Race Hard ! Have Fun :D

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Grafham 4.2 residential training camp

Grafham is a long way from Somerset, so I was grateful that my school gave me the afternoon off so we could get to our hotel for dinner time. I was staying at the same hotel as James so we ate tea together and also had a healthy hotel breakfast in the morning - while our dad's had the full English.

When we arrived at the activity centre, lots of our friends were already rigging.  After getting the boat ready I went with Dan #880 for our motivational wake up (we played stuck in the mud) with Charlotte and Andy. Saturday was a long day on and off the water, we started at 9:00 am and finished at 9:00 pm. We got to practise the new skills we learned at our last training session and also spent time team racing in our training groups - which was great fun and we all want to do it again. We ended after team talks with hot chocolate, toast & jam.

Sunday started early as we packed up our rooms and had breakfast for 7:30 because we had a squad wake up session in the sports hall. It was another good day on the water before the parents came back the the centre in the afternoon as we packed up for the trip home at 4:15.

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Zone Squad 1 at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club

As Chew is only an hour or so away from home we left early on the Saturday morning and got to the gate in a queue of Toppers keen to get onto the water.

On Saturday our main aim was boat handling and it was Sunny & Flat & Northerly & 3-7 Avg. & Gusting 7 for the 2 ½ hours we spent sailing.

By the end of the day I had really got the hang of Roll tacks and Stop tacks after coaching from Lynne.

On Sunday our main plan was light wind trim, as there was hardly any breeze so we spent extra time on fitness before we went out.

By the end of the day Lynn had showed me how to improve my trim and to keep speed up in light winds.

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Zone Squad Land Day

My first day in the Squad -  I made sure to wear my VR Race Team jacket and all my friends were impressed  

We got to meet our coaches, Duncan & Lyn and Chris our  High Performance Manager who told us all about the squad and the RYA's World Class Pyramid Programme.

Afterwards our parents were sent off to their own briefing and we went to the gym and had our private coach to squad briefing to work out our squad contracts as a team. 

Because the weather was so harsh and waves were being blown over the top of the RIB pontoons we stayed inside and had lunch before we went into a boat setup session to improve our race performance.

New things today were lessons on physio from Isy who told us all about posture and from Chris all about Fitness, Nutrition and Hydration. 

We played a game about nutrition to end the day and the coaches all wished us good luck for the squad training and our first training at Chew Valley Lake.

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First day on the water for the Topper 4.2 Squad

My school gave me the afternoon off so that we could get to our hotel near Carsington at a good time.  We picked up Charlie #170 and his dad and we watched films on his laptop all the way there – it took a long time. 

On Saturday morning we picked up Shaun and Charlie @ 8 o'clock so we would get there safely before 9, because otherwise Charlotte would make us do p****ups. Even with the ice on the car we made it with loads of time. 

We now have to drink 2-3 Bottles of squash or sports drinks before going out on the water to smoke the blocks  ! Race training was great, got to keep racing until the end no matter where you are in the fleet and keep your head out of the boat 

There was a bonfire & pie supper at the club on Saturday night so we stayed on to watch the fireworks.

On Sunday we picked Charlie and Shaun up bit earlier because we had an early start with Charlotte. 

Exercises today were pac-man, Gutbusters and diamond geezer. 

It was even colder, but I still managed to keep the main sheet off the mark as we practised boosting over the marks – but I must practise doing my turns quickly when I hit the mark with my buoyancy aid.

Shaun & Charlie needed to get home quickly on Sunday night so we dropped them at the station and will take Charlie's boat to Grafham

Thank you to DAVE, CHARLOTTE and ANDY!!!!

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Race Team

New jacket arrived today, thanks Alice !

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RYA Topper Zone Squads

Just seen the whole squad list published on the RYA website, really looking forward to seeing all my friends at WPNSA for the first training day

RYA Junior Zone Squads

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Team colours

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VR Gul Race Team

Very very happy that I've been offered a place in the Virtual Rigger Gul Race Team.
Its going to be great learning from the other more experienced Topper sailors on the team.
Since my first NSSA regatta in Weymouth two years ago I've wanted to be part of this team because they always have so much fun !

