships at Grafham Water on 4th/5th May 2013, and would like to book your motor home into the Grafham Water site, please can you email the Squads Administrator Carol Williams to request a place. Please DO NOT contact the club directly. 

Please note that this only applies to motor home bookings. Camping should be booked direct with the club.
Thanks 

Do you have a spare Topper? Will you be at the Inland Championships?

We are seeking three older Toppers to allow new sailors a chance to experience a brief sailing session  at the Inlands. We are already borrowing three club boats and have access to both 5.3 and 4.2 sails, but would like to have up to three more boats available.

f you can help please contact Andy Millington ([email protected]) or Tom Dixon ([email protected]). Thanks.

Well done to everyone who sailed at Datchet Water in National Series 1. The photos from the weekend are now available for you to browse and order online, in a variety of different styles. You can find them here: 

Pics from Craftinsure NS1 at DWSC

The International Topper Class Association is pleased to announce that the 2012 Topper World Championships will be held at the Sailing Club Workum, in the Netherlands, from August 19th to 24th. Since 1985 Workum has been a well-known spot in the International Sailing World and its reputation has increased because of its detailed organisation of many sailing events and championships, including the 2002 Topper World Championships. The Sailing Club is supported by a large number of volunteers with skill and enthusiasm and its facilities and location allow the organisation of a great event. Entries are now open, and you can find more details by following the link from Major Event Notices.

This year's Topper 5.3 Inland Championships and the Sailing Solutions 2011/12 Topper 4.2 National Series 3 are being held at Grafham Water over the weekend of 5th/6th May. If you are thinking of coming and haven't already entered, please note that we have extended the deadline for the Late Enry Fee. The Late Entry Fee of £76 per entry will now apply from Monday 23rd April.

We are now taking orders for 2012 Inlands Hoodies. If you would like to order one, please can you do so by contacting Susan in the office by noon on Monday 23rd April. You can find details of how to order your hoodie here:

2012 Inlands Hoodie Order Details

At the next AGM which will be at the Inlands at Grafham on Saturday 5^th May, we will ask all members to vote on an updated constitution. This is an important document which governs how we operate as a class but is rarely looked at and we have sought to adapt it to reflect what actually happens in the day to day running of the association.

The changes are not radical and the existing one can still be found at the top of the Class Rules page of the website, but it does incorporate various updates which we hope will be approved by the membership to allow the Topper Class Association to build on the successes achieved to date.

The proposed revised constitution can be found here: 

Proposed Revised Constituion 

In summary the changes are:-

2.1 a)            Objects – we have added in reference to the Topper 4.2

3.1)            Membership – we have adapted this to represent how we ask you to join, but also added Honorary Members (more below)

3.2)         We have updated the communication to reflect email but allow for future alternatives

5)    National Committee - we have adapted membership of the National Committee to reflect both a wider sharing of the workload and that sailors are moving through the class more quickly which means people are not always around for very long, despite many now starting with the 4.2 rig.

We have also sought to regularise situation where we have National Committee members whose sailors have moved on but they are still active by creating Honorary Membership when they serve on the National Committee. This currently applies to Andy Millington (Ribmaster).

We have debated incorporating Sailor Reps as a separate category but they can join the National Committee now so rather than create yet another category we will be asking you as sailors if you want to play an active part in running the association by joining the committee.

The other changes are minor grammatical or gender corrections.

The full agenda for the AGM can be found here:

AGM 2012 Agenda

If you have any comments ahead of the AGM please raise them either through Tom Dixon (Chairman) or Susan Wellard (Secretary).

Please pay special heed to the SSIs 18 and 27:

18 - BUOYANCY AIDS & CLOTHING - Please be aware that in order to comply with Thames Water requirements, competitors and their supporters MUST wear personal buoyancy aids when on the 'beach area' and on pontoons. All competitors must wear whilst afloat a full Wetsuit or Dry Suit with appropriate thermal undergarments.

27 - BOUNDS - Please also note that the path around the reservoir, including the pier and water towers, are out of bounds. Competitors and their supportors must not board them.

Entries for Craftinsure National Series 1 at Datchet Water are now closed. If anyone wishes to make a last minute entry please can they contact the class secretary (Susan).