Topper Book: Topper sailing from start to finish

By Dave Cockerill and John Caig

The Topper is a brilliant boat – over 50,000 have been sold and thousands of people learn the basic sailing skills in Toppers every year. This is the only book which shows you how to rig, sail and race the Topper – right up to World Champion standard. It is packed full of advice, go-fast tips, photo sequences and diagrams. This new third edition covers all three Topper rigs (4.2, 5.3 and 6.4) and is fully up to date with details of the new rota-moulded (grey) boats as well as the traditional injection-moulded (red) boats. It starts by describing how to rig and sail the boat before moving on to racing and providing masterclasses for success in competitions. Written by GBR's longest-serving National Topper Coach and a former Topper National and European Champion, the book features recent Topper World and National Champions and is the bible for Topper sailing. UK Topper National Champion Jess Powell demonstrates the techniques required, as well as what not to do, in over 300 photos and has contributed to the text, making sure it is completely relevant to today's Topper sailors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fernhurst Books Limited
• Release date: Feb 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781912621873

Dave Cockerill

Dave Cockerill held the role of RYA Topper UK Head Coach for 14 years. He was instrumental in introducing the centre mainsheet and 4.2 sail to the class.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

The Topper has a special place in sailing. Thousands of people learn the basic skills in Toppers every year.

But it’s not just a beginner’s boat as you will see by reading this book. Topper fleets are established at many sailing clubs, and the class association organises a programme of open meetings and championships for Topper enthusiasts.

The Topper Book is for beginners and racers. It is also for boys and girls. We refer to ‘helmsman’ and ‘he’ but ‘helmswoman’ and ‘she’ is implied throughout – and illustrated in many of the photos!

THE STORY OF THE TOPPER

The Topper was designed by Ian Proctor as a simple ‘beach boat’ and as an introduction to sailing. It was originally made in GRP but was chosen by ICI to form the core of an experiment to see how big injection mouldings could be made.

For the next fifty or so years the boat was built by injection moulding. It was said to be the biggest injection moulding product in the world, justifying ICI’s choice.

In 2023 the injection moulding process ceased to be viable and this allowed the boat to be moved to its third manufacturing process – this time, rotamoulded (grey – from sail number 49050). Topper International did a fantastic job ensuring that the new method of manufacture produced a boat which performed in the same way as the injection-moulded boats, while also introducing a few improvements to the sailing experience.

This manufacturing change has safeguarded the future of this iconic design, bringing it bang up to date. But it will still be possible to find an old Topper in the corner of a boat park and bring it back to race spec. With the addition of some new controls and a reasonable amount of hard work, good racing can be had at a very reasonable cost.

Illustration

An injection-moulded (red) and rota-moulded (grey) boat – a lot of effort was put in to make sure they could compete equally against each other

THE GREAT STRENGTHS OF THE TOPPER

•Fundamentally they are all the same

•They are extremely durable

•Their lightweight construction makes them really lively and fun

•They can be found everywhere and can be made into an effective race machine or excellent ‘beach boat’ for little cost

•All spare parts are readily available

HOW THE TOPPER HAS CHANGED

It is amazing that a boat designed for recreation and training could adapt so well to the increased loads associated with racing. There have been a number of relatively minor changes over the years in response to this. Some are so historical that they are not worth mentioning here. The key ones are:

Control Lines

•Originally aft sheeted , the option to use a centre sheeting system was introduced in 2002 – if you still have an aft-sheeted system and want to change it, instructions on how to do that can be downloaded by scanning this QR code or visiting www.fernhurstbooks.com and search for The Topper Book and then click on ‘Additional Resources’

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•At one time the purchase on the downhaul was a maximum of 3:1. 6:1 is now allowed and is an essential upgrade for racing at anything beyond club level

•More recently, the maximum purchase (mechanical advantage) allowed for the kicking strap (vang) has increased from 3:1 to 6:1. This is another essential upgrade for racing. It has allowed far more subtle use of this very important control and does not require so much brute force to apply and release. Do note that, in order to be class legal for racing, the primary rope for the system must be sourced from Topper International. If you find that the primary line is too long to allow for the travel required, consider using shorter links

•The kicking strap take off points on mast and boom are now via rings attached by webbing straps

•All other control line purchases have remained unaltered, but the quality of the kit has improved by the use of ball-bearing blocks and Dyneema rope

Illustration

Over the years greater purchases have been allowed on the control lines – you don’t have to have them, but they give greater control and easier adjustment for racing

