Topper (dinghy)

More than 49,000 Toppers have been sold since Ian Proctor drew the boat in 1977, and that number is the reason to buy one: used Toppers are everywhere, cheap to run and easy to resell. At 43 kg and about 3.4 m, it fits on a car roof, and a single mast and sail keep rigging simple for a young sailor. It is a single-hander that rewards light, agile sailors, and it is a World Sailing International Class with big junior racing fleets in Britain and Ireland. Three rig sizes (4.2, 5.3 and 6.4 square meters) let one hull follow a sailor from early lessons to serious racing. Outside the UK and Ireland fleets are thinner, so check your club before you commit.