About Us
Team Topper Sailor, Will Gardiner is a 12-year-old Topper 4.2 sailor, and an emerging young talent in UK youth sailing.
In 2025, Will was selected for both the Topper 4.2 National Performance Squad and the Topper North Regional Performance Squad, recognising his strong commitment, work ethic, and continued development.
In 2026, Will is competing at the Topper National Series events, with a clear ambition to progress further within the British youth sailing performance pathway.
For us Will stands out as an enthusiastic and committed young sailor who has great attitude. He’s full of ideas and fun to work with and we’re looking forward to developing our Topper systems with him this year. It's all about the fun and we're sure that 2026 is going to be a great season in every way.
Ben, co founder of Sailboat Rigging Systems.
After spending c30 years in canoe racing, at national and international level , both competing and coaching, I found a new passion in dinghy racing. I have sailed throughout my life but a few years ago made the transition from cruising a Drascombe Lugger in the Lake District and further afield to joining the ILCA fleet. ILCA racing and rigging and optimising the system has taken over as my thing.
Having competed mainly in ILCA events in the north including Abersoch Dinghy Weeks I’ve started to grace the Merlin and RS400 fleets. My passion for kayaking equipment development quickly resurface in then dinghy park. I started enjoying playing with the boats and making/developing fittings, discovering a whole new world of related but different technology. This develops into a healthy obsession for splicing and rope work furled by my good friend ad co founder John
As a Graduate Engineer, former Design and Technology teacher and part time Kayak builder, (lots of carbon and sticky fingers!), I really enjoy the creative problem solving of optimising racing dinghy systems and refitting boats, particularly ICLA’s. This led us to creating Sailboat Rigging Systems with the aim of producing high quality systems, and sharing thoughts and ideas with a like minded community of enthusiastic sailors. The process and the dialogue is what makes it fun!
John, co founder of Sailboat Rigging systems.
Having spent a lifetime immersed in the sport that I love I feel lucky to have the time to develop my ideas for grass roots boats with a great bunch of friends and fellow sailors.
My sailing background has grown through dinghy racing in the UK to yacht racing in the UK in overseas and now back to class racing most recently in my Phantom. I actively sail across the UK circuit usually in middle, often at the back and very occasionally at the front of the fleet. I’ve been lucky enough to put a number of new boats on the water over the years and have always enjoyed the process of making them slightly different, some times better, and optimising the systems and rig. This passion continues with my Phantom journey.
As an ex Topper parent and Laser (are we still allowed to say that!) sailor I have a sound understanding of what makes both boats tick.
SRS: Topper dealers for Midlands, North West and North East
SRS have been appointed exclusive Topper dealers for the Midlands and North of England. We offer the full range of Topper dinghies along with spare parts and control systems for all models
Midlands - Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland
North West - Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, Isle of Man
North East - Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire
.