Joseph, one of our junior members, is undertaking a survey for his GCSE into: "What factors make a competitive dinghy sailor successful?". This is obviously a complicated question and he will be looking at the racing results from several classes and trying to analyse whether age, gender and location in the country have any effect on results.

He also has short questionnaires for parents, coaches and sailors themselves. If you would like to help Joesph by completing this short survey, which is totally anonymous, please click on the relevent link below (surveys need to be completed by the end of March):

• Toppers parent’s survey
• Topper coach’s survey
• Topper sailor’s survey

Thank you for taking part.

Sailboat Deliveries are planning to deliver Toppers to Lake Garda for the Topper Worlds event in 2010.

Boats can be dropped off at our premises in Emsworth, Hampshire at your convenience where we will do all the loading for you. The cost of a space will be £220. To reserve a space please download and complete the booking form and send a cheque for £100 as a deposit to the address below.

Sailboat Deliveries has already had two successful Topper deliveries to Garda. All bags, sails (rolled), foils and spars will travel inside the van and not on the trailer. Your boat can be transported on any type of trolley. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Andy on Tel: 01243 377633.

Sailboat Deliveries is a Limited company specialising in delivering competitors boats to European events. We are members of the Road Haulage Association and operate within their guidelines and conform to all legal requirements. We take pride in delivering a professional and friendly service. We run all of our vehicles on a tachograph (which is a requirement for deliveries of this size) and hold commercial vehicle insurance with goods in transit cover. We operate at the forefront of the dinghy marine industry working closely with RS, Laser, Selden Masts, Noble Marine, Purple Marine and P&B to name just a few!

We have premises in Emsworth on the South Coast where we load the majority of the boats. Competitors can drop off and collect their boat at any time convenient to them and trailers can be left for the duration. Alternative loading locations can be arranged if necessary.

Sailboat Deliveries Ltd
Hollybank House
Emsworth
Hants
PO10 7UN

www.sailboatdeliveries.com
www.sailboatspares.com

Please note that ITCA (GBR) do not endorse or take any responsibility for the services of any external company. This News item is for information only and any subsequent use of the company is entirely at your own risk.

Why drive from the UK when you can jump on a plane and be there in a few hours?

Alex Storrar of Meditrans Ltd is pleased to announce that he is now taking bookings for transporting your Topper hull/trolley/spars/sails and 1x sailing bag to and from Lake Garda for the sum of £285.00 return, this includes collection from the Nationals at Pwllheli or other venue en route South to Gatwick, and return delivery to National Series Meeting at Largs (or other location en route) after the event. Collection from Holyhead or Birkenhead ferry ports is also an option for the Irish boats.

Total capacity is 16 dinghies with all hulls being supported on their deck/bulkhead areas, towed by a Land Rover Discovery 3 fitted with tachograph equipment. These plans are not a tablet of stone and are subject to change in order to make life as easy as possible for the majority. It would help if the small collapsible launching trolleys were used on this trip. Our trailers carry goods in transit insurance up to a value of £75,000. Our satisfied clients in the last few years include the RYA/Topper International/Sarah Ayton & Shirley Robinson (Yngling Gold Medalists) Petticrows (Int. Dragon Yacht Builders)/Churchouse Boats (Drascombe Builders)/Selden Masts/Superspars etc. We are also able to collect arrivals at the airports of Verona or Brescia by prior arrangement. (6 per max at a time).

Please contact Alex on 0771 853 3824 (mob) or alexstorrar@yahoo.co.uk. Preferences together with a deposit of £150.00 payable to A. Storrar, 4 Cygnets Close, Redhill, Surrey RH1 2QE - this will be acknowledged by our invoice. The Balance is due 6 weeks before loading. In the event of cancellation, the deposit will be refunded less £25.00 admin fee on either the client or us obtaining a replacement booking. Any queries contact Alex on 0771 853 3824 or alexstorrar@yahoo.co.uk

Please note that ITCA (GBR) do not endorse or take any responsibility for the services of any external company. This News item is for information only and any subsequent use of the company is entirely at your own risk.

Issie Cardu left her dry bag in one of the RIBs at the Winter regatta and the RIB said it was one of several they put on a table just outside the RSC office. By the time Issie went to pick it up it had disappeared. If anyone picked it up in error, please e-mail webmaster@gbrtopper.co.uk and I can put you in touch with her family so it an be returned.

The Notice of Race for the GUL Topper World Championships 2010 taking place at Fraglia Vela Malcesine (Malcesine Sailing Club), Lake Garda, Verona, Italy on 21st – 27th August along with other information about registering and paying for the event is now available on the ITCA website at www.itcaworld.org.

