Topaz fusion Quick start guide

topaz
topaz fusion
»Rigging Instructions
www.toppersailboats.com

1
»Introduction
»Manufacturers Details
»
»Glossary/Useful Terminology
»Parts of the Maverick
»SAIL - “Dinghy Style”
»SUS - “Stand Up Sailing”
»WINDSURF - “Cruiser Explorer”
»SUP - “Single/Double
»Launching and Basic Safety on
the Water
»Care, Maintenance & Service











contents
introduction
For further information, spares and
accessories, please contact the
manufacturer:
TOPPER INTERNATIONAL LTD,
Kingsnorth Technology Park,
Wotton Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 6LN
Telephone [phone]
email [e-mail]
These RIGGING INSTRUCTIONS have been compiled to
help you to rig your Topaz FUSION sailing dinghy. Please
also ensure that you refer to your TOPAZ OWNERS
MANUAL.
The OWNERS MANUAL has been compiled to help you to
operate your craft with safety and enjoyment. It contains

systems and information on its operation and maintenance.
Please read it carefully and familiarise yourself with the craft
before using it.

you are not familiar with, for your own comfort and safety,
please ensure that you obtain handling and operating
experience before assuming command of the craft. Your
dealer or national sailing federation or yacht club will be
pleased to advise you of local sea schools, or competent
instructors.
PLEASE KEEP THE RIGGING INSTRUCTIONS AND THE OWNERS
MANUAL IN A SECURE PLACE AND HAND THEM OVER TO THE
NEW OWNER WHEN YOU SELL THE CRAFT.

2
CE certication

3
glossary / useful terminology
hull
spars
foils
Nose:
Painter:
Transom:
Fore:
Aft:
Mast Step:
Rail:
Port:
Starboard:
Leeward:
Windward:
Gudgeon:
Mast:
Mast Heel:
Boom:
Outhaul:
Vang:
Cunningham:
Sheet:
Daggerboard
Rudder:
Pintle:
Front of the hull
Rope from the nose of the hull used for towing or tying the board to a jetty, buoy or trolley
Back of the hull
Forward
Rearward
Integral tube where the mast heel/foot of the mast locates
Upper/outermost edge of a hull
Left side of the hull when looking forward
Right side of the hull when looking forward
Direction away from the wind
Direction from which the wind is coming
Fitting on the transom used to hang the rudder
WARNING: Please check the transom drain bung is closed
securely by turning it in a clockwise direction until hand tight.
Main vertical spar supporting the rig/sail
Lower edge/foot of the mast
Spar at the bottom of the mainsail
Purchase system on the boom for tightening the lower edge/foot of the sail
Purchase system for tightening the rear/aft edge (leech) of the sail

Rope for controlling the inward/outward position of the mainsail
Blade found in the middle of the hull used to counteract leeward slippage
Blade found at the transom used for steering
The male part (pin) of the rudder hanging system

4
glossary / useful terminology (...)
sails
Mainsail:
Jib:
Tack:
Clew:
Head:
Leach:

Foot:
Batten:
Sail aft/rearward of the mast (Larger of the two)
Sail forward of the mast (Smaller of the two)
Forward lower corner of a sail
Rear lower corner of a sail
Upper corner of sail
Rear edge of the sail
Forward edge of the sail
Bottom edge of the sail

Unpack your Fusion and check you have all the
required components.
Your Fusion comes in the following component
parts:
 Hull Complete: To include jib hardware
(Specification Dependant)
 Sail Kit: Standard mainsail, pro mainsail, jib, jib
sheet pack (Specification dependent)
 Spar Kit: Upper mast, lower mast and boom
 Foil/Vang Kit: Dagger-board, rudder assembly,
rope/block pack, vang pack
 Document Pack: Rigging manual with CE certificate
5
4
3
21
parts of the fusion

