Top Weight
Replica of the 1946 skiff built by Norman Wright Snr at Bulimba on the Brisbane River, whose bookmaker owner gave her a name from the racetrack: the favourite horse carries the top weight. The replica was commissioned by Grant Taylor and built by Robert Tearne.
The boat
- Original launched
- 1946
- Replica launched
- not recorded: the club's records differ and the sailing committee decides
- Original builders
- Norman Wright Snr
- Original skippers
- Ray Rawlings (1946 to 1948) and Bish Bolton (1948 to 1949)
- Former skippers
- John Tierney, Alan Robinson, Terry Stewart, David Swales
- Notable honours
- Second to “Marjorie Two” in the 1949 Giltinian Trophy under skipper Bish Bolton.
- Dedication
- To Bish Bolton
- Jumpers
- White or black with opposite colour “1”. Competition: red and white stripes with “1”.
- Beam
- 7ft (2134 mm)
- Length
- 18 feet
Status
- Status
- not recorded, awaiting the sailing committee
- Owner
- not recorded, awaiting the sailing committee
- Estimated annual cost
- not recorded, awaiting the sailing committee
The story
The club's record of this boat's original history is short. If you know more, the club's historian would like to hear from you through the contribution route.
Top Weight was built by Norman Wright Snr, shipbuilder at Quay Street, Bulimba, on the Brisbane River, for owner Freo Empson. Skippers were Ray Rawlings from 1946 to 1948 and Bish Bolton from 1948 to 1949.
Bish was one of the up-and-coming skippers. He finished second to “Marjorie Two” in the 1949 Giltinian Trophy. Tragically, he died in an industrial accident in 1949. “Bish” was named so because when born his bald head made him look like the bishop. A former owner of Top Weight was Freddy Empson, a bookmaker, and we all know the favourite horse carries the top weight.
The plans for the replica were sourced from the boatbuilder via his brass plaque on the tuck of the original boat, which was beyond restoration, having been converted to a motor launch and neglected for many years. The replica, commissioned by Grant Taylor, was constructed alongside Australia in a container adjacent to the Sydney Fish Markets. Mouldings for authentic brass fittings were instigated by Grant through a Melbourne foundry from the original line drawings, and these mouldings have been used on subsequent replicas.
Daphne Russell, widow of the original skipper “Bish” Bolton, launched the replica and has once again become an avid supporter of Top Weight and the SFS.
You can sail this boat. Try sailing three times before joining; we provide the training. Start here.