Moving on...

7k you could buy 2 lasers for that

why not get a laser and go halfs withsome one on a 29er then you get the bests of both worlds!!!

Hi Harry,

I noticed that you are 14.5 years old and sail at Redesmere.  I also noticed that your results have been getting better in the Topper.  You have not stated, and I do not know, whether or not you are in any of the zone or national 'squads'.  It also looks as though you are considering changing clubs, i.e. to Leigh & Lowton.

Personally, I think that bearing in mind your age, height, weight, results and experience you could consider sailing the Topper for another year with goals to get into one of the regional 'squads', achieve a top ten position in one of the nationals, achieve a top three position in the regional travellers and win an open meeting, all by the end of 2005. You could even do a similar thing the following year and you would still be only 16.  When you are 16, as you say, you will be much taller and heavier and will then have more options e.g. Laser or Laser Radial. 

If you are intent on sailing a double handed boat then you could consider the usual youth classes of 420 or 29'er, both of which you could sail at Leigh & Lowton.  In the north, the RS 200 is becoming very popular and there is a good open meeting circuit run by Mike Saul.  I am not sure that there are many at L & L as the RS double handed hiking boats tend to be 400's which, I would suggest, would be far too powerful for you, in a blow, at the moment.

Don't forget that if you are to get a double handed boat, you will need to get a crew who is as enthusiastic, reliable and committed as you are.

I think that you need to consider which route you want to go down - the RYA route, the NSSA route or the Class Open Meetings route.  In the latter, obviously there will be more adults and less youths, except in the Toppers and Radials.  That's the good thing about sailing, you can do just what you want to do. Another  good thing is that you have time on your side.

If you are going to do alot of sailing at one club, then it is good to sail a class which is popular at that club. In the Topper you can sail at either of the clubs with which you are involved.

At your age, you are also going to be taking alot of exams at school in the next couple of years or so which might affect the sailing of yourself and your crew.

You could consider getting advice from the Northern RYA racing coach who might be able to help and assess your abilities and potential.  At my club a coach has recently been assisting two lads from Ripon who have changed from Toppers to a 29'er.

In the end, it's your decision.  I hope that this helps.

Ian   (Yorkshire Dales S.C.)