Another what dinghy

Hi,
I'm pretty new to the sport and am looking for my first boat. I'm going to be sailing it with my other half so the vitals are 6', 12.5st, 5'2", 8st. I come from a windsurfing background where as she has come from a larger (about 40ft, but has raced 60ft) yachts. We are both inexperienced dinghy sailors but are prepared to put in the effort to learn rapidly. We'll be sailing at Chew Valley as the local evening place, and Weymouth from the sailing academy most weekends. We want something fast and exiting, don't mind it being reasonably difficult (but not impossible) to master and we both want to get into racing ASAP. Oh, and we don't want something that we can't take into rougher water for other south coast locations..
We have a budget of up to £4k for this toy and would appreciate some advice. We have been looking at something like an RS200 / 400, but really don't know if this is suitable at all.
Thanks in advance

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Wes Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 24 Aug 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 97	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wes Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Another what dinghy Posted: 24 Aug 05 at 11:53am
	Hi, I'm pretty new to the sport and am looking for my first boat. I'm going to be sailing it with my other half so the vitals are 6', 12.5st, 5'2", 8st. I come from a windsurfing background where as she has come from a larger (about 40ft, but has raced 60ft) yachts. We are both inexperienced dinghy sailors but are prepared to put in the effort to learn rapidly. We'll be sailing at Chew Valley as the local evening place, and Weymouth from the sailing academy most weekends. We want something fast and exiting, don't mind it being reasonably difficult (but not impossible) to master and we both want to get into racing ASAP. Oh, and we don't want something that we can't take into rougher water for other south coast locations.. We have a budget of up to £4k for this toy and would appreciate some advice. We have been looking at something like an RS200 / 400, but really don't know if this is suitable at all. Thanks in advance

Phil eltringham Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: England/Hitchin Online Status: Offline Posts: 1105	Post Options Post Reply Quote Phil eltringham Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Aug 05 at 1:37pm
	B14!! Its definately the way forwards! The sheet/helm loads are lower than on either the 200 or 400, its significantly faster, ther are a couple at castle cove SC at weymouth already, it will fit on chew valley fine, and you can pick up an immaculate boat with two or more sets of sails for around £3k let alone £4k. Bit of a steep learning cure, but even if you haven't got a clue what the boat is doing its still amazingly quick, and a lot more forgiving than modern designs. It will survive the south coast and solent no problem (lots of volume up front, have to really try to dig the nose in at all). You would be far to light for a 400 (optimum is around 25 stone), the 200 is a good option (you are about bang on the weight), but its a bit slow really and if you are used to windsurfing then I think it would bore you. the B14 seems to work equally well with 20 or 26 (or anywhere in between) stone in it so you should be fine (the guys who were second at this years nationals are about the same weight as the two of you.
	FLAT IS FAST! Shifts Happen

Scooby_simon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 02 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2415	Post Options Post Reply Quote Scooby_simon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Aug 05 at 1:51pm
	If you have not looked at Cats when I would suggest you do; I assuming the other 1/2 will be crewing the Spitfire would be a scream - Fast; good open curcuit or if the Other 1/2 had a bit of streanth (or willing to pop doen the gym a bit) then look at a Hurricane 5.9 - you won't regret buying either ! Oh, they are both PDQ ! Edited by Scooby_simon
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Wes Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 24 Aug 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 97	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wes Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Aug 05 at 4:38pm
	I'm shying away from cats at the moment, I have been told that they require a lot of phaffing, which I'm not hugly keen on. I love the look of the B14's. They look really technical to sail well. How much experiance to get used to one of these do you think? I know I'll be thrashed racing any class for a while, but don't want to get completly dispirited... Thanks for the reply guys

Ian29937 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 25 May 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 409	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ian29937 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Aug 05 at 6:22pm
	The most important question of all is what do they sail at Chew or Weymouth? If there are people already sailing one of the classes you are considering, you instantly have some friends to share experiences and advice, not to mention the better racing you'll have. I would expect the RS200 is an excellent choice for you at this time. Loads around, lots of support and advice available and not too much of a leap at your level of experience. After a season or two in the 200 you could decide to go into one of the faster skiffs, 800 (two traps), 29er (one trap), B14 (no traps) if you wanted....

CurlyBen Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 17 Aug 05 Location: Southampton Online Status: Offline Posts: 539	Post Options Post Reply Quote CurlyBen Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Aug 05 at 9:05pm
	You can't sail cats at Chew so that might narrow things a little bit..

jpbuzz591 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 05 Location: England Online Status: Offline Posts: 793	Post Options Post Reply Quote jpbuzz591 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Aug 05 at 10:17pm
	there are quite a few 200's down at chew but not a B14, but i think chew needs a few. it depends on wat you want as ian said. p.s curlyben are u by any chance ben who was teaching at junior july
	Jp Indoe Contender 518 Buzz591 Chew Valley Sailing club Bristol

CurlyBen Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 17 Aug 05 Location: Southampton Online Status: Offline Posts: 539	Post Options Post Reply Quote CurlyBen Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Aug 05 at 10:43pm
	No I'm not, I was teaching in Scotland in July! I've not been down to Chew much recently, not for months I don't think!. Went down tonight and royally embarrassed myself in the races, though to be fair having a nice yellowed sail and a boat 50,000 boats older than the next boat probably didn't help.. Do you go down much?

jpbuzz591 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 05 Location: England Online Status: Offline Posts: 793	Post Options Post Reply Quote jpbuzz591 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Aug 05 at 10:50pm
	yeah i go down quite a bit. was going to go this evening but my crew had to go out and work. i think im going down next week though
	Jp Indoe Contender 518 Buzz591 Chew Valley Sailing club Bristol

CurlyBen Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 17 Aug 05 Location: Southampton Online Status: Offline Posts: 539	Post Options Post Reply Quote CurlyBen Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Aug 05 at 10:59pm
	Cool, yeah work is a bit annoying! Well, dunno how I can say that, my only real job was as a sailing instructor.. I'll be down next sunday I think, i'm rescue boat helm that day