Update 04/02/10: Don't forget, you must register by the 6th February if you wish to compete in either the Magic Marine Winter Regatta or the Topper 4.2 National Series 1, otherwise a late entry fee will be charged.

Update 03/02/10: A new set of Major Event Sailing Instructions (MESIs) has been published for 2010 that supersedes the Standard Sailing Instructions. These MESIs will be used for all National events starting with the Winter Regatta. They are posted on the Class Rules page and in the relevant Download area or can be accessed here.

The Notice of Race for the Topper 4.2 National Series 1 has been posted in the documents area for this event - go to the menu Enter Events, choose the appropriate event and then go to the menu Event Documents. Further information about the Topper 4.2 Class and National Series can be found here. The NoR for the Winter Regatta (5.3 rig) will be posted shortly.

Update 29/01/10: A late entry fee will be charged from the 6th February for this event, so do make sure that you enter before that date to avoid the additional fee.

Update 28/01/10: A number of sailors who registered early for this event were not asked for their Championship number - could you please check whether whether your Championship number is against your entry (go through Enter Events and you can look at the entries). If not then please login to the event with the details sent to you when you registered for the event and amend your entry.

Also please note that the original Magic Marine Winter Regatta as advertised is for the full 5.3 rig only - sailors should reef if they cannot handle the conditions rather than change to a 4.2 sail. Alongside this event the first of the new Topper 4.2 National Series is being run (further details about this new National Series will be announced shortly) and so all 4.2 sailors should enter this event. There are two separate events when you go to Enter Events.

Update 25/01/10:Accommodation is available at Rutland SC in bunk rooms within the clubhouse. The cost is £13 per night for a bed in a room with a shower or £11 without. Accommodation should be booked direct with the club office on 01780 720292 or by e-mail at sailing@rutlandsc.co.uk. Please also note that dogs are not allowed on site, either in cars or on leads. Please park in the lane outside the club if you plan to bring a dog to the event. Rutland SC also request that children under 15 must not be left unsupervised at any time on the site.

The Magic Marine Winter Regatta is now just over four weeks away and preparations are well in hand for what should be a great event to blow away the winter cobwebs. With this event being in February, Rutland SC have asked us to make you aware of the following:

Campervans and motorhomes may NOT be kept/left on site overnight and camping or overnight sleeping in cars is also not allowed - this is a restriction in Rutland SC's lease from Anglian Water and so please don't put the club in a difficult position by trying to stay on-site. In addition, Rutland SC strongly request that visitors do not park in the road approaching the club as this is the access for ambulances etc. and they will be in serious trouble if this road is not kept free. The campsite at Greetham is open at this time of year for anyone with a motorhome or campervan (or even a tent if you don't feel the cold!) and is only about 10 miles from the club - details can be found at www.rutlandcaravanandcamping.co.uk.

Campervans and motorhomes will be allowed on site during the day but will be parked at the far end of the site. To avoid potenial problems, visitors are requested to leave their motorhomes at home if at all possible. As Rutland SC's own camping field is not open for this event they are very restricted for space for cars and trailers and appreciate your cooperation in obeying any parking instructions when you arrive at the club.

Also, for any members from 2009, please remember that if you plan on competing in this event you must renew your membership for 2010 using the new on-line membership system before you can take part - see an earlier News item or the Membership page.

ITCA (GBR) has announced that in 2010 it will promote the Topper with the 4.2 rig as a separate class to the full 5.3 rig. The new Topper 4.2 Class will have its own National Series that will run alongside the well established Craftinsure National Series for the full rig. Although taking place on the same weekends, the 4.2s will have their own event on separate courses. Further, there will be a separate Topper 4.2 National Championship open to any sailor using a 4.2 rig.

The dates for the 2010 Topper 4.2 National Series are:

 - February 20th/21st - Rutland Water Sailing Club
 - April 17th/18th - Datchet Reservoir Sailing Club
 - May 1st/2nd - Grafham Water Sailing Club
 - June 5th/6th - Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club
 - July 10th/11th - Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy

The Topper 4.2 2010 National Championship will be held at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club on the 17th/18th July.

Lighter sailors are strongly encouraged to enter these events using the 4.2 rig where good quality, close racing is guaranteed. 

