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Preparing for the International Topper W...

Preparing for the International Topper Worlds

Tips from Christian Brewer and John Heyes

Line drawing of children sailing small boats near a marina with a building, dock, trees, and a sunny sky.

Getting race-ready - tips for tackling Medemblik at the Topper Worlds

With the International Topper World Championships in Medemblik just around the corner, we wanted to share a few tips and reminders to help you prepare and perform at your best. Having raced in Medemblik with the British Team, Christian knows first-hand that this is an exciting venue with challenging conditions. But like all big regattas, success starts with good preparation.

The weeks leading up to the Worlds

It might sound obvious, but it’s crucial to study the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions thoroughly. Pay special attention to the tally system being used, the course to be sailed on the day and the location of the course area. When the adrenaline kicks in, even experienced sailors can experience a total mind blank, so you need to make sure you know them inside out. The Royal Hollandia Yacht Club, who run the racing, are excellent and do everything by the book. Make sure you know the C (Charlie) flag signals for changing the next leg mark and look out for the board at the bottom mark when you hear a repeated sound signal. At a recent regatta in Medemblik, the windward mark was replaced by a new green buoy, which was correctly signalled at the bottom gate, but the original mark was still left in place, confusing some sailors who sailed to the wrong mark. So if you hear a repeated hooter at the bottom mark, make sure you check the Charlie board which will indicate if there is a replacement mark to starboard of the original Mark (indicated by a green triangle), move to Port (indicated by a red square), or a minus sign denotes the beat leg has been reduced in length, or plus means the leg has been increased.

Start monitoring the likely wind forecast during the week leading up to the regatta to help build a mental picture of the conditions. South West winds are likely, which means you will experience big shifts in the wind coming across over the town of Medemblik – these can range from 10 degrees up to 25 degrees. If the wind is in an Easterly or Northerly direction, then the wind will be coming down the full length of the lake. Looking for wind pressure is going to be more important here as shifts are less pronounced.

Arriving in Medemblik

Aim to get your boat registered and scrutinised as early as you can on the Saturday, before the event starts on the Monday. This gives you two days to get out onto the race course area and try out the conditions. I highly recommend buddying up with another competitor or with a small group so that you can check out your pace and get a handle on the short-wave chop on the lake. It’s very different to sea sailing as there is no tide, but as the IJsselmeer is so vast, it is also very different to lake sailing in countries like the UK. You will need maximum power to get you through the chop and careful steering over the wave crests. Often, the waves are close together, so you need to use your body weight to help head up on the wave crest and then to bear off on the back of it. Roll your torso aft to help head up the wave and reduce the amount of rudder used, and then roll your upper body forward to help steer the boat down the back of the wave, before repeating the whole process.

A person and children sailing on a small sailboat with a large sail, gliding across the water.

Get ready for race day

Hydration is critical – clear thinking and alertness depend on it! Make sure you have plenty of water with an isotonic in your bottle to see you through 3 races, and keep your fluid levels topped up as and when you can. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen and wear a hat.

Get down to the venue as early as you’re able to do so. Check for any changes to sailing instructions, and don’t forget your tally! When out on the water, try out the start line and see which end might be favoured. If you can, establish a good line transit on the land so that you know exactly where the line is. At Medemblik the coastline is very flat, but you might get a line of wind turbines to use. I always like to try out the first beat and look for any wind shifts and pressure differences. I use my compass for this and make a mental note of the numbers on each tack, or better still write them on the deck.

The start line

In big fleet starts, there can often be a noticeable dip in the row of boats in the middle of the line, sagging below the actual start line. You can use this to your advantage with a good line transit. If you are nervous about starting and are not confident to be on the front row of boats, try a starboard start at the committee boat and tack off onto port as soon as you can, when you tack back onto starboard you will most likely have clear air and more options.

The first beat

The first beat is critical to your final position in a big fleet. Take note of the wind shifts and tack on them to get you closer to the windward mark. Always aim to keep clear air. Don’t sit in the wind shadow of a boat to windward and just ahead of you – tack off when you are able. The windward mark approach is critical in a bi fleet. Be aware of stacking up above the starboard layline on the final approach to the mark. A port tack approach often delivers clearer wind, but you need to be confident of finding a gap or tacking close under the starboard tackers without interfering with their course.

Simple line drawing of a sailboat with a single sail, perfect for children sailing adventures, and a black top hat symbol on top.

Downwind

Play the waves and keep clear air, watch out for wind gusts and use them to your advantage. Watch out for starboard boats beating to windward, you are the windward boat and must give way.

Play the long game

This is a long regatta with 15 potential races and three discards, so don’t get disheartened by a bad first day. Take time to analyse your day’s racing and learn from your mistakes, ready for the next day. Above all have fun and enjoy the regatta. You’re racing in a World Championship, in the best junior sailing boat on the planet! Many Topper champions have gone on to Olympic, America’s Cup and Sail GP success. That’s something to be proud of for the rest of your life!

Good luck – I’ll be cheering you all on!

Christian Brewer and John Heyes

Black and white drawing of a smiling man standing, dressed in a vest and shirt, watching children sailing.

Christian Brewer is a member of Whitstable Yacht Club and a former Olympic Squad and British Sailing Team member in the Tornado class. He has won fifteen National and one European Championship in catamarans and in One Design keel boats. A former sailmaker and charter yacht sales manager, Christian has sailed extensively in Europe, the Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

John Heyes is the current International Secretary General for the International Topper Class Association (ITCA). With his long-standing dedication to Topper sailing, he has inspired and developed hundreds of young sailors around the world, helping them progress through the ITCA pathway.

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