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.

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