Topcat 18
This German built catamaran was designed by Klaus Enzmann who as a cat sales and sails man was the importer of Dart 15's & 18's into Germany decided to design an improved 15 foot catamaran.

The Topcat 15 lead to the design of a no compromise 18 racing cat.

The Topcat 18:

The first thing you notice about the boat is how solid it is. Being used to Dart 18 and Hurricane 5.9's which are to say the least of it built down to a weight, the Topcat appears much bigger than 18 ft.

The unusual rudder mechanism is so well design and operates so well it seems strange that it has not been adopted by other boat makers.

Our first sail was off a roped off beach between two buoys with a directly onshore 15 knot plus wind. As we pushed the trolley down the beach you could see the owner was visibly concerned about letting two strangers sail his prized boat. The beach slope was quite shallow and the water quite rough.

I elected to start from one side of the roped off section point as high as possible and hope to make it out in one tack. We pushed off with the jib tight in and I pulled in the main a microsecond after the downhaul was tight. The acceleration was not amazing but she pointed well once the rudders were fully down. The top cat has keels.
We kept as tight on the wind as possible just cleared the buoy and let the boat bear away and got out on to the wires we were away she pounded through the waves and like a stallion set free picked up speed. There was no sensation that the boat would pitchpole so we kept the boat level and our weight forward. As we let her have her head I glanced back and saw the owner's body language change as he turned to walk away he was obviously satisfied that the boat was in safe hands.

We cut across the path of a catamaran pleasure craft - one of those glass side sightseeing boats capable of good turns of speed between stopping points. We sail on down the coast enjoying the power and strength of this German boat.

We turn easily and put the cat on a tight reach to ride down the surf and really see how fast it will go. And go it did! We flew passed the pleasure boat to the consternation of its crew and try as they could we stayed ahead although they are using their engines to the full and causing an enormous wash.

We run into the beach and quickly turn her with the rudders half up.

An excellent experience. But would I want one .....

I think I will stick with my F-18 with its dagger boards & planing hull.
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