Building Confidence and Community: Female Coaches Leading the Way in Scottish Topper Sailing

Earlier this August, the UK Topper Nationals took to the waters at Largs Sailing Club, showcasing not only the talent of Scotland’s young sailors, but also the inspiring role of female coaches in shaping the future of the sport.

With the sun shining and the more than enough breeze, the event brought together sailors, coaches, and families in a celebration of teamwork, progression and community.

Robyn Phillips, RYA Scotland’s Training Development Officer, highlighted the collaborative approach on display, working alongside coaches Christine Wood and Niamh Harper to support the Scottish sailors. Both coaches bring expertise from their own unique journeys and passion for the Topper class, offering young sailors not just technical guidance, but also the kind of mentorship that helps build lifelong confidence on and off the water.

Head to our YouTube Channel to see what Robyn, Christine and Niamh got up to at the Topper Nationals. 

For Niamh, a former Topper World Champion turned Coach, returning to the class as a coach has been a rewarding experience:

“It’s such an amazing community,” she explained. “I really enjoy working with the sailors and parents, and it’s just great to see their progression. Being a coaching figure for them is just awesome.”

Echoing Niamh's words, Christine says she's pleased to be giving back to a class that shaped her own sailing career:

“I loved sailing a Topper – the racing, and the team environment. I'm enjoying coaching at the moment becuase I want  to give back to the sailors and let them have that same joyfullness that I had. I made freinds sailing a Topper and I still have those freinds now, so I'd say it's definitely a friednly class."

The importance of role models

For many young sailors, having female coaches present makes a real difference. Sailors Libby and Jess spoke about how inspiring it is to see women in leadership roles within a class where girls are often in the minority:

“It’s definitely nice to have female coaches who have both done well in the sport” said Libby.

Jess added "They really do make a difference in discussing aspects that might affect female sailors more than males in competitions."

Beyond racing advice, Scottish sailors also enjoyed morning briefings, offering an environment where experienced sailors could share tips with younger teammates, helping build confidence, camaraderie, and team spirit.

A growing community of female coaches

Events like the Topper Nationals highlight the growing number of female coaches in Scotland, many of whom were once sailors themselves. This network of role models is encouraging more girls to stay in the sport – whether through racing, coaching, or sailing at their local clubs.

As Christine reflected:

“I'm always up for getting more girls into sport, particularly sailing. It's nice to see more female coahces, so hopefully we can be role models for girls coming up, and encourage them to keep sailing, whether that's racing or being active at their club."

With coaches like Niamh and Christine leading the way, the future of Scottish sailing looks bright – not only in terms of performance on the water, but also in building an inclusive, supportive community where every sailor can thrive.