Which single hander

   K-1 = newish design of boat => >3k£
The supernova class is growing a-pace; I was in the maker (Hartley)'s boat shed the other day and they are cranking them out against a waiting list.  Also the new Mk 2s being lighter and nicer, the original Mk 1s are presumably at a good price .... but do check the side decks (the bit you sit on) for solidity as some of the original boats have cracked and sagged under their owners' rears.  Seems like a good boat as less powerful and cheaper than a Phantom and so much nicer than a Laser ... and SO much more fun than a Solo.

PS: my single hander of choice, (with the original intent of double AND single handing it, at a weight of 80kg), is a V3000 as owned by Mr Medway himself ... but I think he disapproves of my frequent lack of crew ;¬).   There are plenty of Laser 3000s around for under £3k which are the same but slower; more fun than a miracle and more double hander friendly than any pure single hander; however, you need to trapeze to make the most of it, which does save your back, and there isn't much space inside if you don't trapeze.

Edited by NickA - 19 Aug 14 at 8:35pm

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NickA Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 30 Mar 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 784	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickA Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Which single hander Posted: 19 Aug 14 at 8:25pm
	K-1 = newish design of boat => >3k£ The supernova class is growing a-pace; I was in the maker (Hartley)'s boat shed the other day and they are cranking them out against a waiting list. Also the new Mk 2s being lighter and nicer, the original Mk 1s are presumably at a good price .... but do check the side decks (the bit you sit on) for solidity as some of the original boats have cracked and sagged under their owners' rears. Seems like a good boat as less powerful and cheaper than a Phantom and so much nicer than a Laser ... and SO much more fun than a Solo. PS: my single hander of choice, (with the original intent of double AND single handing it, at a weight of 80kg), is a V3000 as owned by Mr Medway himself ... but I think he disapproves of my frequent lack of crew ;¬). There are plenty of Laser 3000s around for under £3k which are the same but slower; more fun than a miracle and more double hander friendly than any pure single hander; however, you need to trapeze to make the most of it, which does save your back, and there isn't much space inside if you don't trapeze. Edited by NickA - 19 Aug 14 at 8:35pm
	Javelin 558 Contender 2574

SUGmeister Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Sailwave Moderators Joined: 08 Jun 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 265	Post Options Post Reply Quote SUGmeister Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Aug 14 at 10:31pm
	Think the K1 has a pretty deep cockpit...
	Simon SUGmeister I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

RichTea Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 22 Jan 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Post Options Post Reply Quote RichTea Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Aug 14 at 8:34pm
	Locally I think Cats are only possible at Datchet. To add another boat into the mix, what about an RS Q'ba. Its a plastic boat but has a deep cockpit. The issue with your initial request, there is no decent single and/or double hander available. I sail just inside the M25, we have a number of club boats available, that may be a better way to try thing out.
	RS200

Time Lord Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 03 Dec 13 Location: Warwickshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 301	Post Options Post Reply Quote Time Lord Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Aug 14 at 6:14pm
	Phantom has a lowish boom which is a nono with your back problem and as said above there is a tendency for the helm to kneel downwind - this would do my back. Think about seeing if anyone at either of the clubs is looking for a crew as a starter but avoid heavy boats eg GP14/Wayfarer as your back will not appreciate hauling up slipway. I sail a Merlin for this same reason and so that I can stretch out my legs rather than have to sit with legs curled up as is the case in sit upon boats. Does either club have club boats you can loan/hire?
	Merlin Rocket 3609

fleaberto Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 12 Jan 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 302	Post Options Post Reply Quote fleaberto Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Aug 14 at 4:48pm
	If the clubs you mentioned allow them, how about a cat? .... I had a Dart 15 once and loved it. Fast, stable and if you get one with the full 'sport' kit you'll get trapeze and furling jib to use as your skill levels climb - and no boom. A fairly late number Supernova has a good amount of adjustability in terms of raking mast etc and would be a good shout I reckon...or a phantom?
	Lightning368 'All the Gear' (409), Lightning368 'Sprite' (101), Laser (big number) 'Yellow Jack', RS Vareo (432)'The Golden Rays'

