Laurent Giles 'Jolly Boat' Exeter |
29er GBR 074 Tynemouth |
J24 (Sail No. 4239) Dartmouth |
List classes of boat for sale |
singlehander for small(ish) lake |
Post Reply | Page 123> |
Author | |
Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Topic: singlehander for small(ish) lake Posted: 04 Sep 17 at 9:41pm |
I know I've asked this question before but I'm now a little better informed so I'll ask again......
I've got a Blaze which I sail in Holyhead bay..... And a Supernova for the inland club (Leigh & Lowton). I love the Blaze and have just returned from a five week holiday in Anglesey, sailing 4 or 5 days a week, mostly the Blaze and in F2-6.... it's an absolute joy to sail. I managed a few races in the 'nova before the summer break and found it very difficult (I clicked with the Blaze on the first sail). I'm definitely going to give the 'nova some time, certainly until Christmas but am already considering alternatives if I can't gel with her. Budget is £1500 but I would not rule out spending (maybe quit a lot) more. Mostly it will be sailed/raced on Wednesday nights and winter Sundays and I'm wondering if I could cope with a Phantom at 76 kg in my shorts? Solution, D-Zero and Aero are also possibles as are Solo. OK and maybe even a L@ser..... Thoughts so far :- D-Zero, Aero and Solution are probably over budget (though a Solution showed up this week that was just affordable). Phantom is definitely affordable but depends on the PN committee at L&LSC and being able to hold the damn thing flattish............ Solos are affordable but I'm not prepared to maintain a wooden boat and competitive plastic ones are expensive. L@ser..... well...... I sailed one last week for an hour and it wasn't as bad as I expected but I guess anything feels okay in F3...... Or should I just buy another Blaze?
Edited by Sam.Spoons - 04 Sep 17 at 9:43pm |
|
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
|
iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 04 Sep 17 at 9:47pm |
Solution [ /end thread]
Edited by iGRF - 04 Sep 17 at 9:48pm |
|
Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 04 Sep 17 at 11:45pm |
Why did I know you'd say that Graeme... :) Definitely like the idea but used ones are a bit scarce and somewhat stretching of the budget.
FWIW it was your Phantom thread that got me considering a Phant as a possibility, then my mate beat me on handicap after I finished 30 secs in front (sailing the Blaze) in his pre 999/tin rig Phantom on it's handicap of 1047. He's a good bit heavier than me but we're probably pretty evenly matched in ability. I guess, on aggregate, I might be better sailing at the bottom of a boats weight range than at the top. I'm pretty good in the light stuff and not so much when it blows so I guess it comes down to do I choose a boat that flatters my strengths or compensates for my weaknesses'? The Blaze does the the latter but maybe the compromise in light wind performance on a small lake, is too much of a disadvantage and I should accept that I'm not going to be competitive in a blow......
Edited by Sam.Spoons - 04 Sep 17 at 11:55pm |
|
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
|
Phil_1193
Groupie Joined: 07 Jan 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 78 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Sep 17 at 6:14am |
Yes you will. But in all honesty, if you sail a Blaze anyway I would suggest you stick with one. Having recently sailed against a few, including the current national champion, when it gets to hiking weather, they will be more comfortable and controllable for you up wind than the Phantom, but down wind in the same conditions, the Phantom is the easy winner. In light weather crouched in the bottom of the boat, neither are very comfortable!! Swings and roundabouts. If however you are sailing the same type of boat at both locations, it can only improve your sailing and understanding of what makes that boat go. Swapping and changing means adapting each time you sail, possibly affecting your competativeness in each boat. |
|
Rupert
Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Sep 17 at 7:31am |
Boat swapping is fun, though! You may never reach the potential like a full time Laser sailor would, but you won't forget how to smile, either.
