Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association (LRYSA) were very pleased to take delivery of six new race-rigged centre-main Toppers complete with road trailer for the development of their youth sailing programme in the county. Funding for the Toppers was provided by Awards for All, part of the National Lottery, giving the opportunity for school age youngsters in the county to compete in both local and national sailing events regardless of income and access to their own boats. Launching of the Toppers took place at Bosworth Water Trust, one of the Leicester and Rutland sailing bases and location for the culmination of the local racing series in August. During the next few months the LRYSA will be using the new boats to train a county sailing team to compete in the National Schools Sailing Regatta at Plymouth in July, please visit www.nssa.org.uk for further details. Topper Worlds Bronze medallist Mike Wood will be the team captain and racing coach for this event.
Colin Magee, chairman of the LRYSA, was delighted with the new arrivals and said that "These new Toppers represent the important first step in providing a mobile fleet of boats to support our growing programme of sailing for promising young sailors in the county". For more details of the sailing events programme for young sailors in Leicestershire and Rutland please see other areas of this site.
The LRYSA are desperately looking for anyone who can help with the purchase of 6 launching trolleys for the new Toppers, it is vital the new Toppers are protected by the use of suitable launching trolleys. If you or your company could sponsor one or more launch trolleys your help will be very appreciated. If you can help please ring Colin Magee on 01455 619347.
Photograph of launch - picture: Dave Wood
Article in Yatchs and Yatching
