Hazy days of Topper sailing
by Andre Ozanne 27 Dec 2015 19:09 GMT
27 December 2015
Class Judge and Christine Russ © Rick Barry
Back in the hazy days of this mid-summer, when the wind blew fairly and the sun shone, you may have been slightly bemused to see the Topper class judge flying around Carsington Lake in a PINK TUTU. So fast in fact at one particular port starboard incident that his lost his pink wig.
Well the Topper fleet haven't gone stir crazy, it was all the perky idea of Jeanette Sanderson, ITCA's all encompassing secretary.
The event was Launch for Life www.justgiving.com/topperlaunch4life, tagged onto the National Series Topper event at Carsington Sailing Club. Jeanette's cause was to raise money for Cancer Research and to encourage more female participation with on the water rib support, over the weekend 35 ladies were involved and lots of enthused mums came on shore with lots of positive comments. Jeanette reported:
"One mum (who is an area rep for us) is terrified of water but she overcame her phobia and went afloat for the first time in her life, coming off the water shaking, tearful and elated that she had seen her son and daughter sail and blown away by the skills of the young sailors. She said she would NEVER have gone afloat but went out so that she wouldn't let me down...and is now all lined up for committee boat duty at events next season!"
She is already booked in for the Winter Championship in deepest darkest February at Weymouth - pink woolly hats might be the order of the day! Lots of off the water activities after the serious racing took place with amazing cakes, raffles, catwalks by the boys in pink, the only thing missing was ex-Topper sailor John Pink probably out sniffing the wind in Rio!
Jeanette is busy thinking up the next hazy days event and we all look forward to some summer sun and fun, that being someway in the future thoughts of what's happening now comes to mind.With the current period of winds causing havoc with winter squad training a benefit of Christmas is that most sailors may have put on a kilo or two in readiness for the Winter Regatta on February 27th-28th at WPNSA where a likely 180 5.3 and 4.2 will have a chance in making those extra mince pies count.
The class has been so very well supported by its sponsors and we take this opportunity to thank them and welcome them back for the 2016 season; GJW Insurance, Optimum Time, Magic Marine, Harken and Sailing Solutions by Rooster. 2016 is looking like a very exciting year for the Topper Class with all its National Series Events finalised - visit the www.gbrtopper.co.uk for all the events. We also have some very exciting news for further sponsorship of the class and this will be announced shortly. The days are now getting longer, the wind is going to abate, zephyr promises! From all of us at ITCA Topper we wish all a fabulous 2016.