Illingworth & Primrose's Top Hat Yacht.

[nswsailor]

Good Evening All,

I am researching the history of the Top Hat yacht in Australia
and came across an advert for an English timber Top Hat called ‘Orque’.

The first, and only, ten timber Australian Top Hats (which we call 'Mark 0') were built by Rob Legg of Mouldcraft in Melbourne where Illingworth supervised their construction. Only 8 survive today, as far as we know.

After this they were built in fibreglass in Sydney. We have three versions Mark 1,2 & 3 which refers to the deck layout, all the hulls are the same except for a Mark 3 shoal water version. Building stopped in 1984, but the moulds are still in existence. The number of Top Hats is unknown, as the hulls were never number, but they are common on the East Coast of Australia.

You can see our site at http://www.tophatyachts.org

I have seen some paper cuttings of Illingworth's first Top Hat, but we do not
have the rest of the history in the UK.

Is there anybody in the UK who can full in the history of Illingworth’s Top Hat in the UK for us?

Phillip.

 

[nswsailor]

We have just recieved additional information, Illingworth designed a Top Hat 'super sports version' called The Cloth Hat Yacht.
If any body knows anything about these yachts I would be interested in any details.

Phillip.

 

[Tranona]

I have a copy of John Illingworth's book "Offshore" Revised edition 1963. The only reference in the JOG section is on page 271 is

Top Hat Our latest contribution to the JOG fleet is the design of the Top Hat - with a super sports version The Colth Cap. This is a 21 ft waterline JOG racer with 4 berths, in moulded ply construction, with 50% ballast ratio and 285 sq ft of sail.


You might find people in the JOG group who have some history - although nothing on their website. Yachting World produced an Annual from late 40's to 70's which had summaries of racing activities in the year - although my 1964 does not have anything specifically on JOG, but it might be worth contacting YW

Hope this helps

 

[bluerm166]

UK Top Hats

Hi NSW sailor,
A friend happens to own an early Top Hat called 'Tip Top' which was ordered at the 64 boatshow by a French enthusiast who was the owner until recent years.
It's still kept at St.Valery En Caux on the channel coast where it's spent every winter under full cover.I have some documents which may be of interest:
A photo of the boat
The original (unchanged) sail plan
A brief review/designer's remarks from 1963

These are now posted on Picasa at :

 

[Poignard]

There is a mention of it in Illingworth's "Further Offshore".

It just so happens I have a good copy of this fine book I want to sell. It could be yours for £5 plus postage.