xenon' after race comments please*

As far as the comparison Xenon vs Vision, I've sailed both and wouldn't like to choose - better to sail and test for yourself. I'd strongly suggest that as part of that test, you capsize both and make sure recovery isn't a problem. I haven't capsized either but if buying to sail with my family, I'd want to be sure that there were no issues with getting them upright and people back on board.

IMHO - The Xenon has a slightly racier feel, and it has racy features such as adjustable jib sheeting tracks, a mainsheet hoop (also good for hanging onto mid roll tack) and a ratchet on the mainsheet.

The Vision seemed steadier (I did have more weight aboard) has non adjusting jib cleat position (Leach tension is altered via a plate on the clew), mainsheet has no hoop or bridle so it's difficult to centre - that together with no ratchet leads to high mainsheet loads.

Both need to upgrade jib cleating system - the risk of remaining cleated after tack is high due to poor fitting(s).

Both are heavy - pulling up even a short slipway is quite tough - the final decision might even swing on which is lightest and therefore least likely to cause a hernia!

All said I couldn't make a recommendation - possibly because I wouldn't buy either - I'd get an RS200 or 400 depending on the weight of my intended crew!

Well I got to sail one (rather poorly !) last month at Burnham and can only say that it was a surprise in many respects.  Few there would buy one themselves but the general feeling was that it was a remarkably good boat and ideal for its intended users.  It was also a good choice for the event and ensured close racing and in the conditions it could be more than pedestrian.  Yes its plastic and therefore a bit heavy but the general design was excellent, with good detailing in the main and it was without obvious vices.  We capsized it and its easily righted even allowing me to 'scoop' up the crew without busting a gut.  The only general problems were the angle of the jib cleats and the 'O' ring sealing of various hatches. Some damaged spinni poles were also seen and we in particular were unfortunate when a spreader end fitting decided to join us down on deck !  However there are really details, easily sorted by the manufacturer and their suppliers.  

Topper were brave to throw this new boat into this event and they pulled it off along with the club who did an outstanding job.  I won't buy one myself but its not really aimed at those of us lucky enough to have been there.  Who will buy it then  ?  Well just about everybody not racing 50 weekends each year might well look at it.  It's easy to sneer at this type of boat, 'plastic' manufacturers and their intended market but many of us are old enought to remember similar attitudes when the Mirror and later the Topper represented the 'new' .  But these boats transformed the market for small boats in the 60's and 70's and beyond for the better and introduced many tens of thousands to dinghy sailing and racing. 

Mike Lyons

I test sailed one yesterday to help decide whether it would be a suitable replacement for Draycote's fleet of training Wayfarers.  I saw it sailing two-up first, and I have to say it did not seem very fast, instead it waved it's nose round in the air and kicked up a bit of spray, albeit from a heavy boat in a F2-3  That said, it would be plenty exciting enough for newcomers to the sport, you don't want something taking off at Mach 9 and falling over.

We then tried it four up (jumping in from a RIB with of course no concerns about damaging the rotomoulded hull) and in fairness although the performance was slightly dulled, it remained vice free and still sailed properly in a F2.  Not quite as much room as a Wayfarer, and more of an "on" boat than an "in" boat, but the gnav certainly freed up some room.

Very comfortable to hike, and light on the helm.  Could do with a webbing strap to get the board up, and I do worry that with the effort required to get it down, someone inexperienced might end up trapping their fingers under the "doorstop" blocks.  Non-slip has been moulded in, although the "urinal" style flecked plastic finish might not be to everyone's taste!

Forward hatch covers are a good idea but not strong enough, we managed to break one.  Spinlock kite cleat is a pain where it is on the ally crossbeam...it spins round and round getting the halyard caught, and I feel may get damaged as it is a little exposed.  Either put it somewhere else, or just revert to a standard cleat.

Hull is heavy but does look bomb-proof and well moulded.  Yesterday was cold and I feel the very crackly laminate sail might die in a big capsize, but it does have the option of a Dacron main for the training market.  Mainsheet is a pain in the backside...tons of friction, all caused I think by Toppers insistence of running the last fall from the boom through an additional block on the hoop instead of straight back to the ratchet.  The Holt wire-frame main jammer incidentally was a bit reluctant to spin round for some reason, and the thwart made a creaking sound accompanied by 5mm of movement at one end.

All in all though I do think it is a very well thought out package, not the type of boat for me personally, but as a family or training boat it's excellent.  The kite is easy to fly and you can carry it very high.  The boat is not stable in the same way as a Wayfarer, so it encourages skillful sailing from day 1, but it gets to 30 degrees or so and just stays there, so people are unlikely to swim.  Just a little but of time sorting out a few fitting-out niggles and Topper will have produced a very versatile little dinghy, especially for the training market.  You can take people for their first sail, then take them all the way up to racing level, and more importantly they are likely to want to come back after their course and hire the thing for a bit of blasting.

Oh, and it needs a longer main halyard please, it's about a metre to short.