I’ve changed my Leader for a Topper Cruz, mainly attracted by the bright red lids of the storage tubs, and the simplicity of the rig — no shrouds, no stays, no yardsticks. Having reread Peter Bick’s article [147/24], he seems to have uncovered quite a lot of the points on short acquaintance, but I will try and add something from about a year’s experience with the type. The Cruz is beginning to grow on me so here are its vices and virtues that I have found.

First of all the Cruz is very much a dinghy, and probably a light one within the meaning of DCA controversy, although not for dragging up the beach or slip. This means a capsize is a real possibility — there has been at least one DCA account of a capsize incident involving a Cruz. Sailing normally on the lake at Milton Keynes it was quite possible to have the gunwales under water single handed in gusty conditions so I had bailers fitted over the winter. The previous owner had fitted an additional 12mm rope tied to the main sheet fixing for passengers to hang on to but it can usefully act as a righting line if needed. Before going to Falmouth this year I waited for a warm, windy day with rescue cover and tipped the Cruz in deliberately (that’s my story anyway), so that a capsize in anger wouldn’t give me any nasty surprises. By sheeting in at the wrong time the Cruz went over gently enough for me to step onto the alloy centreboard. My first surprise was that the centreboard was quite pliant away from the hull. I wouldn’t have wanted to put my 13 stone on the outside end of it. My second discovery was that I needed to uncleat the main sheet to right the boat — I think the sail was holding enough water to make righting difficult. After righting it was relatively easy to roll into the boat over the side despite not having a shroud to pull myself in. The water level was just below the thwart/side bench level, but the boat was reasonably stable to sail and the bailers dealt with the water in five to ten minutes of reaching.

Which brings me to reefing. Those with any experience of International Toppers will understand the reefing system — winding the triangular sails round the masts. The masts are about 3’ in diameter so each reef, a full rotation of the mast to align the kicker fitting, takes about 10’ off the foot of the sail and reduces the height proportionally. Calculations on sail areas from measurements give the following areas under reefing:

Sail One Reef Area Two Reef Area Main 79% 60% Mizzen 69% 44%

Despite the varying ratios of the sail sizes, handling seems well balanced with two reefs in each sail. By rolling both the sails the same way any effect of the sail being on one side of the mast is the same for both sails. Logic says there should be a difference depending which tack you are on but I can’t detect one in the handling. The mizzen can be easily reefed by wrapping the sail round the mast by hand but the main is best reefed by rotating the mast after dropping off the kicker. Reversing the main kicker so the adjustment is on the boom end means you can adjust the kicker with the spray dodger up.

As Peter Bick suggested, for rowing I have replaced the plastic rowlock sockets with metal — I found the plastic ones split under load although I was using a metal rowlock at the time. I put a snap shackle on the boom end of the mainsheet so I could drop the mainsheet out of the way for rowing with the sail up. The forward rowing position appears to be better balanced and easier to row for some reason with a passenger at the back of the boat. The boat moves easily under 7’ 6” oars.

I’m sure it’s possible to sleep in the bottom of the boat, as the storage tubs can be removed to make space, but I would find it cramped and possibly damp — I suspect my bailers weep a little. I made a sleeping board in three parts. The top head board end fits over the cool box slot at the front and retains the cool box if carried — there appears to be no other retaining method provided. I attached the board using simple hooks on the boat and bungee cord. Two other halves rest on the thwart and the head board. When sailing, the two removable parts fit along the centre board case quite nicely. The head board provides a seat for rowing from the forward position and generally makes the front of the boat more comfortable and usable.

I’ve made a simple ridge tent which uses both booms strapped together and a cord in a hem round the pronounced lip of the gunwale. I wouldn’t call it spacious and I am not convinced the nylon flysheet fabric I have used is correct. It seems to do the basic job. I’ve spent the night in it three times which hasn’t put me off. My arrangements improve with use, including the use of a fleece balaclava for added warmth.

I’m not sure about the value of the cool box and was quite tempted to fit a Porta Potti instead. I’ve investigated Porta Potti dimensions and fitting would not be straight forward as the coolbox space is too narrow. The space under my head board is useful for the ends of the oars and quickly stowing waterproofs, buckets etc out of the way. The waterproof tubs set in the front bulkhead and the thwart, and a large rear locker provide plenty of storage space. The storage appears to hold easily enough for one person for overnight camping, or for more than one for day sailing. I find the rear locker wet, especially under the cover in the boat park, which I suspect is a condensation problem I haven’t solved yet. I used a waterproof wet sack to keep dry clothes and a sleeping bag in the rear locker for camping. Otherwise it contains spare cordage, fenders, fresh water containers and my motor battery.

I’ve sailed my Cruz mainly single handed, but I’ve also sailed with ‘passive’ and ‘active’ crew. With experienced crew I’ve found it can be quite good for the crew to manage the main sail leaving the rudder and mizzen to the helm. With passive crew it’s quite possible for the helm to manage the main, mizzen and rudder but in blustery conditions managing the mizzen can be quite important, and someone else managing the main is helpful. I’ve found the mizzen a bit mysterious. Sometimes it propels the boat and at other times it just seems to make steering difficult. The mizzen seems to make sailing close to the wind steady and easy, as I seem to remember from the one occasion I sailed in company with the Bicky Finn yawl. I ran up Ruan creek at Falmouth under mizzen alone quite successfully but when I slowed down it took a little while to get the boat steering sensibly again, it proved quite a good sail for creeping up a shallow creek in a gusty force 4. When tacking it takes longer for the rig to settle and pick up speed without a jib slot. It seems to work best with main and mizzen cleated as you go about.

In windy conditions it can be quite an exhilarating sail. Whatever the arithmetic of planing the hull seems to have two modes of operation with distinctly different wakes. The smoother wake of the two coincides with travelling quite quickly, typically between a beam and broad reach. Good adjustment of the mizzen helps here. Experience at Falmouth suggested the boat will plane with two reefs in enough wind, even laden for overnight stops. The previous owner added toe straps to the rear compartment threaded round the centreboard case under the thwart and shackled to a bracket on the mizzen casing. I feel more comfortable in windy conditions for having the toe straps, but when cruising I might reef instead of using them.

The foredeck tub is very good for a folding grapnel anchor, and it is very easy to handle anchoring as the foredeck is so short. I was slightly surprised to find there is nowhere to tie the bitter end of the anchor warp inside the tub, so the first operation when anchoring is to tie on to the chunky fore cleat. I haven’t lost the anchor yet.

Construction seems tough, although I find the gunwale edge gelcoat chips, and I really need to fit a rubbing strip. The double construction of the hull means that I could forget to put the bung in at Falmouth and sail for a day without noticing — it’s probably safer to put the bung in! The strong construction does have a major drawback for me — the Cruz may be a light dinghy in DCA terms but not for single handed recovery up the beach or slipway. Experiments with the bathroom scales (an old set!) lead me to believe the rigged weight is of the order of 430 lbs or so, 500 lbs with the launching trolley. Adding an outboard or camping gear increases the weight further. It means I must learn the same techniques as owners of the heavier dinghies, whereas my Leader was easy to recover on my own. An early purchase was a jockey wheel, a winch may be next and a mooring is attractive for the next time I visit St Just in Roseland.

Am I happy with the design? So far, so good. It is interesting to sail — I may get the hang of the mizzen in time. It is quick and lively enough to interest experienced sailors while being stable, spacious and uncluttered for those of a more leisurely and less nautical disposition. For camping and cruising it gives sufficient stowage and as much comfort as can be expected in a fourteen foot boat. I am glad I have tried it and look forward to another summer season with it.