|
|
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
|
|
iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Sep 17 at 10:38am |
Well I'm OK in light and have always struggled in single handers in a breeze, probably because most of my single hander choices have been a tad over canvassed, EPS 9.4, Blaze, 10, RS100 10.2 (not that I gave it long enough) and this, (the Solution) has been the first boat I can still consider that I'm actually competing in rather than just get round surviving. I've had a couple of quite breezy races I've managed to hold my own in but I put that down to the beam of that Solution, it seems relative to it's length and the sail size quite wide so there's a fair bit of righting moment the further back you sit. (You tend to want to sit on a narrower bit when it's light and get forced back when it gets breezy). Not that I won't get thrashed by the other young guy when it get seriously gusty, but he's as many kilos heavier as he is years younger, but it gives one a measure of how useless one still is in a breeze.
One day I'll capitulate and get into a bloody streaker or something more suitable to 68 kgs, but I'll miss the power and being able to seek the front of the fleet where tbh I'm happiest and lots of times when it's windy folk don't race anyway so it doesn't really make lots of sense to equip for strong wind. |
|
Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Feb 18 at 11:24pm |
Revisiting this thread as I have raced the Blaze over the winter with much enjoyment but little success and I do think I will be moving the Supernova on soon.
But, while I still think the Blaze is not the ideal boat on the lake most of my problems are with boat handling (after 30 years windsurfing and the last 10 sailing the Spice but not competing seriously). I'm getting better in the Blaze and think I'll go for either another Blaze (and remain uncompetitive) or something else to suit the lake better. FWIW I'm still around 76-78kg. So, no trapeze or kite....... Budget £2k (but a little stretchable). Not a Solo (yet at least) as I think I don't get on with fully battened sails on a singlehander and FRP are out of budget anyway. Not a L@ser............ And nothing wooden (as I CBA maintaining it). That Lightning 368 iGRF posted looks pretty nice (and I'm too big for a Europe, which I like) but I can't afford a new one. H2 looks lovely but new boats (of any flavour) are expensive and used H2s are rare to say the least and still over budget. Solution looks great but the odd used one that comes up would stretch the budget but is definitely on the short list. I have a soft spot for OKs but am not a bendy as I was in the '70s when I raced one (and good ones ain't cheap either). Not agile enough for a 300, don't fancy a Streaker, and too light for a Phantom. So, any others I may be missing?
|
|
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
|
pondlife1736
Posting king Joined: 17 Jan 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 106 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 18 at 10:54pm |
What is it you don't like about the Supernova?
Don't discount the Phantom even at your weight. They seem to have very controllable/depowerable rigs these days and you'd fly on the light wind days. Main thing that puts me off them now is all that kneeling downwind, but I loved mine back in the day.
|
|
Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 28 Feb 18 at 11:29pm |
TBF I haven't really given the 'nova a fair crack as I only got to sail it three times last year. My main issue has been that I struggle to read the FB sail despite 30 years racing windsurfers with FB sails and the last ten sailing the Spice (though that does have a jib to look at upwind). Then to put the tin hat on it my Supernova sailing buddy damaged his knee and swapped to a Blaze so I have raced mine over the winter. As the season comes around and the Blaze will go and live on the coast I need to decide what next. Another Blaze is the obvious choice but I definitely fancy a Solution if I can find one I can afford. I think I need to flatter my weaknesses so a Phantom is probably a non starter as I will get 'mullered' as soon as it passes F3. Or I could persevere with the Supernova (though that will be a little lonelier than it was last year).
|
|
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
|
Gordon 1430
Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 Jun 17 Location: Lee on Solent Online Status: Offline Posts: 310 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 18 at 8:57am |
Hi Sam Just had a quick troll of Apollo duck and your choices for 3k seem to be Streakers, early epoxy Phantoms with carbon ribs, some blazes and bytes. A solution just over budget. Plus lasers. No lightning's that I could see or on the class website so you can rule that one out.
|
|
Gordon
Phantom 1430 |
|
Post Reply | Page 123> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |