Dinghies also at Southampton Boat Show

Some of the performance dinghies on display at the show

Topper are another show regular and included within the display of their large range of dinghies is the up graded singlehander, the Blaze.

Topper have taken on board improvements suggested by the class association and this season has seen a resurgence of sales for the hiking singlehander. The mast and boom are now supplied in carbon and the boom goose-neck has been lowered and a new kicker arrangement fitted.

A new soft sail replaces the fully battened sail and although of slightly less area has proved to be faster in combination with the new carbon rig.

The racks are also now supplied in carbon and some slight changes have been made to the rudder tower. These improvements can be retrofitted to existing boats in stages, allowing owners to choose to replace items as they need to.

The Blaze has suffered from being one of the early lightweight singlehanders and these changes will do much to restore the boat to the forefront of the non-trapeze area.

More on page 3......