Topper 6 Hour Race @ Leigh & Lowton

August Bank Holiday Monday, (the 25th), is the data for the Leigh & Lowton Topper 6 Hour Race, and Fun Day.

To quote the poster for the event:

Race around Pennington Flash for 6 hours, a change of crew will be allowed . Teams of 3 Sailors recommended, but there will be no restrictions on the number or age of helms . Possible OAP concessions . Open to visiting teams - own boat required . Galley open for refreshments . Prizes awarded at the discretion of the OD . Entry fee £10 per team Entry required prior to the event . Contact Tim Yeates for details - 07798 913176

Topper Nationals @ Paignton SC

Down to Devon this weekend, to Paignton Sailing Club, for the 2008 Topper Nationals sponsored by Magic Marine.

Paignton SC is just under 300 miles from Southport and is expected to take about 5 hours, yes 5 hours to get there, (with a following wind and no traffic jams). This means a long journey on the Friday night or a very early start on the Saturday morning.

Paignton Harbour....
When the tide is out....
The seafront....

Sailing Club locations and information is :

Paignton Sailing Club South Quay The Harbour Paignton Devon TQ4 6DT - For the GPS enables drivers.... UK 01803 556184 01803 525817 Web site: www.paigntonsailingclub.com

The picture above shows Paignton Green

NOTE: Most major championships are held on Paignton Green at the end of the seafront, in which case you should offload your boat there.
Usually there will be a 'beach marshall' from the Club to guide you.
If you arrive the evening before, then there will probably be someone at the Club.

The following has been published and is available for download:

• Standard Sailing Instructions


• Notice of Race


• Supplementary Sailing Instructions


• Course Card


• Pre-Event Information

To date there are 261 sailors registered for the Main Fleet, with 2 signed up for the Regatta Fleet.

Paingnton SC have links to seven, yes seven webcams of the area and they can be accessed here, (they are best viewed at 1024 x 768 pixels in ie7 (Internet Explorer 7, for those that deal on old money....))

• Paignton Harbour


• Torquay Harbour


• Plymouth


• Exmouth


• Corbyn Head


• Livermead Cliff


• Livermead House

Tide Times for the area are available from the Admiralty "EasyTide" website.

Weather forecasts for the area are available from WindGuru - as usual....

....and finally.... A safe journey to everyone travelling to the event, hope the weather is kind to sailors, and safety crews alike. Here's to a great Magic Marine Topper National of 2008.

Y&Y Day 1&2 Report
Y&Y Day 3&4 Report
Championship Report
and
Results.

Gul Topper Worlds @ Tralee Bay SC

Tralee Bay Sailing Club, in Ireland, plays host to the 2008 Gul Topper World Championships, from July 19th to 25th 2008.

Tralee Bay Sailing Club (TBSC) situated in Fenit, Co. Kerry was founded in 1956 by a group of local enthusiasts. From rudimentary beginnings the Club has grown and now boasts a vibrant and expanding membership together with a clubhouse and a sailing school.

The setting of the Clubhouse overlooking Tralee Bay near Fenit Harbour provides panoramic views of Tralee Bay from Blennerville Windmill to the Marahees and westward to Bandon Point.

It is the combination of this spectacular backdrop together with the protected inshore waters of Tralee Bay, which provides a tremendous venue for competitive sailing events such as National Championships and WIORA. To the seaward of Tralee Bay more vigorous conditions prevail - south to Dingle and West Cork and north to the Shannon Estuary and Galway.

In addition to the TBSC clubhouse, with changing rooms, showers, kitchen, storage and licensed bar, the adjacent Fenit Harbour provides a sheltered 110 berth marina with associated facilities.

Cruiser racing takes place from March to October on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with a number of Sunday races. Dinghy racing is on Sundays during March, April, September, October, November and on Wednesdays and Saturdays from May to August inclusive.

Information provided by the club website includes:

• Notice of Race



• Sailing Instructions



• Online Booking Form



• Map of the Location



• Medical Notification Form



• Parental Consent Form



• Voulenteer Help Form



• List of Confirmed Entries

Coastal Reports for the event can be found Online at the Irish Meteorological Services Site.

Weather forecast for Banana Strand from WindGuru is also available.

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Report and Gold Fleet Results, Silver Fleet Results.

Craftinsure Nationals #3 @ Oxford SC

Saturday and Sunday the 12th and 13th of July is the date for the third 2008 Craftinsure Nationwide event on the Topper circuit.

