7 Welsh Sailors have recently returned from Topper Worlds,  I believe you need to hear the rest about the 6am starts from someone who was there!! ...

'It must have seemed like a good idea at the time. Take a very deep, narrow pond nine hundred miles away surrounded by mountains with a reputation for light and fickle breezes, import the best sailors from Great Britain and call it a World Championship.

'Don't worry that the Club is really a cafe, or that there are no changing rooms, they'll all have a great time gazing at the hills and listening for the sweet sound of cowbells.

'After the first day, when there was no racing, the race committee noticed that the pond wasn't big enough or the wind steady enough for the trapezoid course mentioned in the SI's and introduced a straight upwind/downwind course for the rest of the week with all the boats sailing together.  

'Things improved marginally, the sailors did what they could to make it all work and at the end of the week. Andrew Bridgeman was duly crowned World Champion, having sailed more consistently than any one else in very difficult conditions. The skies opened and a long procession of cars and campers headed back across Europe.

'Congratulations to the Welsh team of Micky Beckett, Dave Clarke, Robyn Cox, Ellie Meopham Tom Piggott, Jamie Whitely and Tom Williams who all stayed cheerful and did their best in trying circumstances.

'It is hoped that lessons will be learnt from this event and moves are afoot to ensure that nothing like it happens again. For many sailors and their parents it was a trip too far.'

Welsh results:

Mickey Beckett - 4th Gold Fleet and 3rd youth
Tom Piggott - 23rd Gold Fleet
Ellie Meopham - 28th Gold Fleet
Tom Williams - 40th Gold Fleet
Robyn Cox - 43rd Gold Fleet
Dave Clarke - 15th Silver Fleet
Jamie Whitley - 21st Silver Fleet