INTERNATIONAL TOPPER CLASS ASSOCIATION June 2019 Newsletter www.itcaworld.org www.facebook.com/itcaworld secretary@itcaworld.org No Images? Click here The Topper World Championships, Medemblik 2019 are nearly here, are you ready?Be part of the fun and great international competition of the 'friendly' class. Entries are already up to 200 boats, but there is still time to enter and a few charter boats still available, plus a number reserved for Topper sailors from the Emerging Nations Progamme. Full details on how to enter and charter a boat are on the ITCA World website here. Entries are limited to 300 boats, so get your entry in now. There are lots of exciting activities planned for the week, including a cool Sustainability Day and a fun Nations Day with entertainment from all the participating countries. Another evening will feature a talk with an Olympian and two times Volvo Ocean race sailor who also started out in a Topper. Don't forget to print out your entry form to save time at registration. So don't miss all the fun - enter today!! First timers regatta kit bag & checklist, what to bring to a major championship?If you are racing away from home at a week long regatta, you will need to bring more kit then than you usually take for a weekend's race at the club. European weather is very variable, (blame global warming!) so drying you sailing gear overnight is not always possible. Ideally bring two sets of what you normally wear, so you always have a dry set for the next day. Bring plenty of warm gear too, sailing should be fun - there is no rule that says you have to be wet and cold! Sunscreen, hat, gloves, hikers and buoyancy aid are obviously essential, as is a refillable drink bottle or two with your favourite energy drink and carbo snacks. Don't forget your toolbox, well stocked with a variety of spares, including a spare wind indicator, telltales, ropes, shackles and blocks. With so many identical boats around it's easy for gear to get misplaced. Mark up your trolley, cover, sail bag, buoyancy aid, etc with your champ number so it doesn't get lost and leave any gear ashore covered up under your cover. If you have loads of spare gear, a zip-up 'quiver bag' can be a great investment to keep it all safe in the dinghy park. Don't forget the paper work, you will need to print out your entry form, and bring a copy of you insurance documents. If you are coming to Medemblik, you might want to pack some insect repellent, but hopefully you won't need it... For those chartering boats, you may prefer to bring your own 6-1 kicker and favourite mainsheet. Russ Dent and the Topper International race support team will be on hand at Medemblik to help with any gear failure and will have all the spares you might need. Good luck, and don't forget to have fun!
Turn the Tide on plastic - what does it mean and what can we all do about it?Many sailors around the world are taking a lead in highlighting the huge problem of plastics in our oceans, rivers, harbours and beaches. It matters more to youth sailors, as it is your future at stake. Youngsters can lead the way, and show the older generation that they need to change their habits and not pollute our waters with micro plastics, killing the organisms that create our oxygen and currents that control our climate.
Over half of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean! The ocean covers 71% of the planet and holds 97% of the Earth’s water. How does the ocean allow us to live here on Earth? The ocean provides 50% of the oxygen that we breathe. That means over half the fresh air we breathe is made in the ocean. Some of it comes from seaweed but most comes from tiny microscopic plants called phytoplankton, which take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen – just like trees! The ocean regulates our climate, by absorbing the sun’s heat and transporting it through ocean currents around the globe. The ocean is always cooling and warming the planet. It is also the main driver in the water cycle, which gives us fresh water to drink. The ocean supports different types of life and ecosystems. Whales, dolphins, fish, jellyfish, starfish and many more types of creatures live in the sea in different places like coral reefs, seaweed forests, and sea grass beds – all known as ecosystems. The ocean has some of the tiniest animals, like plankton, and the largest animal in the world – the blue whale! Coastal ecosystems of the ocean, like mangroves and coral reefs, are home to many different animals and also protect land from big storms. Phytoplankton that create oxygen were only discovered in the 1980's so imagine what other important animals live in the sea that we don’t yet know about!
Can´t we just recycle?Recycling is part of the solution and a good idea if we have to use plastic, but it is not the whole answer to the problem. Not all plastics can be recycled and it is estimated that only around 5% of plastic gets recycled properly worldwide. Many countries have to ship their plastic overseas to get recycled, causing more environmental problems.
What happens to the plastic that isn’t recycled? Plastics are around forever – in landfills, on our beaches, in our waterways and ocean. Over a very long period of time, sometimes over 100 years, plastic will degrade or break down into smaller pieces called ‘microplastics’, but they still remain in the environment. There are more microplastic particles in the ocean than the stars in the universe! If we don’t act now there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Plastic is everywhere in the ocean...it is so dense in places it even replaces plankton as a primary food source for all sorts of marine animals - from the smallest zooplankton right up to the biggest whale, this means it is getting into the marine food chain and also ending up on our dinner plate!
