British Toppers racing on Lake Garda
The Topper World Championships

Each year, ITCA World organises the Topper World Championships, for the 4.2 and 5.3 categories and the Masters Cup event. A hugely popular event, where the accent is on fun and fair competition, the Topper Worlds regularly attracts 250+ boats and is held at iconic championship venues throughout Europe and further afield - in 2018 the venue was Shenzhen, China. ITCA World can help sailors from overseas fleets without the option to bring their own boats to the Worlds with a limited number of low cost charter boats.

Regional events including an Asian/Pacific Championships are also arranged, with charter boats available to allow competitors to attend from a wide range of neighbouring countries and continents.

view from Riva Del Garda, looking down the lake

The Topper Worlds 2025 will take place in Medemblik, The Netherlands, hosted by the Regatta Center, with race management provided by the RYC Hollandia.

The dates will be July 19 - 25th, 2025. Online entry will open in January 2025.

Topper 5.3 World Champions 2019 on podium
current World Champions

The Topper World Championships 2024 were hosted by the Federación de Vela Región De Murcia, at the CAR Región De Murcia Sports Center on the Mar Menor, Spain.  It was a hugely successful event, attracting 178 competitors from 8 nations, including for the first time 7 Spanish sailors.

The winner of the Topper 5.3 World Championship title was Che Liu (CHN) of the Beijing Sailing Center, the first time a Chinese sailor has won the 5.3 Championships and a testament to the strength of Topper racing today in China. Che is a very impressive young sailor, just 14 years old and in his first season in the Topper 5.3, having previously shown his intent by finishing 3rd the previous year in the Topper 4.2 Worlds in Cork.

Che fought off tough competition from two older and bigger Spanish sailors, Manuel Barrionuevo (17) and Sergio López Palacios (16), both from the Real Club de Regatas Cartagena. more used to racing the heavier ILCA dinghy, who scored well in the stronger winds, by enough to win the World Championships by a 7- point margin.  Even more impressively, each of his counting scores in the nine-race final series was in the top 3, a remarkably consistent feat.

See all past Topper 5.3 World Champions here

Topper 4.2 2019 World Champs medal ceremony on the podium at Medemblik

In the Topper 4.2 World  Championship, Hari Clark (GBR) from Draycote Water SC also won with a 7-point margin, counting  an amazing 10 first places and two third places over the 15 races in the 40-boat fleet 

Hari claimed the gold medal from fellow GBR sailor Sam Mason, (Silver Wing SC) with whom he enjoyed some very close racing, with Tomás A'Coistealbha (IRL) from Ballyhome YC in the bronze medal position, just three points behind O’Neill.

See all past Topper 4.2 World Champions here.


Yachts moored on Lake Garda
The Topper Worlds 2025 will take place on the Ijesslemeer, in Medemblik, Holland.