BoatsTopper International Buzz

Topper International Buzz

Fractional Sloop · Centerboard Dinghy · First built 1994

A 4.2-metre fractional sloop with a lightweight 79.8kg hull, originally produced by Reg White Limited

Designed by Ian Howlett.

LOA
Beam
Displacement
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.92 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 80 kg of hull, so roughly 700 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 80 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draught shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.
CoastalBluewater

At 4.50 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 4.50
EasygoingPowered-up

70.3 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 70.3

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Beamier than ~89% of boats her size on file

Compared with 372 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
70.3
Capsize screening
4.50
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1994
Designer
Ian Howlett
Builder
Topper International, Rondar Raceboats

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Several Under License 29er4.40 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA high-performance skiff designed by Julian Bethwaite, featuring a powerful fractional rig for competitive racing
Marie Rønningen, Olympic gold contender7:24from SEILmagasinet
Spindrift 134.06 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Hubert Vandestadt-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively, responsive sailing
Our Boat Got Stolen 😡… So We Built a New One (in just ONE Week)from WhiteSpotPirates
Alcort Sunfish4.24 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthWith a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 47.02, this nimble 4.24-metre dinghy remains a benchmark for simple
Lewis Boat Works TETRIS 30 Apr 230:02from kentblairl
Ilca 7 (Laser-International)4.23 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Bruce Kirby-designed Olympic class dinghy featuring a simple unstayed cat rig and a lightweight, high-performance hull
Theodor Middelthon: An "ILCA Viking" on a steady course for the world summit18:40from SEILmagasinet
Fairey Marine Firefly3.66 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterThe 1948 Olympic single-handed class, this Uffa Fox design was the first sailboat ever produced by Fairey Marine
Mikkel Thommessen on a long life as a sailor0:53from SEILmagasinet
MacKay Boats Ltd. 49erfx4.88 mSame hull family0.7 m longerA high-performance Olympic skiff featuring the 49er hull paired with a specialised rig tailored for lighter crews
Benedicte Lind Bjørland, first woman to lead KNS10:37from SEILmagasinet

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Topper International BossAn Ian Howlett-designed fractional dinghy built for high-performance, lightweight planingTopper International TopperAn Ian Proctor-designed polypropylene dinghy featuring an unstayed cat rig and three versatile sail-area configurationsWhite Formula BlazeA 4.2-meter cat-rigged dinghy featuring a minimalist 65kg hull designed for rapid, high-performance singlehanded sailingByte Boats Inc. ByteAn Ian Bruce-designed unstayed cat-rigged dinghy that weighs just 45 kilograms for rapid acceleration and easy handling

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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