Top Hats can still be competitive against modern designs

[Paulvb]

We purchased a Top Hat as Jo had not sailed much and has terrible balance problems. The boat being reasonable stable I believed it was a good way to go.
Our first season at EFYC saw us getting some good results over the year in the various series. See attached 2018-19 results.
A good handicap from learning how to handle the boat possibly helped. (two novice crew members was our other handicap )
Series results 2 x 1sts, 4 x 2nds and 2 x 3rds. Very pleased with ourselves. and while Old Harry is slow in certain conditions she does scare the Div 4 competitors when we are out in the right conditions.
When it blows hard and everyone else has pulled out Old Harry does a Steven Bradbury and crosses the line first and fastest (normally the only one left).
This 2019-20 season I am not sure how we went as we were away for quite a number of the races and as the series are mixed in between each other that will mean we missed consistency in the various race series.
And with the dreaded outbreak the season has been cut short.

[Phillip]

Well done Paul and Joanne,

You have proved that our Top Hats still have "IT"

Question, were there any other Top Hats in the races [YNOT ?]

[Paulvb]

Hi Phillip,
Thanks for the support.
This YNOT is a Catalina 25. they don't get out much and haven't mastered their boat yet. The owner bought it around the same time we got Old Harry. It was a bit tippy with a shallow draft keel option. Then started to reduce the sail area so it is not competitive at all. He is now getting new sails made and he realised he had them reduced too far. He has too much money I think.
A lot of the more experienced sailors at the club had suggested we mount a rudder on the back of Old Harry for better control. Have you ever seen that done? The rudder on Old Harry is different to alot of other images I have seen online. Obviously they changed over the years. some seemed more triangular.

[Phillip]

Paul,

That's not a normal Top Hat rudder!!!!

I think one of your long term plans should be to restore the shape of your rudder.
We do have detail plans of the rudder shape. See Photo Gallery. It would only involve fiberglass work to do so.

There is at least one Top Hat with a stern hung rudder, but remember the Top Hat stern has not been designed
to have a rudder hanging off of it [especially the Mk 2 & 3 with their lighter construction].

Remember Primrose designed the hull and he got it perfectly! Stick to his design.

I also question why you would hang one off there anyway as we can all turn our Top Hats around in 1 length and I can see no advantage
and remember our keel does not come back far enough to support a stern hung rudder anyway.

If you want a stern hung rudder you need a full length keel or a modern fin keel.