Last year, the first Topper 4.2 National Squad was selected and will be training over the winter under the guidance of Dave Cockerill, ably assisted by Nikki Sharp and Andy Millington. Later this year the selection criteria for the 2010/11 Topper 4.2 National Squad will be announced. The squad is generously sponsored by Topper International. You will see their squad jackets and buoyancy aid badges at the big events.

The 2009/10 Topper 4.2 National Squad is:

Abi Easton; Alistair Smith; Ella Methven; Halden Nielson-Timms; James Chasty; James Williams; Joanna Foster; Joseph Mullan; Katie Rollinson; Luke Berry; Miles Weekes; Niall Houston; Rory Humphries; Simon Weatherspoon

Full details about the Topper 4.2 Class and why it has been formed along with information about the Topper 4.2 National Squad can be found here.

If you are looking for another event to take part in over the winter, then Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club are holding their annual Open Junior Winter Regatta on Saturday 27th February.

All Junior Monohull sailors are welcome and parental support will be looked after in our clubhouse with the Galley and new WiFi access.

Leigh & Lowton SC are looking forward to welcoming everyone to this event - please email timyeates@btinternet.com if you need further details or keep an eye on the website www.llsc.org.uk.

Please note that an Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at Rutland Sailing Club on 20th February 2010 (time to be arranged subject to sailing). The single item for the agenda is to change the dates of the ITCA (GBR) Financial Year.

Magic Marine has confirmed their continued commitment for 2010, as title sponsor of the ITCA (GBR) Winter Regatta, Inland Championships and Nationals Championships.

Alex Hopson, Head of UK Marketing for Magic Marine, commented: “We have enjoyed a strong relationship with the Topper class over several years and we are delighted to continue to develop the relationship. It’s great to be involved with a junior class which just seems to go from strength to strength - watching 345 sailors launching at the Nationals last year was fantastic; how could we not be part of that!”

Magic Marine sponsored the very first Winter Regatta last year after it was added to the calendar following requests from the fleet who were anxious to put winter training into effect ahead of the start of the main racing season. This year’s regatta is being held at Rutland SC on 20th/21st February.

The Magic Marine Inlands and Nationals are the two largest events in the calendar, which between them attract over 600 sailors and their families.

Charles Glover, ITCA (GBR) Chairman, is delighted with the arrangement, saying: “To have such a strong relationship with one of the world’s leading brands in technical sailing gear is fantastic for the class and is a clear demonstration of their commitment to junior sailing in the UK”.

Magic Marine have an extensive range of buoyancy aids, wetsuits, hikers, drysuits, boots, gloves, spray tops, bags and other accessories, all of which are widely available.

Due to a move of our son into the Laser 4.7 we will no longer need the accommodation we booked in Pwllheli for the National Championships.

It is a one bedroom apartment in a lovely Georgian house with a double sofa bed in the lounge. We stayed there last year and can confirm that it is very good with excellent facilities and close to the club. You can see it from the dinghy park.

If anyone would like to know more details they can contact Julie Harris on 01405 861650 or email at julietwotacks@aol.com.

All ITCA (GBR) members can access the members only area of the website allowing you to place advertisements, submit news and access back copies of the Topper Times for example, but to do so you must create a login to the website. This is easily done by scrolling down the page until on the left hand side you see the box entitled Welcome, and then in that box selecting Signup. Simply follow the instructions to register your details and you will be sent a validation e-mail that you must respond to - this will activate the account - do check that this e-mail doesn't get trapped by any SPAM filter you may be running.

Please note the instructions for registering carefully - the login that you create must include your current ITCA (GBR) membership number - this can be found on the back of your membership card or if you have joined or renewed using the on-line membership it will be in the e-mail you received. This is not the same as any Championship number you may have been assigned. If the membership number is not used during sign up, unfortunately your registration to the website will be refused.

If you need any assistance registering, please contact the Webmaster.

Our new on-line membership system for the Topper Class Association, developed in partnership with Sailracer, has now gone live. Both new sailors to the Class and all existing members are now able to sign-up and pay by debit/credit card for their membership on-line.

The new system offers much better management of the membership database and enables all members to quickly update their own details as and when they change, making sure that all communications continue to reach them without interruption. Once the main account is created, new sailors in the family can be readily added as and when they start sailing a Topper. The new system also brings a more integrated approach to event entry starting with the Winter Regatta.

