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The Topper is an 11 foot 43 kg (95 lb) sailing dinghy designed by Ian Proctor. The Topper was a one-design boat until 2023 when a new version was produced, and is sailed mostly around the British Isles. It was recognised as a World Sailing Class. The boat previously constructed from polypropylene, and now roto moulded, is popular as a racing boat or for sail training. The class association (ITCA) organise racing events, which range from small travellers to major championships. The RYA run squads alongside the events; in these squads young sailors who are given specialist race coaching. It is sailed widely among junior sailors in the UK and Ireland and there is a growing fleet in China.
 Class symbol | |
 Toppers at Stewartby Open 2005 | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Ian Proctor |
| Year | 1977 |
| Design | One-Design |
| Name | Topper |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 1 |
| Hull | |
| Type | Monohull |
| Construction | Polypropylene/Polyethylene |
| Hull weight | 94 lb (43 kg) |
| LOA | 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) |
| Beam | 3 ft 11 in (1.19 m) |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | Daggerboard |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Cat rig |
| Sails | |
| Mainsail area | 6.4 m2 (69 sq ft)
5.3 m2 (57 sq ft) 4.2 m2 (45 sq ft) |
| Racing | |
| D-PN | 110.4[1] |
| RYA PN | 1301[2] |
Class history and design
editThe Topper was designed by Ian Proctor in 1977 as a One-Design racing boat.[3] The Topper was initially manufactured and developed by John Dunhill of J V Dunhill Boats Ltd and has been in continuous production for over four decades and over 49,000 examples have now been sold.[4][5] The Topper dinghy is built in the UK by Topper International Ltd. owned by Martin Fry who purchased the company from Guinness Leisure in 1983. In 1977 the boat won the Design Council Award and the Horner Award for achievements in plastics. The Topper featured in the BBC show Tomorrow’s World with its innovative construction in polypropylene.
The Topper dinghy is widely used for racing, but it has also gained popularity as a boat in which to learn how to sail.[4] The Topper was originally designed with a glass reinforced plastic (GRP) hull making it a relatively light but durable boat, however, it was later decided that the Topper should be constructed with injection moulding, using polypropylene,[5] which is less expensive but heavier and less rigid.[5][6][7]
In 2021, the injection mould was damaged beyond repair and would have required replacement. As this was not financially viable, the boat was redesigned to be rotomoulded in polyethylene meaning the iconic red colour on the deck had to be replaced with hull colour. The new version was introduced in 2023.[8]
Although the Topper was originally rigged with an aft mainsheet, since 2004 the option to use a centre main has been allowed. The motivation for such a change being that most other dinghies, including the ones Topper sailors are likely to advance to, are rigged with centre mainsheets.[5]
In 2005 a smaller 4.2 m2 sail was approved,[9] which can optionally be used in favour of the standard 5.3 m2 sail.[10] The smaller sail is more efficient than a larger sail that is reefed. The first 4.2m² national championships were held in 2010.[7]
In 2020, after two years of development, a new 6.4m² rig for the Topper was introduced.[11]
At 11' the Topper is named for the ability to transport it on the roof of a car, and the mast splits into two sections, allowing the spars to be stored and transported.[7]
Despite the age of the design, the Topper Class remains one of the fastest growing classes in the UK, with a very active national association. The Topper class is a recognised World Sailing International Class since 2005. The GBR Nationals and the World Championships often have over 200 boats in the 5.3 class and 70 in the 4.2.
The largest fleet is in Great Britain where the class is part of the RYA "pathway" class program with turnouts at the RYA regional Championships and the highest percentage of RYA Transitional Youth Squad members. Most 'GB Young Sailor of the Year' nominations in recent years have come from within the Topper Class.
