Topper (dinghy)

International racing sailing class

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This article is about the 1977-patented dinghy. For other uses, see Topper (disambiguation).

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[1]
RYA PN| 1301[2]

[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

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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

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This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2024)

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Main article: Topper World Championships

## See also

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* Sports portal

* Dinghy sailing
* Dinghy racing
* Farr 3.7

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Centerboard Classes-Inactive". US Sailing. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
2. ^ "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
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.
4. ^ a b "Topper Dinghy". www.go-sail.co.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
5. ^ a b c d "The Topper". www.itcaworld.org. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
6. ^ "The Topper". www.toppersailboats.com/. Archived from the original on 5 May 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
7. ^ a b c "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.
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.
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.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Topper (dinghy).

* International Topper Class Association
* World Sailing Topper Microsite
* Irish Topper Class Association
* Great Britain Topper Class Association
* Topper Sailboats Canada
* Story of development of the polypropylene version of the Topper[1]

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Topper International

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Discontinued|

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