ITCA (GBR) Invitational Topper Coaching at Poole Yacht Club

by Ralph Hadley & Hayley Turner 12 Jul 11:55 BST 5-6 July 2025

The GBR Class Association for Toppers (ITCA-GBR) recently organised an Invitational Coaching Event of 2025 at Poole Yacht Club on 5th/6th July where we had a group of the top 21 very enthusiastic Topper sailors from across the UK in attendance looking to develop their racing skills ahead of the Topper World's and National's event season.

This was the third of three Invitational Coaching events of the year, where Sailors are invited to attend these training events based upon their recent results in the ITCA GBR National Series. This is a great opportunity for the sailors to train with others who they are regularly racing with at these events.

The association arranged for three fantastic coaches, Lead Coach Steve Irish supported by Tom Goodbourn and Joe Rowe. Additionally, as an added extra, we had a very special evening with Micky Becket the GBR Olympian deliver an inspirational Zoom session with the sailors which was hugely valuable a week before the event to teach sailors about the wind and sailing conditions to expect in Medemblik.

Mini race series winner Ralph Hadley (160) commented, "Saturday was very windy at Poole Harbour reaching 30knots in some gusts. This was great for learning new skills with the invitational Topper training team. We had three amazing coaches on and off the water; Steve, Tom and Joe, who taught us new skills to help our racing in places like Poole, which is a heavily tide influenced venue. On Sunday a four-race regatta was held. It was less windy so we could focus on tactics, controls, tide and wave technique.

"The first race of the day was quite equal up the first upwind with the top three around the windward mark coming from different parts of the course. However, on the second upwind section there was a large patch of pressure which could be used for your advantage if you chose the right hand side gate. I managed to get this side of the gate and continue my lead to the finish, allowing me to win the first race.

"The second race was similar to the first except clouds played a large factor in the which side I should pick. I noticed that there were large dark clouds going over the right hand side of the course so I chose that side. I ended up rounding the windward mark in first and held my lead after the second beat, leading to a second win.

"The third race was much more shifty and even lighter at times which was difficult to do well in as you either lost or gained massively. I managed to get a start with mostly clean air allowing lots of options, so I played every shift that I could, while still keeping control of the fleet. My downwind section was much quicker on the third race increasing my lead and options, so I could play the shifts whilst using the tide and clouds to my advantage, resulting in a third win.

"For the fourth race, due to the discard, I could take more risks. I attempt a port flyer which worked extremely well as there was a massive line sag from all the starboard boats. This allowed me to gain a large lead while also having control of the fleet. I decided to play the rest of the race safe until the second beat where the wind picked up and I tacked way before the lay line of the windward mark due to a giant shift. This cut off a large section of the course increasing my lead and allowing a final first place.

"Overall, I learnt lots of new tactics and skills from the event which I'm excited to re-apply to the world championships in Medemblik."

Rooster, Poole YC and kindly provided prizes for the first three sailors of the short race series taken by Ralph Hadley 160, Thomas Matthews 575 and Evan Hellyer 391. A big thank you to the RYA, Poole YC and WA Management for their generosity in donating prizes and support for this event.

The sailors throughout the group showed focus, determination and resilience across both days where the coaches ensure maximum time was gained on the water. The enthusiasm showed by the sailors was amazing all weekend, they had a great time working with the coaches and their energy levels remained high and focused which continued right until the end of the second day.

A special thanks to all our coaches and volunteer parents/guardians who really made the weekend so much fun and full of learning. We now look forward to Topper World's in Medemblik and Topper Nationals in Largs and then onto NS1 at Draycote on October 5th and 6th where we gain results for our first Invitational Training weekend on 3/4th January also at Draycote for some inland action. NS4, NS5 and NS1 to count with one discard.

Entries are open on the ITCA Website at www.itca-gbr.co.uk/calendar

Topper Sailors will be keen to do as well as they can to put themselves in a position to receive an invite to the next ITCA GBR Invitational Coaching which is on Jan 4th/ 5th at Draycote Sailing Club with Lead Coach Steve Irish, supported by Topper World Champion Joe Rowe.