One of the biggest problems the ocean is facing right now is the amount of plastic that is being dumped into it. We use plastic a lot. Plastic bottles, plastic bags, plastic containers, plastic phones, plastic toys, plastic straws, just to name a few. Plastic is definitely useful, but discarded plastic is harming the ocean and we need to change our habits. At least one truckload of plastic is dumped into the ocean every minute! We want to Turn the Tide on Plastic Pollution – and that means doing our best to use less plastic and when we do use it, making sure it doesn’t end up in the ocean by properly disposing of it. Want to do your bit? Come to the Sustainability Day at the Topper Worlds in Medemblik and learn what you can do to Turn the Tide on Plastic....we promise to make it fun too! Education resource copyright ©The Ocean Race Sign up for the Ocean Race education resource here.
Preparing for the Worlds?ITCA World brings you a series of top tips from Olympic class sailors on preparing for a championship. Here, Hector Simpson, current Finn Under 23 World Championship Bronze medalist, who learned to race in the Topper, gives you his views and tips on how to enjoy your time in the Topper fleet. Watch Hector's video here. Prepare for Nations Day at Medemblik...Don't forget we are looking to you to showcase your Topper Nation to the rest of the world - just bring the best example of your local cuisine and your best act! After sailing on Wednesday 24th there will be a mid week party where we’d like you to set up a small stand, with food to give everyone a taste of your country… So, it might be Poutine from Canada, Sweet and Sour Pork from China, Irish stew or Chocolate Macrons from France!?? Sweets or biscuits may be easier to transport, but bring something you think will be popular with all the other sailors and don't forget to bring an act. This can be a dance / poem / music, whatever you think best represents your country. Prizes will be awarded, but most importantly we will be voting for the TOP nation, so prepare to dazzle! The other vital item to bring with you is your National Flag for the parade at the Opening Ceremony - so get rehearsing now!
Where are they now...and where will you be!?The RYA recently announced it's team for the 2019 'Ready, Steady, Tokyo' Olympic test event, including an amazing 6 or more ex Topper sailors...proof that a successful sailing career starts in the Topper!The ex Topper stars making up the Olympic test event team to race in Enoshima, Japan in August are: Giles Scott (Finn), Hannah Mills (470), Dylan Fletcher (49er), Ben Saxton & Nikki Boniface (Nacra 17), Elliott Hanson (Laser). Based on their proven success, the chances are very high that several competitors at Medemblik will one day race at the Olympic Games.....will it be you?!
News from Topper regions around the world...Second China Youth Sailing regatta, 2019.
The 2019 Meisha Education National Youth Sailing League competition held in Qinhuangdao saw for the first time Social Club participation in the Optimist, Topper and Laser Classes. The move has brought a new vision and growth for amateur youth sailors as they match their wits and talents while competing against top China state-level professional athletes and teams.
By integrating the amateur athletes into national professional events, the young sailors were able to get a better understanding of the professional athlete's strict regime of training, their rigorous sports discipline, the dietary needs, as well as the anti-doping process, rules and regulations that must be strictly adhered to by all professional athletes. The amateurs sailors also built up a strong sense of self-confidence and improved their skills and tactics over the course of the three-day competition. The coaches of the social sailing clubs also indicated that participating in this high profile event was not only a good opportunity to study the young sailors talents, but also a new impetus for the development of training programs that the various clubs incorporate. It was also an opportunity to strengthen the personal quality of training and tap those who have talent and potential as elite sailors. While amateurs may not be as persistent in their hours of training as the professional athletes of sports schools, they begin to develop a high-level of ambition in the face of this high-level competition. With the growing popularity of sailing in China, this type of cooperation for the young amateur athletes to develop and complete next to the professional athlete is seen as a productive way to the future.
A new and exciting tracking system was introduced at the Second Youth Association Sailing Event, enabling spectators and parents to watch and listen to a live commentary, thus gaining a clearer and more vivid picture of the competition on the water. As the tense battle developed at sea, the action was delivered onshore via a live large screen, with excited parents cheering and getting the feeling of "watching the Olympic Games!” At the Seaman's Night and the North Sea Festival on the Blue Coast of Beidaihe, all the young contestants presented a variety of cultural and artistic performances during the closing ceremony, creating an excellent finishing touch to The Second Youth Sailing Festival.
Vanhang Sailing Club topped the team championships by beating all the competitors including provincial squads.
World Championship sponsor Rooster has designed a great range of T-Shirts, Hoodies, Soft-shell Jackets, Gilets and the very popular Aquafleece, in a cool range of colours. Order your special edition Medemblik 2019 gear online now. Coaches Corner....International Vice-President Training Dave Cockerill shares some of his great coaching resources. For those preparing to race in the short chop at Medemblik, check out how to sail fast in waves here. Dave will be in Medemblik providing a post race video clinic for all sailors. Latest Videos from the ITCA World You Tube Channel |