Event
editTopper (5.3) World Championships
edit| Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Dummersee (GER) |
 Tim Willis (GBR)
|
Stephen Cleland (GBR)
|
 Mikael Norberg (SWE)
|
| 1994 Helenburgh (GBR) |
Gordon Miller (GBR)
|
Austin Bailey (GBR)
|
Graham Priestley (GBR)
|
| 1996 Dubai (UAE) |
Niel Marston (GBR)
|
 Renee Smith (AUS)
|
 Cameron Miller (UAE)
|
| 1998 Carnac (FRA) |
Robert Carver (UAE)
|
Tim Hulse (GBR)
|
James Grant (GBR)
|
| 2000 Cushendall (GBR) |
Mark Heather (GBR)
|
Richard Peacock (GBR)
|
Andy Brooks (GBR)
|
| 2002 Workum (NED) |
Campbell Davidsion (GBR)
|
Chris Catt (GBR)
|
Steven Jackson (GBR)
|
| 2004 Carnac (FRA) |
Eifon Mon (GBR)
|
Craig Paul (GBR)
|
Thomas Dawbar (GBR)
|
| 2006 Malcesine (ITA) |
Andrew Brown (GBR)
|
Bleddyn Mon (GBR)
|
Michael Wood (GBR)
|
| 2007 Malcesine (ITA) |
Michael Wood (GBR)
|
Andrew Brown (GBR)
|
Freddie Connor (GBR)
|
| 2008 IRL |
Elliot Hanson (GBR)
|
Richard Cumpsty (GBR)
|
Jonathan Hewat (GBR)
|
| 2009 AUT |
Andrew Bridgman (GBR)
|
 Finn Lynch (ITA)
|
Felicity Foulds (GBR)
|
| 2010 ITA |
Michele Benamati (ITA)
|
Giovanni Benamati (ITA)
|
Edward Jones (GBR)
|
| 2011 Dun Laoghaire (IRL) |
Matt Venables (GBR)
|
Robbie Robinson (GBR)
|
 Patrick Crosbie (IRL)
|
| 2012 Workum (NL) |
Giles Kuzyk (GBR)
|
Edward Higson (GBR)
|
Felix Crowther (GBR)
|
| 2013 Loctudy (FRA) |
Liam Glynn (IRL)
|
Thomas Wallwork (GBR)
|
Georgie MCKENZIe (GBR)
|
| 2014 Pwllheli (GBR) |
Calum Rosie (GBR)
|
Adam D'Arcy (IRL)
|
Tom Walker (GBR)
|
| 2015 Garda (ITA) |
Vittorio Gallinaro (ITA)
|
Patrick Zeni (ITA)
|
Niamh Harper (GBR)
|
| 2016 Ballyholme (GBR) |
Elliott Kuzyk (GBR)
|
Tim Hartnell (GBR)
|
Sam Cooper (GBR)
|
| 2017 Loctudy (FRA) |
Scott Wilkinson (GBR)
|
Samuel Cooper (GBR)
|
Dan McGaughey (IRL)
|
| 2018 Shenzhen (CHN) |
insufficient races to produce a World Champion | ||
| 2019 5.3m² Medemblik (NED) 152 Boats[12] |
Leo Wilkinson (GBR)
|
Kate Robertson (GBR)
|
 Yikang Su (CHN)
|
| 2019 4.2m² Medemblik (NED) 47 Boats[12] |
Yushuo Liao (CHN)
|
Bjorn Handley (GBR)
|
Jiahan Chen (CHN)
|
| 2022 5.3m² Riva Del Garda (ITA) 144 Boats[13] |
Joe Rowe (GBR)
|
Bobby Driscoll (IRL)
|
Jake Rawes (GBR)
|
| 2022 4.2m² Riva Del Garda (ITA) 26 Boats[14] |
Calum Pollard (IRL)
|
Amelia Smith (GBR)
|
Ethan Rhodes (GBR)
|
| 2023 5.3m² Cork (IRL) 196 Boats[15] |
Alex Jones (GBR)
|
Ruoque Su (CHN)
|
Rory Clow (GBR)
|
| 2023 4.2m² Cork (IRL) 60 Boats[16] |
Rory Whyte (IRL)
|
Andrew O'Neill (IRL)
|
Che Liu (CHN)
|
| Year | Venue | Entries | Pos | Champion | Club | MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Federacíon de Vela Murcia | 39 | 1st | Hari Clark | Draycote Water SC | GBR |
| Mar Menor, Murcia, Spain | 2nd | Sam Mason | Silver Wing SC | GBR | ||
| 3rd | Tomás A'Coistealbha | Malahide YC | IRL | |||
| 2023 | Royal Cork Yacht Club | 60 | 1st | Rory Whyte | Royal Cork YC & Waterford Harbour YC | IRL |
| Crosshaven, County Cork, Ireland | 2nd | Andrew O'Neill | Royal Cork YC | IRL | ||
| 3rd | Che Liu | Beijing Sailing Center | CHN | |||
| 2022 | Riva del Garda, Italy | 26 | 1st | Calum Pollard | County Antrim YC | IRL |
| Fraglia Vela Riva | 2nd | Amelia Smith | Parkstone YC | GBR | ||
| 3rd | Ethan Rhodes | Warsash SC | GBR | |||
| 2021 | Royal Cork YC, Ireland | - | Championships | cancelled | ||
| 2020 | Riva del Garda, Italy | Championships | cancelled | |||
| 2019 | Medemblik, Netherlands | 47 | 1st | Yushuo Liao | Vanghang Sailing | CHN |
| Regatta Center Medemblik | 2nd | Bjorn Handley | Queen Mary SC | GBR | ||
| 3rd | Jiahan Chen | Vanghang Sailing | CHN | |||
| 2018 | Shenzhen, China | 45 | 1st | Zifan Feng | Unione Sailing Club | CHN |
| Longcheer Yacht Club | 2nd | Jia Wei He | Ironrock Sailing Club | CHN | ||
| 3rd | Hsiang-Feng Hsiao | Kaohsiung SA | TPE | |||
| 2017 | Loctudy, France | 55 | 1st | Sean Woodard | Waldringfield YC | GBR |