The inaugural Sailing Solutions Topper 4.2 National Series event took place alongside the Topper 5.3 Winter Regatta on a very cold weekend, with temperatures just above freezing and with light winds.

21 brave, young, Topper 4.2 sailors turned up from across the UK to sail in what were challenging and shifty conditions. The Topper 4.2 fleet had their own dedicated course, which started on a shortened line after the 5.3 flights got underway.

Read the full report here and click here for the results.

It was quite a mixed forecast for the weekend of the 20th/21st February when the Topper Family met up with Team Rutland for the Magic Marine Topper Winter Regatta. The Topper family was over 200 strong on this occasion, including 21 Topper 4.2’s who shared this venue for their first ever National Series Event. Team Rutland managed to get them all into the dinghy park in extremely slick and obviously well rehearsed fashion.

It is over three months since the last Topper National event and many sailors have been undergoing winter training in their various squads, all have been eager to put this coaching into practice. Charles Glover, ITCA (GBR) Class Chairman welcomed everyone to the event, many hands went up when asked if this was their first national event and what a great event this was to be for a first taste of big fleet sailing.

Read the full report here and click here for the results.

ITCA (GBR) EGM

Saturday 20th February 2010

Rutland Sailing Club Sailing Club

Time : as soon as possible after sailing

AGENDA

1.0 Apologies

2.0 ITCA (GBR) Financial Year

3.0 Class Rules and Prescriptions (a document can be downloaded here that will form the basis for discussion of this agenda item)

The meeting is open to all members of the Class Association and your attendance and your views would be most welcome.

Update 18/02/10: Entry is now closed for the Magic Marine Winter Regatta and Topper 4.2 National Series 1. Anyone still wishing to take part who hasn’t entered should contact Susan Wellerd immediately. The late entry fee will apply.

With the weekend now only a few days away it looks like it's going to be cold, though not as bad as was being predicted a couple of weeks ago. If you are going to enjoy the sailing though, do wear warm suitable clothing - no fashion victims - you can only perform at your best if you stay warm. Dave Cockerill, our National Junior Squad head coach has compiled this document on tips for keeping warm whilst sailing through the winter - well worth a read, especially if you have not done a winter regatta before.

Update 16/02/10: The Supplementary Sailing Instructions are now available in the Event documents area.

Update 10/02/09: The Notice of Race has been posted in the documents area for the Magic Marine Winter Regatta - go to the menu Enter Events, choose the appropriate event and then go to the menu Event Documents. This is a newly revised NoR for 2010 and so do download it and read carefully.

Update 09/02/10: Rutland SC has provided a Welcome Document for all sailors at the Magic Marine Winter Regatta and Topper 4.2 Nationals Series 1. Please click here to download the document and read it carefully before the event.

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.

Two Topper Coaches, Ian Patience and Duncan Adams, need your support - for full details see www.thefatboyschallenge.co.uk

Our challenge will be to sail two Lasers across the North Sea from the River Blackwater to Ostend, Belgium non-stop, covering nearly 100 miles as the crow flies, which will take us over 12 hours. As far as we are aware no one has sailed a single handed dinghy across the North Sea while raising money for charities.

We have chosen to support 2 charities – The Ellen MacArthur Trust and Mind – and are aiming to raise a total of more than £10,000.

The current plan is to sail on 17 June 2010 when the weather is more settled and the days are longest. This challenge is made harder by the fact that both of us qualify for the title “Fat Boys” and could be classified currently as unfit! This means that in order for us to achieve this challenge we both will need to give it 100% commitment.

The Fat Boys are Ian Patience who is just 47 and is old enough to be Duncan’s dad and Duncan Adams is 27 and is young enough to be Ian’s Son!

The Topper Class Association will once again be having a stand at the 2010 RYA Volvo Dinghy Show on the 6th - 7th March.

We are looking for volunteers to man the stand on both days and promote Topper sailing to visitors. Please contact Susan Wellerd if you are able to help and indicate which day and what sort of time you are able to help (we are looking for volunteers for one hour time slots through each day). Susan will then draw up a rota.

If you were a Topper Class Assocation member in 2009 and wish to continue as a Member in 2010, you must renew your membership for 2010 using our new new on-line membership system. If you wish to retain any existing Championship number(s), then you must renew by 19th February, otherwise your Championship number(s) will be re-assigned and sailors will have to request new numbers if they subsequently wish to enter any National Class Association event.

Please note that this applies to the forthcoming Magic Marine Winter Regatta and Topper 4.2 National Series 1 - you will be declined entry at registration on the first day if you are not a 2010 Member as you will have no valid Championship number to race under.

To renew your Topper Class Assocation membership, go to the Membership page on this website. 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.

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.