5
Rope Pack (Supplied as part of Foil/Vang kit)
Jib Sheet Pack (Supplied as part of the sail kit)
 Mainsheet
 Daggerboard Shock Cord
 Cunningham Control Line
 Traveller Block
 Sister Clips



 Jib Halyard
 Jib Sheet
 Rigging Link
 Snap Hook


5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
Vang Pack (Supplied as part of Foil/Vang kit)
 Vang Control Line
 Lower Block & Hook
 Upper Block & Shackle

32
1
boom
rudder
mast
clew
leech
head
foot
luff
tack
bow
jib
dagger - board
stern/transom
mainsail

6
sail numbers & rating yardstick for racing
Portsmouth/Great Lakes yardstick numbers for racing -
• 
(1 or 2 crew)
• 
(1 or 2 crew)
If you intend to race your Fusion you will need to attach sail
numbers. These can be supplied by a local chandlery
although their positioning is important!
• Identify the sail number of your Fusion by referring to
the sail number plate positioned on the port (left hand)
side of the forward cockpit.

by the racing rules of sailing as enclosed:
 
The numbers on the starboard side are always higher than
the port side.
Measure 400mm above the Fusion logo and draw a base
line 90 degrees perpendicular to the leech.
 Measure 70 mm from the leech and draw a line parallel to
the leech.
 Position the port sail numbers starting with the last digit
square with the baseand leech lines drawn.
6) The remaining numbers should be square to the
previous number 60 mm apart.
Turn the sail over and mark a line on the starboard side of
the sail 100 mm abovethe port numbers.
8) Position the starboard sail numbers 60mm apart working
from the leech line.
positioning

7
 Insert the upper mast into the lower mast, making sure the
red arrows align.
Thread the jib halyard through the halyard plate eye on
the upper mast.

and pass it through the jib halyard cleat positioned on the
port (left hand) side of the lower mast before temporarily
tying the two free ends together.
Unfold the mainsail (try to keep it clean and dry) and
sleeve it over the top of the mast and jib halyard, making
sure that the mast stays together.
1
2
3
4
rigging the mast and cunningham
rigging instructions

8
 Slide the sail down the full length of the mast keeping
the cunningham D-ring facing forwards. (In line with the
cleats at the base of the mast)
 Take care to ensure the upper edge of the mast goes
right to the head/top of the sail until it bears right up

aperture.
 
insert the battens (three) into the batten pockets ensuring
the batten ends engage correctly into the fold overs at the
outer edge of each batten pocket.
(To prevent loss whilst sailing)
8) Untie the previously “temporarily tied” jib halyard ends and

the cleat.
5
Working from the jib halyard exit point of the
mainsail, pull the non-cleated rope end out from inside

through the eye)
Working from the jib halyard exit point of the
mainsail, pull the non-cleated rope end out from inside

through the eye)
6
7
rigging the mast and cunningham (...)

9
 Take the cunningham control line and tie an overhand
knot in one end before threading the other end through
the slot underneath the cunningham cleat positioned on
the forward face of the mast.
 Continue to thread the untied end around the D ring on

passing it through the main body of the cunningham
cleat. (Jaws)
 Tie an overhand loop handle (large enough to put your
hand in) in the end of the cunningham line.
14) Finally, tension the cunningham line just enough to

engaging the line in the cleat jaws.
8
rigging the mast and cunningham (...)

10
TOP TIP: In windy conditions, raising the mast can be made
MUCH easier by wrapping the sail around the mast in a
clockwise direction before positioning the clews webbing strap
over the integral plastic sail hook.
WARNING: The mast is metal and is an electrical
conductor. Contact with overhead electric wires could
be fatal, please exercise extreme caution when raising
the mast, launching and sailing.
With the boat positioned bow/front facing into the wind,
lift the mast carefully in to the boats mast step with the vang
tang facing forwards towards the bow/front of the boat.
Clip the boom onto the masts gooseneck collar.

