ITCA (GBR) Invitational Topper Coaching at Carsington Sailing Club
by Harry Dence & Hayley Turner 27 Feb 20:18 NZDT
25-26 January 2025
The GBR Class Association for Toppers (ITCA-GBR) recently organised an Invitational Coaching Event at Carsington Sailing Club on 25th/26th January where we had a group of the top 23 very enthusiastic Topper sailors from across the UK were in attendance looking to develop their racing skills ahead of the National Series event season.
This was the 1st Invitational Coaching event 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 3 fantastic coaches, Lead Coach Max Todd supported by Steph Mitchell and Topper World Champion Joe Rowe. Additionally, as an added extra, we had 2024 Paris Olympian Hannah Snellgrove deliver an inspirational Zoom session with the sailors which was hugely valuable, with thanks to the RYA for arranging this.
Harry Dence commented "We started the weekend with a briefing where we were split up into our assigned groups for the morning with coaches Max, Steph and Joe. Each group had a different focus out of mark rounding, boat speed and starting. After a good morning session in 10-20 knots we came in for lunch. Afterwards we were promptly back onto the water for the afternoon session where the groups rotated. After a further rotation each group had worked with and on every coach and every focus. To round the day off we did two championship races".
"Day 2 brought us a cold and early start (8am rigged and ready) to try and get some sailing in before the forecasted storm. We set out quickly for some Vicious V-course racing to get us warmed up in about 5-10 knots. After this we did 2 more championship races as the wind built up to around 15 knots. After this it was time for some Sail-GP style races, these were good fun, as the wind built further to 20 knots and gusting more. Then the coaches decided that the wind was getting too high and we came in to end the sailing there. We then headed back into the classroom for some sailor based learning, debrief and then prize-giving for all of the races that has taken place over the course of the weekend where the top four where awarded British sailing team rash vests. Overall it was a great weekend of training lead by some great coaches!"
The RYA kindly provided Team GB rash vests to the top 4 race winners, a big thank you to the RYA for their generosity and support for this event.
The conditions were top end for the weekend and very, very cold! 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 remain high and focus continued right until the end of the 2nd 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 NS2 at Weymouth, the first event in the National Series for 2025.
Entries are open on the ITCA Website (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 April 26th/27th at Hayling Island with Lead Coach Flip Dugdale, supported by Tom Scott.