The Topper Book

The Topper is a brilliant boat – over 50,000 have been sold and thousands of people learn the basic sailing skills in Toppers every year.
This is the only book which shows you how to rig, sail and race the Topper – right up to World Champion standard. It is packed full of advice, go-fast tips, photo sequences and diagrams. This new third edition covers all three Topper rigs (4.2, 5.3 and 6.4) and is fully up to date with details of the new rota-moulded (grey) boats as well as the traditional injection-moulded (red) boats.
It starts by describing how to rig and sail the boat before moving on to racing and providing masterclasses for success in competitions.
Written by GBR’s longest-serving National Topper Coach and a former Topper National and European Champion, the book features recent Topper World and National Champions and is the bible for Topper sailing. UK Topper National Champion Jess Powell demonstrates the techniques required, as well as what not to do, in over 300 photos and has contributed to the text, making sure it is completely relevant to today’s Topper sailors.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

PART ONE: GETTING STARTED: Rigging The Boat, The Different Rigs, Sailing Theory, Reefing, Launching, A First Sail, Reaching, Beating, Tacking, Running, Gybing, Capsizing, Landing, Having Fun In Your Topper

PART TWO: RACING: THE BASICS: Introduction & Rules, The Start, Around The Race Course

PART THREE: MASTERCLASSES: Preparing Yourself For Success, Preparing Your Boat For Success, Boatspeed & Boat Handling For Success, Tactics & Strategy For Success, Preparing For An Event, Dave Cockerill’s Guide For Parents

PART FOUR: TECHNICAL MATTERS: Rigging The Toestraps, Fitting Out A Race-Spec Boom, Rope Kits, Sail Numbers & Telltales, Topper Care & Maintenance, The International Topper Class Association

Dave Cockerill held the role of RYA Topper UK Head Coach for 14 years. He is the Topper 4.2 National Coach and was instrumental in introducing the centre mainsheet and 4.2 sail to the class.

John Caig is a former Topper National & European Champion. He twice won the Fireball World Championship and has been a member of the British Olympic Sailing team. He is also author of Fernhurst Books’ Racing: A Beginner’s Manual.