ILCA Journey & end of Topper Journey:

Published 12:15 on 11 Oct 2024

Charlotte Simmonds has had an amazing year in the Topper sailing in different environments/venues and made some new friends along the way but by the late summer she was feeling the Topper was a bit small for her. With that in mind she attended an ILCA training week held at WPNSA Weymouth and really fell in love with the larger, faster boat.

After a lot of debate and looking at the schedules for next year she decided to turn down the offer of a place in the SW Topper RTG in favour of the ILCA RTG instead. It was a tough call as all of the SYC children and adults, have bonded over the highs and lows of Topper racing and training, so moving on is exciting but also a bit sad. 

In a nice piece of symmetry her first race in her ILCA was at the Salcombe open where she duelled with Edward Alexander right down to the wire in some excellent racing, echoing the first races she did, only 2 years ago; alongside Edward at the Aspire racing event ( part of Sail GP 2022) in a Feva which lived up to its name and really has inspired to seek more from herself with her sailing. 

Charlotte thoroughly enjoyed the 1st of 6 weekend training sessions with the ILCA 4 RTG last weekend in Paignton with Poole, Queen Mary, Felpham, Draycote & WPSNA to follow helping her prepare for the ILCA qualifiers & Nationals; sadly not the Worlds as this will be taking place in LA in July 2025! 

Alongside the RTG Charlotte will also attend the Sunday SWYSA ILCA winter training days where possible leading on from the SWYSA Topper training they all gained from so much last year whilst making sure she can still sail at her favourite venue of all SYC regularly too.