The Scottish Topper Web Site has been built by Alex (Chucky) Still and his very supportive dad (Cameron).  Cameron has been travelling round the Topper Circuit since 2003 when his eldest son Michael was racing Toppers.   

"I remember being a parent at my first event, being made so welcome by those who had been travelling for a while.  The Family have met life long friends through Topper sailing and I hope all you parents get that experience too."

 

Some tips from Dave Cockerill the National Topper Coach  - Who was also a Parent to a Topper Sailor.

 Supporting the Sailor Directly

 

· Training camps are tough and having nutritious food, plenty of fluid and loads of sleep allows the sailor to get the most out of the experience. We know that early starts, homework done in the back of cars and nervous tension doesn’t make the above easy but ……..

· Good sailors become increasingly independent and take more and more responsibility for themselves, their kit and their boat. Lists work well for some of them! In an ideal situation they know when they need help with any of the above and can ask for it. Please encourage them in all of this.

· All sailors are different. Some will be asleep before the first corner on the journey home, some will talk forever about what they did and what they learned and others will want to sit quietly and digest the experience before it comes out slowly through the next week. You know your youngster best!

· Please do not talk about results. Do what you can to minimise pressure - they already feel plenty of that. The best questions are things like “what was the plan for the day?”, “how did the plan go?”, “what will you do differently next time” & “what was the best bit today?”.

 

Some other tips :-

      Encourage the kids to rig their own boat - Be seen to be the subordinate let them manage and you support.

     Travel - make sure you tie the front of the boat down, I have found the fuel consumption to be better with the Stern facing foward.  This all                              depends on the car of course - we have a Volvo Estate.

      Social -The Parents need to enjoy the experience too, help each other they will help back.  If you are camping at the event, chill out have a                                  beer a laugh with others.  I have found over the years that the kids will always look back on the special nights in a tent

                          before they remember the night in the Local B&B.   

                                               At their time of life it is about experience and learning enjoy being part of that!