Topper (dinghy)

The Topper was designed by Ian Proctor in 1977 as a One-Design racing boat.[3] The Topper has been in continuous production for over four decades and over 50,000 examples have now been sold.[4][5] The Topper dinghy is built in the UK, to the One-Design of Ian Proctor, 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 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] Following this change from the GRP to the injection moulded Polypropylene hull, sales of the Topper soared.[7]

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,[8] which can optionally be used in favour of the standard 5.3 m² sail.[9] 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 2018, development began of a new 6.8m rig for the Topper [10]

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.

The largest fleet is in Great Britain where the class is part of the RYA "pathway" class program with 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.

• Dinghy sailing
• Dinghy racing
• Farr 3.7

• 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