What singlehander

   Well judging from conversations today- the D+ would be better for you than the Cumulus, inland the C section might be a little soft.  The sail should match if bought by the original owner with the mast, but if buying new North, HD and Edge are the three I was told to look at.

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pondmonkey Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 12 Aug 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2202	Post Options Post Reply Quote pondmonkey Report Post Quote Reply Topic: What singlehander Posted: 03 Oct 12 at 8:11pm
	Well judging from conversations today- the D+ would be better for you than the Cumulus, inland the C section might be a little soft. The sail should match if bought by the original owner with the mast, but if buying new North, HD and Edge are the three I was told to look at.

Roger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Mar 04 Location: Somerset Online Status: Offline Posts: 524	Post Options Post Reply Quote Roger Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Oct 12 at 9:34pm
	As always the Class Association site will answer a lot of the queries you have Seasick. Have a look at this page for mast and weight combinations... http://www.solosailing.org.uk/mboard/msg_list.asp?board=10&id=00CDE548-4527-433C-A0E8-D9968B634E54 For the record at roughly 85kg the D+ is pretty much spot on for me, but plenty weighing more use it to good effect.

getafix Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 28 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2143	Post Options Post Reply Quote getafix Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Oct 12 at 9:07am
	As you are not at any sort of extreme in terms of body shape or weight I'd just buy a decent boat and not worry too much about mast / sail combo's unless you have real ambition to win Opens or place top 20 at the Nationals. As with all established classes there is a load of sxxt talked constantly in Solo's about masts, sails, foils, metal filings in centerboard capping, weight at ends, different sorts of FRP etc, etc. doesn't seem to stop the same names finding their way to the top of the leaderboard though.

NickM Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 May 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 328	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickM Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Oct 12 at 2:13pm
	I'm not sure you are right, Getafix. The Solo can be sailed competitively by quite a wide helm weight range but it does depend on the rig. No point in getting stiff mast and full sail if you are only 70kgs. It will tell in your club results too. The names on the top of the leaderboard, being mostly professional sailors, are particulrlarly well placed to ensure they have the right rig for them.

Roger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Mar 04 Location: Somerset Online Status: Offline Posts: 524	Post Options Post Reply Quote Roger Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Oct 12 at 5:51pm
	One of the beauties of the Solo is that the rigs are pretty much interchangable and whole rigs for swop or sale come up quite often on the Class site adverts section. You could spend forever waiting for the right combination of hull and rig to come up for sale at the right price in the right area, so its a judgement call really, but at the end of the day better to be sailing than waiting.

Ruscoe Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 12 Jan 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1514	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ruscoe Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Oct 12 at 9:38am
	Roger i completely agree, I would find a boat in budget regardless of rig. Its what i did with my last boat, it came with a wavelength rig, which whilst was pretty quick even at my weight i just got tonked on a reach. Loved my Cumulus and SM8k combo.


DiverSteve Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 11 Jan 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Post Options Post Reply Quote DiverSteve Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 Oct 12 at 9:00am
	An interesting thread though with many recurring points covered so many times on this forum. I have come back to sailing a Solo after so many other boats. They may not be quite as quick as some other classes, though there is not a lot in it, but an important point is that there are so many out there that you always have others to sail with - something very important when sailing single-handed. Compared to Lasers they are a really comfortable boat to sail and there is room for a passenger such as a non-sailing wife or child. Mine is an older GRP boat and I do look enviously at the more modern FRP boats. An issue with GRP is that they lack the hull stiffness of FRP. One day I'll get a Boon or Winder hull - here's hoping. Regarding rig it is very confusing as there are so many options. Some can be narrowed down by weight and perhaps whether sailing inland or at sea but still a lot to choose from. At 81kg I am about in the middle of the range for the boat so the choice is about as wide as it can be. My sail is a bit tired so I am considering a couple of options so would be interested to hear the opinions of those with more experience. Option 1: to buy one of the new composite (Dacron/Kevlar) sails from Edge - currently on a good offer price and stick it on the current Proctor C mast. Option 2: to buy a good secondhand Wavelength mast and sail. Both at about the same price. Third option is to do nothing until I can afford what appears to be the current rig favoured by the National winners which seems to be a Selden D+ along with a North or Speed sail.

NickM Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 May 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 328	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickM Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Oct 12 at 10:22pm
	Steve. That is probably a question to take to the Solo Class Forum. But if you are sailing with a Proctor C or a Proctor C Sleeved, conventional wisdom has it that they are both probably a bit bendy for your weight. You might need a Cumulus or a Proctor D+. You could probably pick up an older Cumlus quite cheaply but then you are still stuck with a sail question. Maybe a good North/P&B second hand? I'm afraid I cannot comment on the merits of a Wavelength rig.

DiverSteve Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 11 Jan 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Post Options Post Reply Quote DiverSteve Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Oct 12 at 6:11pm
	Thanks Nick I think you are probably right about my mast but that's something I will leave for now. If a Cumulus or D+ comes up secondhand then I will possibly see if I can afford to buy it. I have decided to go for the Edge sail. It is a very good deal and the combination of dacron for the main part of the sail and kevlar for the leach os one that I like in principle to achieve the best of both worlds. The Wavelength is an unknown quantity. Looking at one recently I liked the very full depth to the sail though did wonder how well it would point. They do also seem to need a very different sailing style. My thoughts, rightly or wrongly, are that they are probably very good in waves or gusty conditions - not really the conditions we have in Chichester harbour.