Ensure the mast retention key goes right through the
keyway in the front of the boats mast deck plate, before
rotating the mast 180 degrees until the vang tang faces
immediately aft/rearwards towards the transom/stern.
WARNING: The mast key MUST be correctly engaged
through the keyway in the boats mast deck plate to
prevent disengagement from the hull in the event of
capsize.
1
1
2
tting the boom
raising the mast

11
With the boat positioned bow/front facing into the wind,
connect the sail to the boom by locating the clew hook into
the clew outhaul eyelet at the aft/rear lower corner of
the sail.
With the boat positioned bow/front facing into the wind,
connect the sail to the boom by locating the clew hook into
the clew outhaul eyelet at the aft/rear lower corner of
the sail.
2
3
tting the boom (...)
rigging the mainsheet
 Join the large traveller block to the small traveller block
using their integral sister clips.
1

12
rigging the mainsheet (...)
 When standing on the starboard/right hand side of the
hull:
a)
mainsheet before threading the other end through the
becket of the booms aft/rear mainsheet
block in a bow to stern direction.
b) Thread the loose end downwards, passing around the
large traveller block in a bow to stern direction.
c) Thread the loose end upwards passing it around the
mainsheet block on the lower aft/rear end
of the boom travelling in a stern to bow direction.
2
d) Thread the loose end forward through the webbing

TOP TIP: This prevents the rope from sagging and getting tangled
up around the helmsman during tacks and jibes!
e) Thread the loose end through the remaining
mainsheet block positioned on the lower mid-section of
the boom travelling in a stern to bow direction.
f) Thread the loose end through the mainsheet ratchet
block situated at the aft/rear end of the daggerboard
case in the middle of the boats cockpit.
TOP TIP: Take care to ensure the mainsheet passes through the
ratchet block so it free-wheels when sheeting in but locks when
sheeting out. (There is also a ratchet on/o switch, on the side of
the block)
3
4
5

13
 Finally tie the end of the mainsheet through the webbing
loop at the aft/rear end of the rear centre toe strap using
a half hitch with a secondary overhand knot in the very
end of the rope to prevent the half hitch coming undone.
TOP TIP: This eliminates twisting, knotting and potential
unthreading of the mainsheet when in use.
6
rigging the mainsheet (...)
rigging & tting the vang
Background: The Fusion is supplied with a 3:1 vang
purchase cascade. (2 block system)
 Take the lower vang block and using its integral snap
hook attach it to the eye plate positioned on the aft/rear
face of the lower mast. (Just above the mast deck plate)
  Take the upper vang block and using the shackle
provided attach it to the eye plate positioned on the
lower surface of the boom. (Near the front end).
 Take the vang control line and attach one end directly
through the central hole of the upper vang block (Not
around the pulley sheave) using a bowline loop.
1
2

14
  Thread the remaining loose end around the purchase
system as shown before passing it through the cleat
fairlead of the lower vang block and tying an overhand
loop/handle in its end. (large enough to put your
hand in)
 Tension the vang to the desired amount and secure
it in the cleat which forms an integral part of the lower
vang block.
TOP TIP: The correct vang tension for normal conditions would
allow the trailing edge of the mainsail (leech) to blade open
slightly at its tip (like a propeller) while preventing the boom from
“skying” upwards excessively when the sail is lled.
  Fasten the snap hook to the jib tack (forward lower
corner) using the rigging link.
 Hook the jib tack to the bow eye as shown.
Tie the jib halyard (previously tied on the cunnigham D
ring - for safe keeping) to the head (upper corner) of the
jib using a bow line loop.
Hoist the jib and cleat the halyard securely in the cleat
before stowing the free end of the halyard in the pocket
on the port (left) hand side of the mainsail tack.
3
1
rigging and tting the vang (...)
rigging and raising the jib
  Tie the jib sheet onto the jib clew (aft/rear lower
corner) by taking the centre of the sheet and passing
it through the clew cringle before passing the two free
ends back through the loop formed.
2

