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Topper (dinghy)
Encyclopedia
Ian Proctor
Ian Douglas Ben Proctor, FRSA, known as Ian Proctor, was a prolific designer of both sailing dinghies and cruisers...
. The Topper is a one-design boat sailed mostly in the British Isles. It was recognised as an International class by the International Sailing Federation
International Sailing Federation
The International Sailing Federation is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport of sailing....
(ISAF). The boat is constructed from polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
, and is popular as a racing boat or for sail training.
Class history and design
The Topper was designed by Ian ProctorIan Proctor
Ian Douglas Ben Proctor, FRSA, known as Ian Proctor, was a prolific designer of both sailing dinghies and cruisers...
in 1977 as a One-Design
One-design
One-Design is a racing method where all vehicles or boats have identical or very similar designs or models. It is also known as Spec series. It is heavily used in sailboat racing. All competitors in a race are then judged based on a single start time...
racing boat. The Topper has been in continuous production for over three decades and over 50,000 models have now been sold. The Topper dinghy is built in the UK, to the One-Design of Ian Proctor, by Topper International Ltd. Topper International Ltd are owned by Martin Fry who purchased the company from Guinness Leisure in 1983.
The Topper dinghy is widely used for racing, but it has also gained popularity as a boat in which to learn how to sail. The Topper was originally designed with a glass reinforced plastic (GRP) hull, however, it was later decided that the Topper should be constructed with injection moulding
Injection moulding
Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing parts from both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials. Material is fed into a heated barrel, mixed, and forced into a mold cavity where it cools and hardens to the configuration of the cavity...
, using polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
, which makes it a relatively light but durable boat. Following this change from the GRP to the injection moulded Polypropylene hull, sales of the Topper soared.
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.
In 2005 a smaller 4.2 m² sail was approved, which can optionally be used in favour of the standard 5.3 m² sail. The smaller sail is more efficient than a larger sail that is reefed.
At 11' the Topper is transportable by car, and the mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
splits into two sections, allowing the spars
SPARS
SPARS was the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve, created 23 November 1942 with the signing of Public Law 773 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The name is a contraction of the Coast Guard motto: Semper Paratus and its English translation Always Ready...
to be stored and transported.
Despite the longevity of the design, the Topper Class remains one of the most successful and fastest growing classes in the UK. The Topper class is a full ISAF International Class. Over 350 boats attended the most recent UK Nationals and Inland Championships. Every year there is also a World Championships - 200 boats competed at the Topper Worlds in 2011.
The Topper Class consistently has the highest turnouts at the RYA Zone 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. And the RYA Recognise the Topper Class as the most successful pathway class.