Its very quiet!

[karl010203]

Roller reefing main... fantastic! and lazy.

Is in inboom furling, or just rolled around boom (does that make sense?)

Sailed a larger yacht a while back with inboom furling... made reefing cheating! Push button stuff.

Also have sailed a hanse with self tacking jib - seriously a combination of all of the above would really set a new bench mark in energy exertion efficiency...

[storm petrel]

The beauty of the Tophat is that they are strongly built and simple to sail, you can manhandle everything alone if need be and you are right amongst it when at sea (not cocooned in a central cockpit or wheel house). It is bit like a BSA Bantam (thats showing my age) - agriculturally simple, but a hoot to ride. What is the fun of it if you have nothing to do other than point it and sip your gin? Maybe Shaun has a point about hanked on head sails - no that might be taking things too far.......

[karl010203]

Sipping Gin - sounds exhausting...

[surrealbass]

I have had Joylee out in 35- 40 knots storm, behaved faultlessly, thankful for how quick we got her shipshape for the blow- left the rag up until the last minute and then hooted for home. 16.8 on the gps for a moment or two but but dammit my crew spilled his coopers!!! no gin!. if i want to pull strings i have two masts and three sails on my 13 footer! I think anything that makes it safer or easier with the available crew is fine by me as i usually sailed her on my own( with never a problem)

[Shaun]

Gday Bear,
Thanks for your kind offer on the Arona spares, I may have to take you up on that one day, they are somewhat of a collectors item. "What ever you do(apart from not smoking!), dont throw out the old Arona"

cheers
Shaun