Topper (dinghy)

Topper
	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
RYA PN	1301
	[edit on Wikidata]

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 history and design

The 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]

Toppers at the 2006 National Championships, WPNSA

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

Topper (5.3) World Championships

Year v t e	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)

Topper (4.2) World Championships^[17]

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

References

^ "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

[UScbi-1] "Centerboard Classes-Inactive". US Sailing. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.

[RYA2012-2] "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012.

[rules-3] "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.

[go-sail-4] "Topper Dinghy". www.go-sail.co.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2010.

[itcaworld-5] "The Topper". www.itcaworld.org. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2010.

[toppersailboats-6] "The Topper". www.toppersailboats.com/. Archived from the original on 5 May 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.

[minisail-7] "Topper". minisail.prv.pl. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.

[8] "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.

[itcaworldpdf-9] "Topper 4.2: SAIL NUMBERS & NATIONAL LETTERING" (PDF). www.itcaworld.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2010.

[toppersailboatsshop-10] "Online shop / Topper / Sails". www.toppersailboats.com. Retrieved 28 June 2010.

[11] Heyes, John (11 March 2020). "The NEW Topper 6.4". Yachts and Yachting.

[results-12] ttps://www.sailing.today/5c924cce14b8bd35fa24f323/results ^{[dead link‍]}

[13] ttps://www.itcaworld.org/assets/itcamedia/documents/Gold%20fleet%20after%204%20races%20with%20ufd.pdf

[14] ttps://www.itcaworld.org/assets/itcamedia/documents/Topper%204.2%20after%2011%20races.%20friday.pdf

[15] ttps://www.royalcork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/5.3-Results-Finals.htm

[16] ttps://www.royalcork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/4.htm

[17] "Topper World Championships Roll of Honour". www.itcaworld.org. Retrieved 23 October 2024.

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v t e Topper International
Current	Topper Topaz Taz Topaz Uno/Race/Tres Topaz Magno Topaz Argo Topaz Omega Topaz Vibe Topaz Xenon Topaz 12 Topaz 14 Topaz 16
Discontinued	SL16 Topper Blaze Cruz Sports 14 Sports 16 Buzz ISO Boss Bull 7000 Bull 9000 Breeze 6m

v t e Classes of World Sailing
Current Olympic classes	470 49er 49er FX Finn IQFoil Laser Standard Laser Radial Nacra 17
World Sailing centreboard classes	29er 420 505 B14 Byte Cadet Contender Enterprise Europe Fireball Flying Dutchman GP14 International 14 International FJ Laser 4.7 Lightning Mirror Moth Musto Skiff O'PEN Skiff OK Dinghy Optimist RS Feva RS Tera RS100 RS500 Snipe Splash Sunfish Tasar Topper Vaurien Zoom 8
World Sailing keelboat classes	2.4 mR 5.5 m 6 mR 8 mR 12 mR Dragon Etchells FarEast 28 Flying Fifteen Hansa 2.3 Hansa 303 Hansa Liberty H-boat International One Design J/22 J/24 J/70 J/80 Melges 20 Melges 24 Melges 32 Micro Platu 25 RC44 SB20 Shark 24 Soling Sonar Star Tempest Viper 640 Yngling
World Sailing yacht classes	Class40 ClubSwan 50 Farr 40 IMOCA 60 J/111 Maxi Soto 40 Swan 45 TP 52 X-35 X-41
World Sailing multihull classes	A-Class Dart 18 Formula 16 Formula 18 Hobie 14 Hobie 16 Hobie 17 Hobie Dragoon Hobie Tiger Hobie Wildcat Nacra 15 Nacra 17 Nacra F18 Infusion Nacra 20 Carbon M32 SL 16 Topcat K1 Tornado Viper F16
World Sailing windsurfer classes	Formula Experience Formula Windsurfing Funboard Kona Mistral Raceboard RS:One Speed Windsurfing Techno 293 IQFoil
World Sailing kiteboarding classes	IKA Open Formula Kite IKA Twin Top Racing IKA Twin Top Freestyle IKA Twin Top Kitefoil
IRSA remote-control classes	10 rater A Class Marblehead One Metre
Former World Sailing classes	11:Metre One Design 29erXX Aloha Buzz C-Class Division I Division II Division III Elliott 6m Farr 30 (Mumm 30) Farr 45 Farr Maxi One Design Hobie 17 Hobie 18 IOD ISO Laser 2 Laser Vago Lechner A-390 Mistral Junior Mumm 36 Nacra F18 Open 50 ORMA 60 Sydney 40 Ultimate 20 Windglider X-99

Development
Class symbol
Toppers at Stewartby Open 2005
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]
[edit on Wikidata]