RS 500

Fireballs are great boats, but I sold my Winder after four happy years when I lost my expert, 12-stone, 6ft crew. The crew is critically important on a Fireball (and they're very satisfying to sail when you're a good team), but with an average crew you're better off with an asymmetric, imho.

I had previously raced a Fireball with an 8-stone crew (I'm 10.5), and while we won some club races in moderate conditions, we were always struggling in a blow.

So now I sail a 3000 with a (allegedly) 9 stone crew, which suits us perfectly. Have you made all the permitted mainsheet mods to your 3000 ( see http://www.3000class.org.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=915 )? They cost almost nothing and make a huge difference to space/comfort, and because you can move fore and aft easily, make the boat quicker too.

No experience in a 500, I'm afraid, but those we have (or had) at Wilsonian seemed to need a fair bit of crew weight. RS seem to have piled on the sail area to produce enough speed. One of then even had some foam 'steps' glued to the deck to help the short crew step out onto the wire: the distance from the c'board case to the gunwale was too great a leap for her. Try in a F3+ before you buy, at any rate.

as i sailed an rs500 every week at school for the past year i feel pretty qualified to answer this post. the 500 is a relatively easy boat to sail (for what you get back in terms of performance). with an 8stone crew you should be fine in it once you have sailed it a few time and know what your doing. i took a girl out in one to teach her to use a trapeze in a f4. she was absolutely tiny (guessing 5foot 2ish and 6 or 7 stone at a real max) we coped fine and even had the kite up with no swims.

on the other hand once you get used to it they are really good boats in a big breeze and waves. the final time i sailed one we were pretty much the only boat on the water and the rib pacing us said we were going about 16knots downwind with the kite. yet it felt totally managable and in control. in essence these boats are similar to the 29er in speed but much easier to sail (before anyone asks yes i dhave sailed a 29er quite a lot). they are faster than the 9er in light stuff but neither are particularly rewarding to sail until you get wiring.

one thing i would say is do not get the dacron sails. at our school my crew and i basically got our own boat (only ones that used it) after about 6months use both the main and jib were sh*gged. the mylar ones we used nearly as much are still in great condition. the dacron sails seemed to have very little shape wheras the mylar ones felt so much more balanced and generally better sails.

the handicap is fine at 972, we have won races at the club with it. its especially good in breeze. best bet would be to try one a few times if you can.

cant comment on the fireball as i have never sailed one. all i would say is dont go for a boat just because everyone else has one. go for the boat which gives you the biggest sense of satisfaction when you come off the water.....

at the end of the day its totally your choice. if you want more info about how the 500 sails etc then feel free to pm me etc.

one thing RS, could you make the kites in different colours, black is soooo boring, something like bright pink etc would be so much nicer