RS 800 ???

Hey hi Ken

am a  bit late joining the thread - been on holiday.

My opinon is, go for a  800 or a 5000.

An 800 is a lovely boat to sail.  Both  boats are designed by the same designer, and the 800 is definitely  more refined.  Self tacking Jib, carbon mast, a smaller sail plan and  lighter to boot.  I'd  say the 800 is  probably preferred, though more  expensive - you need to think  really  how  competitively you're going to sail and  how  much your willing to fork out to feed your sailing/skiff habit!

I sail a  5000,  so  would  suggest it  of  course, but only if the  800 is beyond  your budget.  It is  a heavier beast - and  definitely  more powerful.    I wouldn't  be worried about the  bag - it's a doddle - it more the  size of the  kite itself, which is a  lot bigger than most!  Being  16 - you may be a little light, but the weight-equalisation system is  also a 5000 feature.

Both boats are  I found  fairly  stable, and I do enjoy helmiong the 5000 - great feel. 

currently there is  interest in the 5000 class, and I believe there are  a couple of  boats  active in Scotland (not sure where)....   contact the  association, they are fairly friendly!

You could of course  pick up an older Int14, but for  2-3000 grand you'll get a  fairly  good Laser5000...  a lot of  money for your  bang as they say !

All the  best 

 fin

PS -  alternatively think about a  BOSS  if you're just going  blasting and  not racing  competitively... ?

just out of interest, how many boats are there at the worlds?

The 800 is a nice boat to sail, it isn't insanely challenging unlike a new 14 which will nail you for hesitation in any manouvre in more than 15 knots of wind. Also they are less prone to breakages, not being built as light as 14s. the second boat i ever tra[ezed on was an 800, and with all the waterline length it is a very good boat to learn on. If your crew has more trapezing experience it might be worth bunging him at the back of the boat for the first few outings until you get the hang of dangling from a wire without a waggle stick to contend with as well. In a twin wire boat it really doesn't matter weight wise who crews and helms, only concern may be who can hoist the kite fast enough.

and good on you for wanting to get out of the boredom and pain that is laser sailing (not the same thing as laser racing, which can be quite amusing, but would be better in nicer boats).

Challenging? Cherub 2683 ' Pocket Rocket is up for sale. It's an awesome boat IMO. I sailed it for the first time at Weston a while back. Not having heard much from this boat I was surprised at how fast it was! We got the kite up within a couple of minutes and were up at around 17-18  knots instantly.  It was also quick upwind.

It's a very well built boat with C-tech spars, mostly Harken fit out, brand new Rowsell kite, Red Eye main (from a 5 time nationals winning boat, in good condition) and a Caws jib (It could do with a new on but it works well at the moment), T-foil and self tacker.

It's not a boat that will end up in the garage every other weekend, just rig and go sailing!

Only issue is that you're in Scotland and the boat is near Bristol...