Tophat wind requirements

[newsailor]

Hi all,

With the obligatory "how long is a piece of string" caveat, what kind of wind speed does a tophat mk1 need to get going?

Take as a given that that the boat is clean underneath etc and is of average weight in terms of what is on board (incl. inboard).

Will it go at all in 10knts or less?

Also, does anyone have experience sailing tophats around botany bay/kogarah bay? it can get quite shallow so just wondered whether anyone has had any troubles (the captain cook bridge ought to be fine in term of height).

cheers,

nick

[bearmcnally]

Hi Nick ,
You'll get a Top Hat moving in 1 Knt of wind ? Up to 12 knts comfortable and enjoyable 15 knts to 20 knts lots of fun any thing above that it's starts to get wet and uncomfortable .But it depends if you are a"silly old skiffie" or just a Sunday salior.
I have sailed 16 foot skiffs and 40 footers down there and it's fine until you run out of water . But I guess those funny coloured poles and those black diamond things might mean something ?
One could thing about the Top Hat they are easy to remove from sand banks when those moments of running out of water happen !

Cheers Bear

PS Nick there are some really goodTop Hats on the market at present ,Just go and buy one and don't worry about the above ?

[Phillip]

Nick,
Most of us out here who are sailing Top Hats have run aground, some multiple times

The point is that's it's not a drama [until you are off] and the old saying is...

You haven't sailed ...where-ever... until you have run aground, is very true.

Of course those few shoal draft Top Hats are exempt

[Troppo]

I don't think I have ever run aground on a sandbank.

However, plenty of sandbanks have chased me around for a while before finally slipping in front and ambushing me. My response: "What, a sandbank here? I was sure I had plenty of water a moment ago!"

Ah, it's all fun.

troppo

[Phillip]

Louis,

Sadly I have to own up to a Mud Bank, a Coral Reef [ouch ] and a Sand Bank.

Plus plenty of others, in your words, that have chased me!

Goes with the territory I suppose.

I promise not to do it this time round.

[Dolphin]

G'day Nick,
yes I've sailed in Botany Bay a bit but mainly in Port Hacking.
Things to watch out for. Dolls point there is a big sandbank that hangs out from the shore. make sure you watch the cardinal marks but they are sometimes wrong.
Don't cut corners going around the shore near St George sailing club there are steep sand banks and you get no warning that you are running into trouble.
if you're going to Towra Pt (the Elephant's Trunk) make sure you come in from the NW as again a sand spit runs up there. Its a good spot in the Nor Easter.

I'd recommend you contact Marine Rescue. They' could explain more to you. Up Kogarah Bay its mud so it slows you down slowly and with a depth sounder you'll see you're running into trouble. You can't get under Tom Uglys bridge so the Georges River is out.
Over at the Kurnell side Silver beach shelves slowly and you can't get within Coo-ee of the beach. Yellow special marks are installed there so keep outside there.
If you're sailing in light winds stay well clear of the approaches of the runways, especially 34 left as the down wash from the jumbo jets will rattle the rig. On a calm morning you can see turbulence on the water. You have to keep outside the yellow markers anyway or you'll get shot!

I've run aground 36times so its no problem. Only once did I do damage on the Burraneer Pt bar in Port Hacking. Outside the Port I've only run aground 3 times and I've been to Gt Keppel is and Windsor. Shit happens! They are a good strong boat and great for exploring.

Have fun
Greg.

[Dolphin]

Nick I should add that windwise, the Top Hat will sail in light winds but don't expect performance like a J24.
It won't point, over the ground you'll be lucky to sail within 60 degrees of the wind. But gentlemen don't sail to windward!
up to 12 Knots a number 2 genoa and a full main. Over that I drop the main to the No 2 reef. Over 20 kts drop the main and sail on the genoa. At 25kts it's balanced. Rob Lovelace could tell you much more.
If your toe rail is in the water a lot, do something.

Greg.