| Cercle Nautique de Loctudy | 2nd | Xinran Chen | Whisper Of The Wind | CHN | ||
| 3rd | Yikang Su | Whisper Of The Wind | CHN | |||
| 2016 | Ballyholme, N. Ireland | 30 | 1st | Max Yuang-Ngam | Phuket Youth SC | THA |
| Ballyholme Yacht Club | 2nd | Rabbit Su | Whisper Of The Wind | CHN | ||
| 3rd | Paton Mervielde | Phuket Youth SC | THA | |||
| 2015 | Riva del Garda, Italy | 30 | 1st | Francesca Ramazotti | FV Desenzano | ITA |
| Fraglia Vela Riva | 2nd | Brando Mattivi | Fraglia Vela Riva | ITA | ||
| 3rd | Gregorio Moreschi | Fraglia Vela Riva | ITA | |||
| 2014 | Pwllheli, Wales | 16 | 1st | Daniel Thompson | Queen Mary SC | GBR |
| Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli | 2nd | Jenna McCarlie | County Antrim YC | IRL | ||
| 3rd | Rachael McCluskey | Leigh & Lowton SC | GBR | |||
| 2013 | Loctudy, France | 15 | 1st | Hamish Beaumont | Bartley Sailing Club | GBR |
| Cercle Nautique de Loctudy | 2nd | Victoria Cowan | Portchester SC | GBR | ||
| 3rd | George Graham | Burwain Sailing Club | GBR | |||
| 2012 | Workum, Netherlands | 16 | 1st | Patrick Croghan | Queen Mary SC | GBR |
| Zeilvereniging Workum | 2nd | Elliott Kuzyk | Parkstone YC | GBR | ||
| 3rd | Iago Davis | Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli | GBR |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Centerboard Classes-Inactive". US Sailing. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "2005 INTERNATIONAL TOPPER (5.3m2) and Topper 4.2 m2 CLASS RULES" (PDF). ISAF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Topper Dinghy". www.go-sail.co.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ a b c d "The Topper". www.itcaworld.org. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ "The Topper". www.toppersailboats.com/. Archived from the original on 5 May 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ a b c "Topper". minisail.prv.pl. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ "Article by Roger Proctor on the new rota moulding process to produce the Polyethylene Topper hull. This was a controversial development because the new design removes the traditional, coloured deck. It lacks the large daggerboard plate, replacing it with a much smaller one only at the aft of the board; has three watertight compartments (two at the front of the cockpit, one on port the other on starboard, a further smaller one at the aft of the cockpit); central selfbailer; adjustable side toestrap; tighter mast gate; the lip on the stern is gone; is about 4 kg lighter than the previous design. This caused debate among the fleet about whether the new boats would be faster than the old ones. Leo Yates (Topper National Champion 2022) said the new boats were much stiffer. They appear to be balanced on upwind boatspeed but the new boats are faster downwind in waves". www.itcaworld.org. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "Topper 4.2: SAIL NUMBERS & NATIONAL LETTERING" (PDF). www.itcaworld.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ "Online shop / Topper / Sails". www.toppersailboats.com. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ^ Heyes, John (11 March 2020). "The NEW Topper 6.4". Yachts and Yachting.
- ^ a b https://www.sailing.today/5c924cce14b8bd35fa24f323/results [dead link]
- ^ https://www.itcaworld.org/assets/itcamedia/documents/Gold%20fleet%20after%204%20races%20with%20ufd.pdf
- ^ https://www.itcaworld.org/assets/itcamedia/documents/Topper%204.2%20after%2011%20races.%20friday.pdf
- ^ https://www.royalcork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/5.3-Results-Finals.htm
- ^ https://www.royalcork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/4.htm
- ^ "Topper World Championships Roll of Honour". www.itcaworld.org. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
External links
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