BRITAIN’S leading Topper class sailors will be in action off Walmer from this weekend when the Downs SC plays host to the Topper National Championships.

The championships, which start on Saturday with the final race the following Friday, have attracted a record entry of more than 200 boats.

It is the second time in six years that the Downs club have hosted the event. Dave Webb, the club Commodore, said: “The championships are held at a different venue every year and they don’t normally go back to the same place again.

“But, because they enjoyed themselves here so much in 1996, the Topper Class Association asked us to stage them again this year and we are very proud of that.”

Toppers are 11ft single-handed dinghys which are mostly sailed by youngsters. The Downs club will have about 10 competitors taking part, including Sir Roger Manwood pupil Chris Catt, who lives in Mongeham.

Catt won the Laser Radial class in the recent National Schools Championships in Oxford and, according to Webb, could also be the Topper national champion come next Friday.

The prizegiving ceremony will be at 5pm next Friday, followed by a farewell supper.