RS500 ...

Originally posted by 49erGBR735HSC There is some sort of linkage between the 2 and 18 though, remember reading about it, will have to read the book again! Thanks for the information Jim.

That era especially there was huge interaction between all the various skiff classes and the Cherubs and NS14s. The L2 hull was based on Nicky Bethwaite's worlds winning Cherub. Amongst the other Cherub designers alongside the Bethwaites (also NS14s) in Aus at the time were Ben Lexcen (18s, Contender), Ken Beashel (16s, 18s) and in NZ Bruce Farr (Cherubs, 18s, Moths), Russ Bowler (12s, 18s). Up and coming folk who were later to make a mark in 18s included Andrew Buckland, who invented the asymmettric kite, and Iain Murray, who was to become a big name in the 18s.
'course a lot of those guys have had some impact on a certain ugly bit of victorian silverware too...

Well I’ve only been in the US a couple of weeks but there certainly seems to be a reasonable dinghy fleet in the Houston area. The kids sail Optimists and then move into Lasers or 420s and the adults sail Lasers or V15s (which is a bit like a Laser2 with no trapeze or kite) or 470s.

The main difference seem to be that dinghy racing is mainly run on week nights over very short courses with maybe 5 15min races in a night. On weekends most of the dinghy fleet tends to be found crewing on the keelboat fleet.

The fleets seem to be generally much more localised and there is much less travelling for things like open events though there are local inter club series but that is not exactly surprising when going to a nationals could mean a 2 day drive. Importing a new class could probably work on a local/state level but were as in the UK if you want class racing there is generally an open circuit that means 1 weekend away a month and maybe a 3-4 hr drive each way at the end of it there is not that option here so people are more likely to stick with what ever the local clubs sail.

 

Originally posted by Stefan Lloyd Originally posted by JimC But dinghy sailing seems to be strongest on the Countries where there's lots of choice. What do you base that on (other than UK)? In the USA, as an example, the bastion of consumer choice, dinghy sailing appears to be dying on its feet.

But there is very little choice in dinghies in the US. That's my point. The country is completely wedded to the "buy what's in numbers in your area" bit, and as a result no-one buys anything at all...

Thnx m8. U R a gent!!!

Each to his own! I loved the Laser 2, but I think the amount of lee helm the 3000 carries is ridiculous. Before anyone starts, yes I know there are ways round it, but to me it's a sign that the boat is a rush job, and an unsatisfactory hybrid.

Stefan - what do you think all the desparate tarde-in deals were all about???

Neil