Toppers have top-class weekend at Bosham

Bosham Sailing Club once again proved what brilliant sailing it can offer youngsters as it hosted a weekend of training and racing in conjunction with the International Topper Class Association (ITCA).
The Toppers made a spectacular sight at Cobnor Point / Picture: Chris HattonThe Toppers made a spectacular sight at Cobnor Point / Picture: Chris Hatton
The Toppers made a spectacular sight at Cobnor Point / Picture: Chris Hatton

Saturday saw varied conditions as 35 keen sailors underwent an intense but rewarding training session with some of ITCA’s best coaches.

The training covered key racing skills as youngsters aged 12 to 16 were put through their paces off Cobnor Point.

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All came off the water having improved their racing skills and looking forward to putting them into practice.

Sunday brought champagne conditions with a bright blue sky and a 14-knot northerly breeze.

More than 50 sailors from Bosham, Itchenor, Dell Quay and Emsworth and further afield gathered for the annual Bosham Topper Open in the second event of the Rooster Southern Traveller Series.

The sailors launched from Cobnor and sailed to the start-line up harbour in the vicinity of Rookwood.

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The fleet was divided into two, with the majority sailing in the 5.3 fleet with larger sails and the less-experienced younger sailors in the 4.2 fleet with smaller sails.

Each fleet sailed four competitive races each lasting about 40 minutes, with and an excellent standard of sailing shown by all.

Simon Radford, principal race officer, said: “It was brilliant to see so many youngsters on the water, having fun but sailing competitively and fairly. I was very impressed with the quality of sailing.”

In planning for the week-end, Bosham Sailing Club drew upon the Covid compliant rules and processes it had developed for Bosham2020.

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Special thanks go to the Beale Family for allowing the boats to launch from Cobnor.

The weekend was masterminded by Lucy Chaplin, Topper class captain at Bosham SC, who said: “We had to ensure we met all covid requirements but what a joy to see so many children on the water sailing so well and enjoying themselves. The Topper is a great boat for anyone from 12 to 16 and can be sailed for fun or very competitively.”

Bosham SC boast a large group of youngsters who sail in Optimists, Toppers, Fevas, 420s and Lasers.

Results - 5.3 fleet: 1 Hugo Valentine; 2 Immi Rees; 3 Oscar Fry. First Bosham boat: Zac Shepherd. 4.2 fleet: 1 Thomas Peace; 2 Greg Czura; 3 Marcus King.