There is a comprehensive guide to using the new system before you start entering details and there are a number of tips for various fields as you complete the forms. To join the Class or renew your Class membership, click here or go to the Membership page on the website.

2009 Members: Please note that you need to use the new on-line membership system to renew your ITCA (GBR) Membership for 2010 - all previous methods of renewal have been superseded by the new system. All 2009 members who wish to renew their membership in 2010 must use the same process as a new member in order to renew for 2010. There is no existing record in the database for any 2009 member. When you renew in this way it ensures that we gather your latest information into the database so that we will have full and complete up-to-date records for all our members. In subsequent years (2011 and beyond) any existing members will be able to renew using the details that have been entered the previous year(s). All 2009 members renewing by the 19th February 2010 will be able to retain their Championship Numbers (if they were assigned one) for the year. Existing Championship numbers should be entered into the on-line form where requested. Any 2009 members that do not renew their membership by the 19th February will have their Championship numbers re-assigned and so will have to request new numbers if they subsequently wish to enter any National Class Association event. Entrants for the Magic Marine Winter Regatta on the 20th/21st February must have renewed their membership for 2010 (and hence retained their Championship numbers) to take part in that event.

If you have any questions, please contact Susan Wellerd or the Webmaster.

Although it's still a few months away, please note that all campervan / motorhome spaces for the very popular Magic Marine Inland Championships taking place in May at Grafham Water Sailing Club have already been booked. There is a waiting list being held by the club if you would like to add your name to it but those with campervans / motorhomes who have not already booked are advised to make alternative arrangements as unofficial overnight stays are not allowed.

There are still some tent spaces available and these should be booked in advance through the club as again unofficial overnight stays are not allowed.

Earlier this year, the Eric Twiname Memorial Trust was generously assigned the author's copyright of 'Start to Win', written by Eric Twiname in 1973. Out of print for over 20 years, Adlard Coles (now Adlard Coles Nautical, part of A & C Black Publishers) have recently republished this classic - now in its 3rd Edition and substantially re-designed, with a Foreward by Ben Ainslie and an updated Rules section by Bryan Willis to accord with the 2009-2012 ISAF Rules.

Despite the passage of time 'Start to Win' has undoubtedly retained its position as the book on simple racing principles, written as it was specifically for the benefit of the ordinary dinghy sailor. As such it manages to remove much of the mystique of racing sailing and assists helmsmen to improve their skills and tactical ability. There is arguably nothing else that sets out the techniques of sailing in such a clear, understandable and straightforward manner. 'Start to Win' has been welcomed back by its many followers, and will no doubt be read for the first time by many more. This classic, which complements 'The Rules Book' also written by Eric Twiname and revised by Bryan Willis for the 2009-2012 rules, is set to help sailors achieve their racing best for many years to come.

Royalties from 'Start to Win' go to the Eric Twiname Memorial Trust, which was set up in 1980 in order to perpetuate Eric’s memory and to enable his many and diverse sailing interests to continue. It became a registered charity in 1991 with the primary objective of providing funding or equipment that will assist those in full-time education at schools and universities in the United Kingdom to sail or yacht race, with the emphasis being directed towards youth. Purchase of this book will therefore assist the Trust with its invaluable support for youth racing sailing, which includes bursaries for juniors on starter courses, the on-going provision of support RIBS for all nine national youth classes (including of course Toppers), the funding of dinghies for training purposes for sailing associations and clubs, and the financing of national championship events. For further information please visit our website www.erictwinametrust.org.

'Start to Win' is available from Adlard Coles Nautical (discount price £15.29) and through most nautical booksellers, as well as Amazon.

The biggest Open Dinghy Winter Series in the UK was put on hold for Sunday 10th January due to the arrival of deep freeze conditions from Siberia. Some keen sailors could not accept the official abandonment and decided that the conditions were just about perfect to dust off some Ice Yachts. It has to be remembered that this sort of activity must only be undertaken by experienced sailors, the ice was test drilled for depth and all the safety equipment was on hand in addition to a full backup shore team that was experienced enough to cope with any emergency. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!

