Team Toddbroccoli make their mark at the Southport 24 Hour Race
by Fresh Abendstern 18 Sep 02:34 NZST
13-14 September 2025
Team Toddbroccoli at the Southport 24 Hour Race © Richard Craig /
www.SailPics.co.uk
Toddbrook Sailing Club once again turned out in style for the famous Southport 24 Hour Race, hosted by West Lancashire Yacht Club. With the reservoir at Toddbrook still out of action following the 2019 dam crisis, the club has made the Southport 24 hour race a focal point of its sailing calendar - and this year, they arrived with more energy, more colour, and more broccoli than ever before.
Sailing under the banner of Team Toddbroccoli, the Toddbrook crew embraced their vegetable theme wholeheartedly. From green morph suits and broccoli hats at the Friday night party - where the team made a big impression with their commitment to costume - to chants of "eat, sleep, broccoli!" and decorations around the club gazebo, there was no mistaking which club had gone all-in on the fun!
On the water, Toddbrook delivered a strong and consistent performance across the full 24 hours. At the end of a closely fought race, the A team secured 8th place overall and an impressive 4th out of the GP14s. To top it off, they were awarded the coveted "Surprise Award" for the most identifiable boat - recognition of their creativity and team spirit.
Saturday evening saw the launch of a new Toddbrook tradition: Brocctail Happy Hour. At 6pm sharp, the team served up an array of broccoli-themed cocktails to weary sailors, supporters, and curious spectators. The gazebo was packed, the atmosphere buzzing, and, most importantly, the initiative raised over £100 for Sail4Cancer, ensuring that the fun came with a lasting positive impact.
Reflecting on the weekend, team captain Lewis Coppinger summed it up: "We might not have our home water at the moment, but Southport gives us the chance to come together as a club, race hard, and remind everyone that sailing is as much about camaraderie as competition. The broccoli theme just added to the fun—and judging by the response, it won't be the last you see of Team Toddbroccoli."
An honourable mention also goes to Toddbrook's B Team, who took to the water in an Enterprise. With equal determination and good humour, they battled through the shifts to finish 34th overall and 6th Enterprise - a performance that earned them well-deserved cheers back at the tent.
With results to be proud of, funds raised for a good cause, and a growing reputation for creativity both afloat and ashore, Toddbrook's Southport story continues to blossom.
Huge thanks to West Lancs YC, all the competing clubs, and the army of volunteers who make the 24 hour race such a fantastic and special event every year!