It is hosted by Oxford Sailing Club, on Farmoor Reservoir.

From Oxford SC Web Site:

Whether you're a newcomer looking to try watersports or a seasoned pro looking for a new club, you'll hopefully find all the information you need here. For club members, there are pages dedicated to racing, events, duties and the clubhouse. For beginners, there is detailed info on how to get into watersports, what training courses are on offer, and how to progress. Click here to find where we are located.

We hope you enjoy looking through our new site and look forward to seeing you on the water this year!

We are hosting one of our biggest events ever, on 12 and 13 July. The Nationwide series is the premier Topper event and up to 200 boats are expected. This does mean all other windsurfing and sailing activities that weekend will be on Farmoor 1 (the smaller lake) including club racing on the Sunday, which will be part of the Open Series. Sorry about that, but come along and watch anyway. The galley will be open both days.

All OSC Topper sailors can enter to race in the two-day event. You need to be a member of the class association, so visit www.gbrtopper.co.uk to enter online! Many thanks.

Chris Burrows

The actual address for the club is:

• Oxford Sailing Club,
• Farmoor Reservoir,
• Farmoor,
• Oxford.
• OX2 9NS.

The Club is located on a large reservoir to the west of Oxford between the villages of Cumnor and Farmoor. It is easily reached from major routes: A34, M40, A420 and the A40 and is shown on most road maps. If you propose to find us with Sat Nav or a route planner, use OX2 9NS as your point of reference for the club. Below are direct links to some popular web based route planners which you may find useful when planning your journey.

A34

Leave the A34 at the A420 junction taking the Swindon route. Take the first exit, half way up the hill and then turn right at the T-junction towards Farmoor. At the mini-roundabout in Farmoor, turn left towards Cumnor and take the third entrance to the reservoir, on the right, into the Public car park. There is no need to stop at the gate house. The club house is clearly visible from the car park.

M40

Heading South, leave the M40 at junction 9 taking the A34 south towards Oxford. Follow directions as in the A34.

Heading North

leave the motorway at junction 8 taking the A40 towards the Oxford ring road. Turn right following the ring road until you get to the A34 then turn left heading south. Then see above.

A40 - Eastbound

At the Eynsham roundabout turn right, straight over the next roundabout and then left at the next (signposted Oxford). Once over the toll bridge (5p for cars, 10p for car plus trailer) continue to Farmoor village. At the mini-roundabout, turn right towards Cumnor and take the third entrance to the reservoir, on the right, into the Public car park. There is no need to stop at the gate house. The club house is clearly visible from the car park.

A40 - Westbound

At the Eynsham roundabout turn left, straight over the next roundabout and then left at the next (signposted Oxford). Once over the toll bridge (5p for cars, 10p for car plus trailer) continue to Farmoor village. At the mini-roundabout, turn right towards Cumnor and take the third entrance to the reservoir, on the right, into the Public car park. There is no need to stop at the gate house. The club house is clearly visible from the car park.

A420 - Eastbound

Approaching from the Swindon direction, exit the A420 to the village of Cumnor. Turn left at T-junction and follow the road through the village (small one way system) towards Farmoor. The reservoir can be clearly seen as you come down the hill. Take the first major left hand turn into the car park.

Notice or Race

Standard Sailing Instructions

Farmoor Reservoir Course Card

- it might be useful to print and laminate this then stick it to your boat

Supplementary Sailing Instructions

Farmoor Reservoir is just over 180 miles from Sothport, and is expected to take about three and a quarter hours to get there. As ever safe journey and enjoy the sailing.

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Report and Results.

Beijing Olympics - Algae Update #3

The Chinese government has successfully cleared tonnes of algae that was blocking the Olympic sailing course in the eastern city of Qingdao.

A special protection zone was set up using a boom and netting.

But in other areas the thick bright green algae is still polluting the beaches.

The Chinese government had set a goal of clearing the sailing area by Tuesday. The Olympic Games begin on 8 August.

The water at the Olympic sailing course in Qingdao is now largely algae free.

Some 10,000 troops from the People's Liberation Army have lifted over half a million tonnes of the thick heavy weed from the coastline.

A boom and netting is stopping more of the algae coming ashore.

Olympic sailing teams here say they can now train and will be able to compete in Qingdao's waters.

But at beaches not protected by the boom, the algae is still coming in.

China says it is a naturally occurring, though rare, phenomenon. Environmentalists blame pollution.

By Quentin Sommerville

Before	After

Before and after - the beach at Qingdao - BBC Video.