So here was West Zone Topper & top 420 coach Neil Marsden practising his other great yachting passion – he usually has to go to Norway, Poland or Russia to get the right conditions so was pleased to get the opportunity close to home. Neil did a couple of circuits of the lake at tremendous speed and word got out amongst a few other members who, after some tuition were able to take the helm themselves. Bryn (I’ve never sailed a boat in my life) Griffiths decided it looked like his favourite pastime of motor-racing and persuaded Neil to let him have a bash, after watching him come ashore with a beaming smile & saying “I’ll have to get one of these” other local sailors including Tom Keegan, Mike Dean & Mike Barnes decided if he could do it then so could they. Thankfully it was a member of Neil’s family that misjudged a mark rounding and crashed the yacht at full belt into one of the marker buoys that was firmly set in the ice – a bit of ingenuity and gaffer tape soon put it back into action. 

Having weighed up the competition Neil put out a challenge to all prepared to have a go. Hence the inaugural Leigh & Lowton SC Ice Yachting Challenge was launched. A windward-leeward course between Marks 8 and 3 was set with 2 laps to be sailed and times recorded.

Neil, having confidently set a target time of 3 minutes 58 seconds, was nearly left having to look for excuses as local teenager Tom Keegan clocked a time of 4 minutes and 6 seconds. Times recorded for the rest of the team below.

After the racing, two of the local Zone squaddies Hadyn Griffiths and Chris Barnes had a bash. How many of their mates at school will be able to say they went ice yachting at the weekend? 

Neil had difficulty getting the ice yachts back off Tom and Bryn such was their enthusiasm to get more practise, we can say with confidence that both are scouring eBay for any that may come on the market!! 

Next Ice Yachting event at Leigh & Lowton – well we’ll just have to wait and see but there will be an attempt to kick-start the Tipsy Icicle Winter Series next Sunday 17th January.

Check out the action on these two videos on Youtube and Yahoo Video and click on the image in the top left of this News item for a superb high resolution photo.

RESULTS:

1st Neil Marsden 3 min 58 seconds
2nd Tom Keegan 4 06
3rd Malcolm Marsden 4 55
4th Hannah Marsden 6 02
5th Mike Barnes 6 13
6th Mike Dean 7 54
7th Paul Reid 10 19
8th Bryn Griffiths 10 23
9th Robin Marsden 14 23

- Tim Yeates -

ITCA (GBR) is in the process of organising safety cover for the 2010 National events and beyond - that is the five National Series events, the National Championships and the Inland and Winter Championships.

The Topper class has been growing rapidly over the past few years and this year we expect to have 200+ boats at most of the National events and 300+ at the National Championships. This means an increased number of safety boats are needed if we are to continue with such strong fleet racing.

Whether you are a long standing member or just joining the class, if you have a rib and are willing to volunteer to bring it to some of these events to support the Topper fleet, then our ribmaster, Andy Millington, would like to hear from you and can explain more about what is involved - please contact Andy at ribmaster@gbrtopper.co.uk.

ITCA (GBR) has nearly completed a move to an on-line membership system for 2010. This will mean that new members will be able to sign-up and pay to join the Class Association on-line and all existing members will be able to renew and pay for their annual membership on-line.

The new system will offer much better management of the membership database and ensure that all members can quickly update their own details as and when they change, making sure that all communications continue to reach them without interruptions. The new system will also offer the possibility of a more integrated approach to entering events.

The new membership system will be going live within the next couple of weeks and more information about how to renew your membership for 2010 or sign-up as a new member will be posted at that time.

A Happy New Sailing Year to all our Members.

Also to remind you that the Winter Regatta at Rutland Sailing Club on the 20th/21st February 2010 is now open for entries. This promises to be a great event and a time blow away the cobwebs and for those of you in squads to put some of that winter coaching to good use. Click here to enter the event or use the menu on the left of the screen.

Do make sure that you book by the 6th February though to avoid the late entry fee which will be applied after that time.

With the increasing spells of cold weather and frozen lakes across the UK, we snapped this picture of Topper testing its new cold weather prototype which is aimed at Topper sailors that want to continue sailing through the winter when their lakes freeze over. Click on the image to enlarge it.

We haven't had any release date yet for the new craft or whether it will be offered as an upgrade kit for existing boats, but when we do know we will be the first to bring you the news right here...

Seasons Greetings to all our Members from all of us at ITCA (GBR) and we look forward to seeing you at the Winter Regatta in February or one of our other National events through the year.