Topper (dinghy)
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The Topper is an 11' sailing dinghy designed by Ian Proctor.
[edit] Background
The Topper is a very popular one-design boat with a large international following. Popular with young and novice sailors all over the world, it is recognized as a full International class by the ISAF and is an approved youth class of the RYA. It is a very popular Junior class in Britain, and is often a perfect transitional class for the Laser Radial. It normally has its own race class at the start, due to the speed of the boat. The boat has a maximum capacity of two people, although in racing it is helmed single-handedly.
[edit] Design
The Topper's hull is made of injection moulded polypropylene and at a compact 11', is easily carried on the roof of a car. The mast splits into two sections, allowing the spars to be stored and transported with ease. The rig itself is very simple, making it an ideal boat for novice sailors. Can have centre or aft main sheet fitting. The topper also comes with a 4.7m2 sail for juniors (normal sail area is 5.2m2).
Although previously toppers have been raced rigged with an aft main, recently new racing regulations have come into effect requiring a centre main rig to be compliant. This was mainly due to it being a transition boat for a lazer radial, which is rigged with a centre main.
As a beginner or someone just starting out, a topper is a great boat to purchase. One could be picked up second hand for about £400.
[edit] External links
| Sailing dinghies (ISAF International Classes) | |
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| 14 Foot | 29er | 420 | 470 | 49er | 505 | Cadet | Contender | Enterprise | Europe | Finn | Fireball | Flying Dutchman | Flying Junior | Laser Standard | Laser 4.7 | Laser II | Lightning | Mirror | Moth | OK Dinghy | Optimist | Snipe | Splash | Sunfish | Topper |Vaurien | Zoom 8 | |
