In one of her last official duties, Mary Hanafin, Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Sport, launched the Sovereign Ski Topper World Championships in a crowded  reception on Wednesday evening, 2 March. A warm welcone was extended to our sponsors, Sovereign Ski, represented by Liam Shanahan. Peter Crowley and Harry Hermon, President and CEO of the Irish Sailing Association (ISA), were also thanked for their generous grant to this event. Representatives from the Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Gerry Dunne and Simon Coate were present, as were representatives from a large number of sailing clubs. Ex-Topper sailors and former champions were there in force, including Olympic hopeful, Annalise Murphy. Reports of the event appeared in the Irish Times and other papers, and featured on the Six O’Clock News on RTE, and on Seascapes, the RTE maritime radio programme. RTE Six O’Clock News Topper Launch