Fun in a Topper

   My nine year old daughter wanted to sail her Oppy or Topper yesterday 

evening, but it was blowing a good Force 5, which would have been too 

much for her on her own.

So the two of us went out in the Topper and had a great time. Despite 

reefing the sail and the boat being overloaded, the thing was still planing 

with ease.

It's amazing what fun you can have in a 20 year old kids' boat worth all of 

£300!    

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Philsy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 12 Sep 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 344	Post Options Post Reply Quote Philsy Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Fun in a Topper Posted: 03 Aug 06 at 8:54am
	My nine year old daughter wanted to sail her Oppy or Topper yesterday evening, but it was blowing a good Force 5, which would have been too much for her on her own. So the two of us went out in the Topper and had a great time. Despite reefing the sail and the boat being overloaded, the thing was still planing with ease. It's amazing what fun you can have in a 20 year old kids' boat worth all of £300!

MRJP BUZZ 585 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1496	Post Options Post Reply Quote MRJP BUZZ 585 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 06 at 1:12pm
	its fun until you gybe forget you have got alot taller and get hit on the head with the boom
	Josh Preater BUZZING IS FUN

Philsy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 12 Sep 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 344	Post Options Post Reply Quote Philsy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 06 at 1:13pm
	LOL! True but I imagined to avoid that. Tacking and gybing made the stern of the boat do a great impression of a submarine. Kinda the opposite of a foiling Moth

MRJP BUZZ 585 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1496	Post Options Post Reply Quote MRJP BUZZ 585 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 06 at 1:17pm
	yea especially when you are with someone smaller and after you are hit they look at you and go 'you are supposed to duck when you gybe'
	Josh Preater BUZZING IS FUN

mike ellis Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 30 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2339	Post Options Post Reply Quote mike ellis Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Aug 06 at 11:57am
	toppers are good in big waves too, ease the outhaul, downhaul and kicker right out and hang on . if all the controls are eased it makes it much easier to right afterwards.
	600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318

getafix Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 28 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2143	Post Options Post Reply Quote getafix Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Aug 06 at 2:25pm
	great trick with a topper in a lot of breeze, see how far down the mine you can go before pulling it back ... you'd be amazed, scared, and exilarated... you don't need much of a topper (a knackered one is a good idea in the first place).... 1st prize for the person who get's the mast foot under 1ft of water and comes back?
	Feeling sorry for vegans since it became the latest fad to claim you are one

mike ellis Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 30 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2339	Post Options Post Reply Quote mike ellis Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Aug 06 at 5:07pm
	there is a major problem with using knackered toppers for that trick: they leak at the bow if they have been lifted by it (the deck comes off the hull) so you go down the mine and then you come up only to find the boat is still under water and stays under water till you get ashore (or sink). good to watch though
	600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318

Matt Jackson Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Sep 04 Location: Darlington Online Status: Offline Posts: 962	Post Options Post Reply Quote Matt Jackson Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Aug 06 at 5:14pm
	No problem - just sail without a bung, like a selfbailer for the hull.
	Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36

Guest Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 21 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guest Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Aug 06 at 6:09pm
	Agreed - Toppers rock and so does Topper racing; no reason why Topper racing should be any less serious than any other class. I had great times in my Topper ... oh to be 14 again ... I'd be on holiday and on the beach right now Rick