Best double hander for Solent racing ?

Well hello everyone.Ive spent several hours and searched over 30 odd pages reading all sorts of really good advice on this forum alone , having said that ,my question is, what do you people think would be a ideal racing dinghy for myself and helm to purchase ? 
  Experience, Helm 4 yrs, Crew (me) a few weeks.
  Budget £2000 aprox.
  Crew weight, helm 76kg, crew 72kg aprox ;).
  Crew height, 5' 8'' ish.
  Age, aprox 50 ( combined close to one hundred years, OMG.lol ).
  Club tends to set shortish legs.
  Prevalent wind speed, F4.
Club fleet, Mixed bag really.
  Mainly single handers, Solos, Lasers, A few Phantoms and a couple of Vortex. 
  Two handers, Wayfarers, Laser 2000, Hartleys, RS Visions, ISO and Buzz ( we've test sailed the last two and cruised / raced the Wayfarers several times ). Most prolific classes are the Solo, the Topaz and the Laser.
  So as you can see, not a obvious 'go with the fleet' situation.
  Personally I am thinking ....maybe.... RS 200, RS 400 (0nly seen a 400 upside down in a chandlery workshop, hull looked nice lol, cant decide between these two ), Topper Xenon ( only one other at the club ), Tasar.
  I am thinking I am liking the hiking for racing ;) and maybe a spot of trapezing for fun ( so maybe a Xenon ).
  Thank you for taking the time to read a rambling ' What boat ' post, again, and if you have the time please click reply and type watcha think and why.

ps . we are both blokes.

Edited by trev55555 - 07 Jul 15 at 11:41pm

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trev55555 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 15 Location: Gosport Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote trev55555 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Best double hander for Solent racing ? Posted: 07 Jul 15 at 11:29pm
	Well hello everyone. Ive spent several hours and searched over 30 odd pages reading all sorts of really good advice on this forum alone , having said that ,my question is, what do you people think would be a ideal racing dinghy for myself and helm to purchase ? Experience, Helm 4 yrs, Crew (me) a few weeks. Budget £2000 aprox. Crew weight, helm 76kg, crew 72kg aprox ;). Crew height, 5' 8'' ish. Age, aprox 50 ( combined close to one hundred years, OMG.lol ). Club tends to set shortish legs. Prevalent wind speed, F4. Club fleet, Mixed bag really. Mainly single handers, Solos, Lasers, A few Phantoms and a couple of Vortex. Two handers, Wayfarers, Laser 2000, Hartleys, RS Visions, ISO and Buzz ( we've test sailed the last two and cruised / raced the Wayfarers several times ). Most prolific classes are the Solo, the Topaz and the Laser. So as you can see, not a obvious 'go with the fleet' situation. Personally I am thinking ....maybe.... RS 200, RS 400 (0nly seen a 400 upside down in a chandlery workshop, hull looked nice lol, cant decide between these two ), Topper Xenon ( only one other at the club ), Tasar. I am thinking I am liking the hiking for racing ;) and maybe a spot of trapezing for fun ( so maybe a Xenon ). Thank you for taking the time to read a rambling ' What boat ' post, again, and if you have the time please click reply and type watcha think and why. ps . we are both blokes. Edited by trev55555 - 07 Jul 15 at 11:41pm

jaydub Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 06 Jan 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 267	Post Options Post Reply Quote jaydub Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 15 at 11:53pm
	Combined weight of about 23.5 stone makes you too big to sail a 200 competitively. A 400 would suit you better out of the two RS boats.

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 08 Jul 15 at 7:08am
	I'd go for one of 400, 200, 2000 or Tasar. You are too big to be proper competitive in the 200, and the 400 is nicer anyway in my opinion (and less tippy). The 2000 (extra 0) is also worth considering - it sits between the other two sizewise but is fractionally slower than a 200. The Tasar is highly respected, but has unusual mast and sheeting controls that mean it is not quite as simple as the lack of spinnaker suggests. At £2k, you're at the lower end of the 200, 2000 and 400 range, but you won't lose any money if you decide to sell on in a year or two. Plenty of (very well built) Tasars for that money or less.

Woodburner Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 13 Mar 15 Location: Folkestone Kent Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Post Options Post Reply Quote Woodburner Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Jul 15 at 7:28pm
	How do you get on with the sailors in the Buzz? Are they competent? My thinking being get what they have and measure yourself as you improve, I seem to remember there are some new people behind the Buzz, trying to get it going so it might be worth a go, other than that RS400 all day long it's a nice boat, but you'll probably struggle with it in a breeze at 148kg. Don't waste your money on heavy old tubs like the Laser 2000, that's not sailing, it's sightseeing and the view is proper boats leaving you behind. Avoid the RS500 like the plague, not a nice boat at all, my ultimate advice would be an Alto but you won't get one for that money, not even mine if I decide to eventually sell it.
	Foil fun

trev55555 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 15 Location: Gosport Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote trev55555 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Jul 15 at 9:28pm
	Hmm... thanks for your thoughts so far people, having sailed the Buzz and ISO our thoughts were , Heim 'spent all his time on his knees', me 'bit cramped'. So the jurys still out, we need to have a go at a few more boats and ruminate, need to have a closer look at a RS 400 and a Tasar. No thoughts on the Xenon anyone ? ( Ive had a look at Xenon.org, looks interesting to me ).

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 08 Jul 15 at 9:33pm
	I've not sailed a Xenon, but believe they are surprisingly hard work for little gain. Injection moulded hull, so heavy,flexible but robust. Oh, and the best advice is to ignore everything woodburner says about boat recommendations... Edited by Peaky - 08 Jul 15 at 9:34pm

ASok Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Sep 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 739	Post Options Post Reply Quote ASok Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jul 15 at 9:18am
	Have you considered a cat? Loads of them on the solent. Your weights would go well in a Dart 18. You could get a good value boat at your price range

Woodburner Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 13 Mar 15 Location: Folkestone Kent Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Post Options Post Reply Quote Woodburner Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jul 15 at 12:16pm
	Xenon, Vago, re-arranging this well known phrase or saying springs to mind "It Touch Don't Pole With Barge A" Dull Heavy plastic... #experiencehernia
	Foil fun

trev55555 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 15 Location: Gosport Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote trev55555 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jul 15 at 11:05pm
	Cheers people, well we raced the clubs RS Venture again this evening, good fun in a F4> F5. @ Asok no Cats allowed in our club, berth space reasons ( there's a lack of space ) . @ Woodburner rotomoulds to be avoided for club racing. Latest development, we 'might' be able to get hold of a seriously cheap Laser Stratos. Are thinking is 'She would be good to learn double handed racing'. ps. Thanks again for your thoughts everyone, tips wanted regarding second hand stratos purchasing ? Edited by trev55555 - 09 Jul 15 at 11:07pm

craiggo Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 01 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1810	Post Options Post Reply Quote craiggo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jul 15 at 11:11pm
	Dont do it!