Topper sailing in a breeze

   I've recently rediscovered sailing. There's been a Topper sat round the side of my house for 16 years or so and finally I found somewhere to store it and sail it last month. My sailing skills are at best rusty: I sailed as a Sea Scout and Venture for eleven years until 1995 and barely at all since.

I'm fine sailing in lightish winds but was taken aback when, in a force four or so, I found myself completely unable to steer the boat. Obviously I'm doing something wrong. Your advice would be much appreciated.

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Longwayround Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Jun 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote Longwayround Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Topper sailing in a breeze Posted: 03 Jun 16 at 9:53pm
	I've recently rediscovered sailing. There's been a Topper sat round the side of my house for 16 years or so and finally I found somewhere to store it and sail it last month. My sailing skills are at best rusty: I sailed as a Sea Scout and Venture for eleven years until 1995 and barely at all since. I'm fine sailing in lightish winds but was taken aback when, in a force four or so, I found myself completely unable to steer the boat. Obviously I'm doing something wrong. Your advice would be much appreciated.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Jun 16 at 10:01pm
	At a guess, and it can be little more than that, I would say your sail was too baggy. Try more outhaul (and make sure you tie the clew down to the boom) more kicker and more downhaul to bend the mast and flatten everything off. If the downhaul is a rope to a clear on the mast, consider adding a purchase to give yourself a fighting chance of control. Toppers are a hoot in a breeze, and a force 4 should only be the beginning of the fun!
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Longwayround Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Jun 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote Longwayround Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Jun 16 at 10:06pm
	Thanks for your very prompt reply. This leads to my next question: my Topper is a 1979 vintage and still has most of the original fixtures and fittings. How easily can I add the newer kit which I see sold by the likes of Rooster to my boat? And does it really all have to cost as much as Rooster charge? My outhaul is pretty much impossible to adjust on the water and the same can be said for the downhaul.

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Jun 16 at 10:40pm
	No, it doesn't have to cost that much! Adding a purchase here and there, and a new cleat or 2, is all you need do to make the boat more fun. You probably not looking to win the world's, after all. Oddly, outhaul adjustment is the hardest to get right, as there is loads of friction. Edited by Rupert - 04 Jun 16 at 8:00am
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Longwayround Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Jun 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote Longwayround Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Jun 16 at 10:51pm
	Phew! I was looking at all those possible upgrades and then thinking it would soon come to more than the cost of a newer Topper! I just need to find a good supplier somewhere then! My wife and daughter have both signed up for sailing lessons so this boat's going to be getting a lot of use soon!

Spike Boland Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 19 May 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Spike Boland Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 11:30am
	Not a massive expense but when you up grade it tends to put more strain on other things. You might well have the old boom with a boat that age. Get an upgraded kicker and put on the amount of tension needed to go fast when wind gets up then the old boom will break. However overtime as everything gets upgraded it will get easier and more fun to sail. Enjoy.
	Theres only one Spike Boland

Longwayround Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Jun 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote Longwayround Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 7:01pm
	I suppose if I break the boom I then get a good excuse to upgrade that part...

piglet Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 04 Jan 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 514	Post Options Post Reply Quote piglet Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 8:00pm
	There is a fine line between investing in a saleable package and throwing good money after bad. The OP didn't give us his sail number (or his weight) but I upgraded two 28### boats to squad spec for my sons, the boats were not measurably different to brand new boats AND I got all my money back on resale, less the umpteen sails I bought of course. My 2pworth is, in order of importance: 1. If it's an old skinny boom, find another. 2. Buy a 6:1 triple block downhaul. 3. Replace the sail if it's blown out. 4. Decent 3:1 kicker that works 5. If old steel kicker hoops, replace with Rooster white straps. That will get the boat into a raceable condition. IMO. Sailing a Topper aft main is fundamentally wrong, old diehards will disagree, let them. I would be getting a centre main kit. How much so far?

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 8:09pm
	Why fundamentally wrong?

Longwayround Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 Jun 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote Longwayround Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jun 16 at 8:55pm
	Sail number 16736: the boat's not a lot younger than me! I'm also still aiming to get my weight down to 95kg (I may be the only person who trained to do a marathon and gained 20% body weight!) I'm unlikely to race the thing in a long while. That said, however, I wouldn't want to promise that my 12-year old daughter will never race, it's just that she's more into kayaks and can't yet sail. I'm hoping that once she's learnt to sail she'll recognise the error of her ways. How would I know that my sail had blown out?