The Topaz XENON has once again been selected as the craft of choice for the prestigious 2008 Endeavour Trophy held at the Royal Corinthians Yacht Club. The race, considered the ′Champion of Champions′ competition for dinghy sailors across the UK will continue to feature the Topaz XENON for a record third year in succession, the class having also been selected for the 2006 and 2007 events.

Furthermore, such is the confidence in Topper′s Topaz XENON design that the class has beaten off stiff competition once again to secure the selection for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Topper Sales director, Rick Reading was understandably delighted by the news commenting, "the selection of the XENON ahead of numerous other hopefuls is a glowing endorsement of the one-design racing credentials of the XENON Class. It is an unprecedented step for the organizers to have committed their selection to a particular dinghy class three events in advance." This news will bring the XENON′s involvement in this famous event to a hugely impressive five years in a row.

The One Design, two-man asymmetric dinghy has proven to be a big hit with the cream of the UK′s sailing talent. The key qualities recognised by both the organisers and past competitors has been the combination of power and ease of handling. The philosophy behind the XENON is not all about maximum hull speed but the ability of the crew to get the boat around the track. With this in mind Ian Howlett designed the XENON to be quick but not at all twitchy. The most important aspect is how well the boat handles around the course and in varying conditions. To draw a parallel with the world of motorsport, cornering and control always take precedence over outright speed - otherwise Formula One cars would look like dragsters.

The correctness of this philosophy has been beautifully demonstrated by the success of the XENON in the Endeavour Trophy events. Topper’s Topaz XENON has earned the respect of the country’s best club sailors who have not had to constantly struggle for control, instead they have been allowed to concentrate more on their tactics making for exhilarating fleet racing which is extremely close.

The build quality and strength of the XENON was another critical factor in it’s selection. The robust, low maintenance nature of the design mean that the entire fleet are far more likely to stay out on the water and upright in all conditions with less risk of breakages or gear failure.

Topper is providing competitors with the boats early to accommodate a training day before the races begin. Expert advice from top coach Adam Bowers will give sailors essential tips to familarise them with the boat’s nuances. This allows the sailors to tune their boats to their specifications and peak sailing performance, all vital for the regatta the following day.

This year′s regatta adopts the same eight-race programme as the previous two years, with each race running an exciting and action-packed 45 minutes. This format has worked superbly in previous events. In addition to their use in the 2008 Royal Endeavour Trophy, Topper Topaz XENONS will also be used in the NSSA National Regatta. Considered the top Youth Sailing Regatta in the UK, the winners will be awarded the Mount-Hayes Trophy.

The Royal Endeavour Trophy is borne from the roots of England′s America′s Cup challenger boat Endeavour in 1934, where an amateur crew from Royal Corinthians Yacht Club replaced dismissed professionals and won two races against Rainbow before losing the final four races. This spirit of amateur competition was furthered by Endeavour crewmember Beecher Moore, who founded the Royal Endeavour Trophy in 1961.

Since then the competition has been universally recognised as the pinnacle of amateur sailing regattas in the UK. Topper Sailboats represent unrivalled construction quality, superb boat design and fast, fun and forgiving performance. Topper Sailboats appeal to beginners and experienced racers alike, thanks to their impeccable handling and offer exciting levels of controllable performance. This is why Topper International has such a popular following amongst schools and clubs as well as families that are in the know.

The outstanding line-up includes the classic TOPPER; the super simple TAZ; the family oriented multi-role MAGNO and OMEGA; the racy but user friendly VIBE and XENON; and the incredibly versatile multi-rig TOPAZ.