Dinghy for 55kg

Only reason I don't like them, so bloody uncomfortable, using a "belfast sink" for a cockpit rubbish idea.

Originally posted by Sam.Spoons There is only one Laser bad habit...... choosing to sail one

We've got quite a fleet building, indeed an opportunity for me to do what just about every man woman and their sailing dog advises I should do, sail in a fleet, now I've resisted with my stubborn arrogance, wielded my sword of irony to fend them off and hidden behind my shield of sarcasm comforted in the views of some on this very forum, but....
This Sunday just gone, lovely sunny day, wind freshening from the West big waves rolling onto the shore making what could best be described as an 'interesting environment', not wishing to chicken out and go kitesurfing, I launched the EPS standing it on its transom nose pointing to the sky in not a lot of wind as I got clear by the skin of my teeth, most of us got out, including the latest Laser helm, new into the boat fresh from his other bandit the Merlin, I'm thinking don't know how long he's going to last, but out to the line I go, then the wind knotched up a tad more and swung to the South West, I tried a rack grabbing reach along the troughs, kicker off (have learned my lesson now) even swung a gybe and survived.
Then 4 minutes to go sailing offshore I swang into irons and stayed there for four attempts at pushing her through the on coming waves to return toward the line. No way I was going to be able to race so I headed in, not wishing to be another problem for the rescue boat, got trashed in the shore break without the centreboard but managed not to damage anything and retired to watch.
Our best guy gets nailed in his RS100 and not manage to get back in the boat, one of our other really good Laser Helms get drilled lose his cb and ends up beaching upside down and trashing his mast, the 470, the 4000, the RS500 & the other Lasers eventually came to grief leaving just two boats, our really good strong wind helm in his Contender just loving it, and.... The new guy in his newish 1900000 Laser, he plugged on and on and finished, how did he do that I wonder, straight into the boat, no previous, well none that I know of and finished, now that has impressed me, in a 'if he can do it I should be able to kind of way since we've battled against each other on and off since the dawn of my sailing experience.'

Could I? Certainly I guess with a smaller rag, but he had the full rig, OK he wasn't tearing round, but he got round, when only one other strong wind specialist did, it was blowing probably about 20 knots, not horrendous but the waves had earlier been bigger than the wind. So it has got me thinking..





I'm 67kgs and short by the way, since I appear to be hihacking a thread about light people and suitable boats

Edited by iGRF - 16 May 17 at 12:37pm

There is only one Laser bad habit...... choosing to sail one 

Originally posted by Rupert Originally posted by 423zero Here is a short video I did a few years ago, shows a Mirror in very windy conditions, 2 up showing a Laser a thing or two. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypLJO0mG56Q Have to agree that was probably more fun to do than to watch!

Edited by Sam.Spoons - 16 May 17 at 9:12am

Video shows stability of Mirror and skill of sailor in testing conditions rather than a spray fest.