Lough Erne Yacht Club in Enniskillen, in County Fermanagh, welcomes Topper dinghy sailors to the Irish National Championships from Friday 4th - Sunday 6th July.
Around 50 talented young sailors will travel from all over Ireland, with some venturing from Scotland, to compete on the waters of Lower Lough Erne for the Irish title.
The event will be held over 3 days with up to 9 races. There will be separate starts for the 5.3 and smaller 4.2 rigs. All ages within each class compete together on one course, as do males and females.
There will be separate prizes for junior and youth male and female categories, as well as trophies for the overall Irish National Champion, Irish Female Champion and Irish 4.2 Champion.
As a national race officer, Howth's Derek Bothwell will lead racing on Lough Erne.
This event is the final one before 18 of the competitors travel to Holland for the 2025 International Topper Class Association World Championships, which are being held from 19- 25 July.
The sailors have set up a GoFundMe page where donations can be made here
Last July, 32 Irish youngsters travelled to Mar Menor in Spain for the 2024 World Championships.
There were around 200 competitors at the event, and a number of our Irish sailors featured on the podium. "We are hopeful of bringing more medals back to Ireland again this year, says Irish Topper Association Chairperson, Carolyn McCaldin.
The Topper dinghy is sailed by junior and youth competitors from around 10 years old up to 16. It is one of the most competitive and active junior/youth classes in Ireland and is recognised by the Royal Yachting Association and Irish Sailing organisations as an Olympic pathway class. Many sailors who start their sailing journey in a Topper have gone on to compete in the Olympics and have continued their childhood hobby into adulthood.
