Vago owners - please help me if you can..

Hi Sumo

I am 303. At the moment I have never raced but might in the future..... When the class association gets going I will certainly join.

Paul

When you have a variety of needs it is difficult to win really.

I have owned a Vago since December and found it to be great fun. However if I was going to sail with a young child on a regular basis I would go for the 2000. You will spend less time swimming........... Although having said that I have had the Vago so far over it started to fill with water and it still didnt capsize, however one unexpected gybe and I was swimming!

The only problem with the 2000 compared to the Vago is the weight, the Vago is manageble on your own, but the 2000 could be a struggle. In the longer term the youngsters might find the Vago more fun than the 2000.

As I said, you will find it difficult to achieve everything you want.

Paul

olly_love,

Thanks for your input. I have heard about the jib cleat being difficult to get to when sailing single handed but had not heard about the rest. Is it likely that one could get used to it after a while?

Hi, I have owned a Vago since last year and I will attempt to answer your questions, as follows:

1. Like yourself I wanted a boat I could sail single or double handed. I spend about 50% of my time sailing single handed with no problems. Raising the kite single handed is no more difficult than on the RS Vareo, also adding an extra block to lead the halyard further back would not be difficult.

2. Laser have sold about 400 Vago's so far, which is ahead of Laser's original projections. You will start to hear more about the Vago as the first proper events for the Vago kick off at Grafham water at the end of the month.

3. I have never sailed a Pico or a Vago with a reef so I can't comment, but on the whole the Vago is quite a tippy boat when not moving and I would never descibe it is docile.

4. If like myself you take off the jib, the kite and the boom when you have finished sailing, then it is about 15mins to get the cover off and rigged to go.

5. Laser have only made two modifications, for which they supplied parts and instructions. The first was a minor change to the Rudder assembly and the second was a new furler drum.

6. The only maintence has been tightning of some nuts and bolts. In addition my clud, Queen Mary, has run a couple of Vago's since August without any problems.

7. For yourself the small sail is probably a good option, otherwise I can't think of anything!

8. The Vago is fun to sail, you will enjoy it, however with the hull shape it has to be sailed flat to be fast.

Regards

Nigel 

That's a tricky set of requirements...."sailing 50% of the time or with other adult sailors" means there is inevitably going to be some major compromises in one requirement in order to fulfil the other.

Views on Vago (after just a few test sails - don't own one):

• With young kids you'll be OK in light winds or reefed, will never be quite as stable as a Pico but not far off.  2000 is an excellent family boat - family of 2 adults and 2 under 10s can cruise very happily, and 2 adults can have a great blast in a blow
• For sailing on your own the Vago is the clear winner, but need the XD rig I think
• With another adult you're OK in the Vago as long as it's really blowing and they're on the wire.  If they're not than it can feel very cramped - really not comfortable for a couple of 6-footers to be sitting in.  2000 wakes up when the breeze gets up

I'm sure you'll get more responses on the GRP / rotomoulded issue, (one thing to bear in mind is that if whilst GRP is more prone to light damage than plastic, if you puncture the plastic you've a trickier job on your hands than the equivalent fibreglass repair).  IMHO the same is true if fittings pull out etc. Understand it's tricky where you are but If you can get a 2nd hand boat with a few free scratches thrown in, might that help chill you out on adding your own battlescars?!