Sam’s made it to the Topper the class
AYOUNG sailor from West Lancashire Yachting Club has won the title of Royal Yachting Association North West Youth Champion for the second year in a row.
Sam Cooper received the award for his outstanding performance in a year in which he won the National Championships in the “Topper” class and came third in the World Championships.
Despite not having sailed his Topper for a few months, Sam secured seven first places at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire to become the Inlands Champion.
His mum, Catherine, said officials were “astounded” by his performance.
Sam had changed to the 29er skill class but that class do not schedule any events from Easter until the summer holidays because many young sailors are involved in GCSEs and A Levels.
At the age of 15, Sam, who lives in Southport, did not have exams and the family were going to Topper events anyway because his sister, Charlotte, was competing, so mum suggested he sail his Topper in the meantime.
In early August 2017, he went to the Topper World Championships in Cercle Nautique de Loctudy, Brittany. He took second place in a field of 156, a one place improvement on his performance the previous year.
As soon as he came back, Sam went to Pwllheli for the National Championships that are always held on the sea. He won that, with three firsts and a second, to become National Champion.
During his Topper career, Sam became a member of the RYA Zone Squad and also the RYA National Squad. Now he is working his way up the fleet rankings in the 29ers: the
He said: “I have got loads to learn but it’s really good fun.
“There are two of us now and sailing the 29er is completely different.”
He added that he was delighted to be RYA NW Youth Champion again because he appreciates how many other good young sailors there were in the region.
There will be no return to the Toppers this year though as he will be taking his GCSEs.
As well as wanting to perform well academically, Sam has big sporting ambitions, with aims to get on the the RYA’s Olympic pathway, and possibly the Ben Ainslie Racing Academy.
A previous winner of the NW regional award, Elliot Hanson, has achieved both those goals.