About the Topper
The Topper was designed by Ian Proctor in 1977. It is a lightweight injection moulded polypropylene construction and more than 45,000 boats have now been sold.
Changes to the strict one design principle were made in 2005 to allow centre main sheeting (mainsail control) and an improved system for the Cunningham and Outhaul have made it easier to adjust the shape of the sail when racing. A new sail was introduced in 2005 which makes even cheaper to get on the water in a simple one design boat and enjoy Britain’s most successful Olympic sport.
The boat is sailed by most clubs across the country and there is a thriving Local Travellers racing circuit and a Nationwide Traveller Series of six events that attracts around 150 boats at each venue. It is easy for an 11 year old novice to launch and learn to sail in and there are many juniors and adults who race the boat in winds up to 30 mph! A smaller sail is now available to use in stronger winds but most people simply reef the normal sail around the mast to reduce the sail area if they become overpowered. Recommended sailor weight range for a topper is 51 to 67Kg.
It is an RYA Junior Development Class for Olympic hopefuls and the Topper Class Association provides training at local clubs for all age groups. There is also an excellent Class web site that provides useful information about the boat, a fast racing results service and also hosts a member’s chat forum.