kneewrecker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 09 Apr 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1586	Post Options Post Reply Quote kneewrecker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Aug 14 at 1:56pm
	Hi Patrick, Sounds like the Supernova ought to be etching higher up your list then- it has a high boom and a reasonable freeboard for a singlehander. It's not the 'coolest' boat on your list, but it just might be the one that offers you the most fun, and fun in comfort. I'd avoid the Vareo and 100 though- they are spinnakered boats, they probably won't be well catered for at the clubs you are looking at (windward / leeward racing) and they offer zero respite from hiking. A conventional unarig will at least let you rest your back downwind- try to avoid unarigs which promote a lot of crouching in the bottom when sailing downwind- the one that springs to mind here is the Phantom. At 95kg you are bang on the right weight for one inland, but it's a highly physical and involves some discomfort downwind kneeling in the bottom of the boat. Look for a boat which enables you to perch gracefully on the side- the Supernova is ideal for gentlemen's perching! At 95kg you'll have more than enough righting moment to get the best out of it too. Have fun, Jimbo

PATRICKCR Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote PATRICKCR Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Aug 14 at 1:38pm
	I'll add the miracle to the list to take a look at. :) Thanks Medway- Maniac NeilB - I think the laser class obviously has a good following and would be great fun, but for me the problem is not my height - I'm 5' 9 ....problem is a severe crush injury many years ago left me with damaged nerves ... . ...luckily I'm mostly repaired except for movements like very low ducking / low rotational torso movements ... repeating that too often ends up with lots of pain....so I'm trying to avoid the issue , I want to enjoy the learning experience :) ...Maybe dinghy sailing is not the best sport for that ...but too late Im hooked...The laser I had a tour of on Sunday seemed very low to me ...mind you I am comparing that to a Topper Argo / xenon...those I had no issue with. The primitive controls doesn't bother me at all , I don't expect I'll be keeping any boat I buy for more than a year or two anyway. Patrick

NeilB-Phantom Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 01 Mar 14 Location: Plymouth-UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 41	Post Options Post Reply Quote NeilB-Phantom Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Aug 14 at 12:43pm
	Cant understand your problem with the boom height on a laser. I'm 6ft 5in and a not as flexible as I once was 52 years old and was sailing a laser no problem in F2 -F4 on holiday and winning most of the races. Definitely a good class to learn to race in, even if the controls are a bit primitive.
	Phantom 1384 Dazcat D995

Medway Maniac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788	Post Options Post Reply Quote Medway Maniac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Aug 14 at 11:08am
	Vareo / Supernova / RS100, all singelehanders, of course, and all for my money less attractive than a Blaze/Halo, although I've only seen Supernovas from afar. The other boats with kites could be a bit of a pain if you are sailing tight inland club courses. I've come across the dual purpose single + doublehander class question a few times now, and very few boats are really good for both. The exception for your 90kg is the Miracle, which is a cracking little boat. Surprisingly roomy, lightweight and feels quick even if it isn't especially! You will struggle to find a GRP one, though. But yes, speak to Mike Lyons - who won't mind at all - and take it from there.
	Wilsonian SC 3000 Class

PATRICKCR Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote PATRICKCR Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Aug 14 at 9:30am
	kneewrecker, Medway Maniac, ,jeffers ,Time Lord and Assassin ..thank you for taking the time to respond. Yesterday I went back to both Reading Sailing Club near Sonning and Burghfield to check out what was happening ..and managed to poke my nose aound some boats. Quite a friendly bunch in both clubs :) Conclusions I 'm coming to ... 1. The laser seems to be the default single hander class, and I got a sit in tour yesterday but I found the boom just too low for me.... I really don't think I would enjoy sailing it for very long, which is a real shame because I know I could learn a lot from that class. Unless I am missing something about the rig? 2. Wood boats seem to be a bit of a Russian roulette / more maintenance consuming I will definitively start looking into the blaze, and get in touch with Mike Lyons - hopefully he wont mind me picking his brains. I have googled the aero ..looks fab but that appears to be out of my price range as I need to be on the water for 3k or under.... Ive also been told by a few people now to only go for a double hander if 'm going to sail two up and expect to swap boats frequently as skill and preferences develop( spinnaker / no spinnaker / hike / trapeze etc etc ) Any thoughts on the Vareo // Supernova / RS100(probably struggle to get that in my budget) ? cheers Patrick