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ITCA (GBR) 4.2 National Squad

HOORAY !!! (again)
Came home from school and checked our email and I have an invite to be in the National 4.2 Squad this year - thankyou to my grandparents for supporting me now that I have so many training opportunities and competitions to attend.

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Topper 4.2 NS2 Carsington, Derbyshire

10th place at 4. 2 NS2.

School gave me the afternoon off so that we could get to our camp site at Carsington at a good time, it took a long time and I did my homework almost all the way.

It was just a short drive to the sailing club on Saturday morning and we got rigged &  changed and launched 10 mins after briefing. There was a good wind with some decent gusts on our triangle sausage course. We had no black flags all day and got in three good races - I got 3,2,7 so ended up in third place overnight

Sunday morning was much colder and much more windy. The CSL/PRO postponed launch for an hour as there were very strong gusts, almost 30mph. When we launched it was a very fast sail out to the course. Three races were planned but I death-rolled on a gybe when a big gust hit me and I took a big hit from the mast and had to retire; half the 4.2 fleet retired due to the cold and strong winds. 

Carsington was a good venue and I'm looking forward to going back.

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RYA Topper Zone Squad place

HOORAY - I just got my invitation to join the RYA South West Topper Zone Squad !!!!
Really looking forward to some great training over the winter.

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SW Topper Traveller - final event at Bowmoor Sailing Club

Really pleased with my big improvements in the Travellers this year.

This was our last Traveller and we had our series prize giving - and I won a prize !

Overall I was 20th (last year I was 37th) and I was also first boy aged 12 and under.

Saturday was our training day which was also our last Zone Squad indicator day.

The lake was like a mirror, but we did get to go out with our coaches, Lin and Duncan.

In the morning we did lots of different starts for an hour and a half and in the afternoon both groups joined and did some practise races.

When we woke up in our camper on Sunday the wind had died, the lake had completely turned into a mirror and with lots of mist the visibility was terrible.  By mid morning the mist had lifted and eventually we did get out and got in three races.

As the wind was so light I got to beat some really good National Squad sailors who I have been chasing all year. In the first I came 12th, in the second race I came 20th and in the last I came 16th.

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RYA Zone Championships at WPNSA

At my first Zone Championships I finished as the 1^st 4.2 and 23^rd overall - I was pretty happy about this as I beat quite a few 5.3’s along the way.

We left for Weymouth as soon as I came home on Friday and hitched up the trailer. We were in our motorhome and stayed on site, so we were the first Toppers there. That night it was very windy and I was hoping that it would stay strong for Saturday.

On Saturday morning I was the first Topper to register.  Because of the wind strength the SI’s were changed and we were allowed to use 4.2 sails in the main fleet. We did three races on the Saturday -my results were 21^st and two 23^rds so at the end of the day I was happy and I was the 2^nd placed 4.2 with Tom just 2 points ahead of me and 23^rd overall.

Sunday morning started with a good wind and I was keen to get out there. Unluckily I turtled on the start line and ended up on a 29^th. My next race wasn’t so good either because my watch wasn’t working and I missed a good start and got a 28^th

In the last race I got a great start, sailed my own race and ended up in the middle of the 5.3s and got a 20^th which I was amazed about.

I finished as the 1^st 4.2 sailor and 23^rd overall and very bruised and achy!

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Topper 4.2 NS1 Pwllheli, North Wales

3rd place overall in a national qualifier.

My school gave me the day off so that we could travel to Pwllheli on Friday before the racing, it was a long drive from home - after dropping off the trailer at the sailing club we got to stay in a tipi, which was cool

Racing on Saturday was hard in some heavy conditions, cold and choppy. Unlike the 5.3 fleet, we started each time without any recalls or black flags. In the first race I got a 4th , race 2 I got a 3rd and then two more 4th s to get 4th overall from Saturday.

On Sunday I went out to defend my 4th place and got a 3rd and then a 1st place in the final race, finishing 3rd overall.

Pwllheli is a really challenging venue with some strong winds & big waves and I’m looking forward to going back for the Nationals and Worlds next year.

My next national event is at Carsington Water in October.

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Topper 4.2 Summer Championships at WPNSA

10th place at my first Nationals - very happy.