15
rigging and raising the jib (...)
4
  Finally tie the two loose sheet ends together using a

TOP TIP: This eliminates twisting, knotting and potential
unthreading of the jib sheets when in use.
  Thread one loose end of the jib sheet either side of
the mast and through the port and starboard jib sheet
fairleads in an outboard to inboard direction as shown.
3
TOP TIP: The jib can be rolled, folded in half and stored under the
deck storage elastics as shown when sailing.
The sheets needn’t be untied at any point during this exercise and
the jib tack snap hook can be clipped on for further security upon
completion.
With this in mind, the jib can be raised and lowered as conditions
change during your Fusion adventure!
6
5

16
WARNING: The cockpit drain bung should NOT be
used unless total crew weight in your Fusion exceeds

Background: Fusion is completely self-draining (even

cockpit drain bung
  Lower the rudder heads pintle pins onto the rudder
gudgeons situated on the stern/transom of the boat.
 Ensure the integral rudder gudgeon clip (blue) is
successfully engaged resulting in the rudder head
automaticly “clicking” in to place securely.
 Fit the secondary rudder retaining split ring through
the upper pintle pin.
 Insert the aft/rear end of the tiller arm tube in to the
rudder head travelling in a forward to aft/rearward
direction while passing underneath the traveller line.
 Line up the tiller arm retaining screw hole with its
corresponding hole on the uppermost aft/rear surface
of the rudder head.
 Locate the tiller arm retaining screw, driving it
carefully through both the rudder head and the tiller
arm.
1
tting the rudder
  Clip the tiller extension to its mounting bracket on
the uppermost forward surface of the tiller arm.
 To remove the rudder assembly from the transom
gudgeons, the rudder retaining split ring must be
removed and the integral rudder gudgeon clip (blue)
pressed forwards.
2

17
Background: The auto-release cleat on the Fusion tiller arm
provides the best solution to the problem of how to

bottom or a solid obstacle in the water.
TOP TIP: Once tripped the Fusion tiller arm cleat can be reset
in seconds simply by pushing the cleat back down into its base
until you hear it “click”. The cleat is also tted with an adjustable
cam to enable the release tension to be set to suit your local
conditions.
Setting the Release Load:
 Test release load with the “cam” at minimum setting.
 To increase the release load use a screwdriver to
rotate the “cam” incrementally towards maximum.
3
4
tting the rudder (...)
tting the daggerboard
  Put a sister clip on one end of the daggerboard shock
cord before tying an overhand knot at the end of the
shockcord to prevent loss.
1
  Pass the other end of the shock cord:
a) Through the hole in the upper forward edge of the
daggerboard
b) Through the webbing loop at the forward end of the
front toe strap.
2

18
  Put a sister clip on the loose end of the daggerboard
shock cord before tying an overhand knot at the end of
the shockcord to prevent loss.
  Finally fasten the sister clips together to close the
daggerboard elastic loop as shown.
3
4
tting the daggerboard (...)
5

19
reeng and stowing the 5.0 mainsail
In strong winds, if you are unsure whether you can cope with the
conditions, it is always best to reef the sail to reduce its area.
 Ease the vang and unhook the lower vang block from the eye
bracket on the aft lower face of the mast immediately above the
mast deck plate.
 Un-cleat the outhaul control line
 
anti-clockwise direction.
 Re-attach the lower vang block to the eye bracket on the aft face
of the mast.
 Re-tension tension the clew out haul to the desired amount and
secure it in the cleat on the boom.
 Finally re-tension the vang to the desired amount before engaging
the line back in the cleat jaws.
TOP TIP: For convenience after sailing, the mainsail can be temporarily
stowed by wrapping the sail around the mast in a clockwise direction before
positioning the clews webbing strap over the integral plastic sail hook.
WARNING: If your Fusion is not being used for more than a day or
so, its sail should be stowed dry and clean in the bag provided to
avoid U.V degradation.
reefed areareefed area
reductionreduction