Rigging

•The method of holding the mainsail up has changed from a halyard to a short loop of rope (the halyard loop) and now a webbing strap fitting into a groove in the new masthead fitting

Illustration

The latest mainsail strap which fits into a groove on the masthead fitting

•A new gooseneck system has replaced the original ‘rollock’ type to make it more reliable

Illustration

The new gooseneck fitting on the end of the boom

Rota-Moulded (Grey) Hull

With the introduction of the new hull material, a few changes have been made to improve the sailing experience:

•The hull is now built in one piece, preventing leaks at the joins

•The mast step cup has been made deeper and the retaining ring on the lower mast has been replaced with a triangle, making it easier to step the mast and allowing it to be lowered straight into the mast cup rather than being tilted back and pushed forward

•The self-bailer has been moved to the centre of the boat to make it more effective

•3 hatches have been added to the cockpit: two at the front with storage compartments

•The toestraps are now adjustable

•The lip on the transom has been removed, decreasing the likelihood of catching the mainsheet

Illustration

Above: The mast can now be lowered straight into the mast cup with the new mast foot fitting

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Above: The new storage hatches

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Above: Central self-bailer and adjustable toestraps

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Above: The lip on the transom has been removed

For a video about these changes, scan this QR code or visit the ‘Topper-sailboats’ Youtube channel.

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So a great little boat has been made even better. It just needs to be enjoyed!

CAR TOPPERING

The Topper got its name in the first place because of the ease with which it could be transported on the roof of a car and this great mobility has certainly played a considerable part in the boat’s worldwide success. The inverted boat presents a smooth, aerodynamic shape to the wind and neither speed nor fuel consumption is greatly affected during ‘car toppering’.

In spite of the simplicity of the operation there are some important guidelines to follow if – like us – you drive many thousands of miles each year beneath a Topper. Position the two roof bars as far apart as possible on the car roof up to about a 1.2-metre (4ft) maximum. It is quite acceptable for them to be much closer together than this as may be necessary if you drive a coupé or rigid-topped sports car.

Load the Topper upside down, bow forward and ensure that the front bar supports the side decks immediately behind the aft end of the foredeck. Ideally, the rear bar should support the side deck immediately ahead of the stern deck. Quickrelease straps are by far the simplest means of securing the Topper and the least likely to come undone. If the bars are wide enough, you can lay the spars alongside the hull and take the straps right around the whole lot, which will greatly reduce loading time.

Always tie the boat down to the bumpers (fenders) fore and aft. The bow painter can be used forward – this will stop the wind from lifting the boat – and the traveller can be used aft, where it will check any tendency for the boat to run forward in an emergency stop. A trolley can also be carried on top of the upside-down hull.

It is quite feasible to carry two Toppers on the roof of most cars but remember that the all-up weight will be 85kg (190lb). The lower hull should be loaded right way up, bows forward.

You will find that two Toppers fit together very snugly in this way – but do make sure that they are very well strapped down.

Illustration

A Topper on the roof of a car

Illustration

RIGGING THE BOAT

The Topper is exceptionally simple and is supplied complete and ready to sail. The photo opposite shows all the standard parts in place.

RIGGING THE PAINTER

Illustration

1 Pass the painter through the hole in the bow, leaving a short end of about 60cm above the hole. Tie an overhand knot either side of the deck / hole to keep the painter secured in this position

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2 Tie a bowline in the short end to form a loop – the shockcord attached to the daggerboard will be attached to this

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3 Long end is the painter – feed it back to the mast

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4 Secure it with a shockcord loop around the mast

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THE RIGGING

ASSEMBLING THE MAST

Illustration

1 Line up the two mast sections, ensuring that the two red arrows are aligned. The slots in the upper section engage with the rivets on the bottom section

Illustration

2 & 3 Slot the two sections together so the arrows line up

SLEEVING THE SAIL

For the mast and sail as currently supplied (with a webbing strap at the top of the sail):

Illustration

1 Unfold or unroll the sail

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2 Lay the sail on the ground with the bottom edge of the luff sleeve near the top of the mast and insert the mast into the sleeve

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3 Push the mast into the sail sleeve

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4 And further

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5 Continue until the whole sail is sleeved and the masthead has appeared through the top of the sail

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6 The webbing strap should be held between the two tabs on the top of the mast. Roll the sail around the mast

Using A Halyard Loop

Please note that the upper mast has been turned so the crane faces forward.

Illustration

1. Feed the halyard loop up through the front hole in the mast crane

Illustration

2. Down the back hole and through the eyelets of the sail

Illustration

3. Back up the back hole