I arrived in Weymouth with my mum in the motorhome on Friday but everywhere was jam packed because the Teras were still onsite from their Worlds, so mum parked the motorhome in a corner until there was a space. 

We camped next to Charlie and Shaun Tordoff all week (which the parents thought would end up badly because Charlie and I mess around a lot.) On Friday afternoon Vicky Cowan and her family came over and we ended playing with skateboards, roller-skates, bikes and rip-sticks. By the end of the afternoon Vicky could skateboard and Charlie was a Pro at roller-skating.

On Saturday, Vicky and I registered and I got my sail stamped. The Zone Squads were training for most of the day so the 4.2’s had fun by ourselves.

Sunday was our first day of racing and we only managed one complete race in heavy conditions.  This was a good race for me as I got a 7^th - this is the first Summer Champs I’ve attended so I was pretty happy with my first result.

On Monday it was a big day as we did five races. In the morning I had an accident in our practise session and missed two races, but in the afternoon I was pumped and ready to race. Unlucky Charlie twisted his ankle so badly that he had to sit out in the afternoon. My results in the afternoon were mixed, I got a 3^rd which I was amazed about, a 16^th which I wasn’t happy about but then worked my way back up to 6^th in the last race. Because I had two good results on Monday I was really keen to get back on the water on Tuesday.

We did three races on Tuesday, which was great as we got our second discard and I got bumped back up to 9^th because I wasn’t carrying my 2 D.N.Fs. All of my races were good on Tuesday with all top ten results.

On Wednesday it was our passage sail and picnic (A.K.A mess around and play pirates). We sailed out to the breakwater ruins in pairs and then went to a private beach on Castle Cove.  All the way across the bay Harken and I were capsizing other boats! On the beach we did lots of activities like tug of war and beach football but the sand sculpture activity was the best - Tom Booth and I won by making a picture of Arthur with fuzzy hair! Charlie’s group had high hopes of winning but we just beat them.

On Thursday we got in three races. In the first race I came 10^th which I was happy about, I really hurt my foot but kept sailing and in the next race I slipped to 26^th and could only manage 14^th in the last race of the day.

Finally, it was Friday - our final day, but everything could still change in the variable conditions. We got four races in and I got all top ten results, with a 4^th in the final race. 

The prize giving was delayed because something went wrong in the race office but they fixed everything and the prize giving went on for an hour and a half with lots of prizes and trophies. Then Tom wished everyone good travels and everyone said their goodbyes … until Pwllheli

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Topper 4.2 World Championships in Loctudy, France

At my first international event, I came 10^th in the 4.2 fleet and my coach was really pleased with me.

I left for Plymouth ferry port straight after school on Thursday. I arrived at the port at six o’clock and we went straight through check-in & security and boarded at six thirty + had tea before we left the port.

When we started moving I went up to the Commodores Lounge and watched Plymouth go into the distance.

We had to wake up early on Friday morning because of sailing into Roscoff at 7:00am French time.  Dad had to drive for 3 hours until we arrived at the Loctudy sailing club.  We camped behind the sailing club for the whole week so we were on time for briefing each day.

On Saturday I had training in the afternoon, after I had registered and my boat had been measured.  We trained for the whole afternoon, then I came in and went for a swim with my friends.

I had the same training on Sunday for the whole morning and then in the afternoon there was a practise race for everyone else – so I had a relaxed afternoon and went for a swim again.

Monday was our first day of racing – we only did one race, which I came 12^th in which I was happy with as it was my first race abroad.  When we came in I went into town and had fun with my friends.

On Tuesday we did 4 races, I came 13^th, 9^th, 12^th and then 10^th.  I was very pleased because I got two top 10 results.  This was a very encouraging day for me so I couldn’t wait for Wednesday.

Wednesday went okay for me as I got 11^th, 11^th and 9^th – but then I got a bad result, a 14^th but I wasn’t upset because I had all my friends and my coach to cheer me up.

On Thursday we did three races, this was a great day for me as I got 10^th and two 6^th s – I was amazed and pumped for Friday.

But unfortunately we didn’t get to race on our last day because all the wind had disappeared, so all the competitors went for a swim before prize giving.

The mayor and the regions deputy chief executive came to the prize ceremony and presented some fantastic trophies.

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