RS500 ...

True if you are aiming an average priced boat only at the poorest demographic then you will certainly fail but that's not what LDC are saying is it? I thought what they mean is that people will start sailing the boat before they are 19 and stay with it afterwards.

Most popular student boats must be Larks, Ent's, Fireflys and Laser II (looking at the people that make up the class) but that isn't because thay are the cheapest boats on the market and most students don't pack a brand new Laser II in their rucksack alongside the teddy and Pot Noodles when the 'go up'.

hmmmmm

true we were talking about brand new boats but thats what thiss class is. Surely its going to take a few years before there is a reasonable 2nd hand market?

I dont exacly know how this works but I would imagine that if the boat is great and takes off as a class loads of people will want one so prices will stay high. If its not so great there is likely to be more boats for sail but your maybe less likely to want one.

For someone that is student age and sailing on a budget there are lots of older classes that have been around for ages were there is a big range of 2nd hand options. 5 grand is going to get you a decent boat in pretty much any of the classes this is going up against and with all the bonuses of more class racing and more liklihood of local compation 

Near enough £5000 is a lot for a young person to spend on a boat. I think people who are interested in racing in their late teens would be considering a lot more boat for that money. Most 18-19 year olds will have grown to about adult size, so why race a boat which is also targeted at a younger audience. I've got a funny feeling that most 19 year olds that want to race high performance boats will be looking towards Cherubs, 4Ks and 5Ks, B14s, fireballs, 505s etc and for the price of a 500, you are starting to enter RS 800 and 49er teritory........

 The following quote has been taken from the RS Website-

"the RS500 will transcend the usual age19 break point in racing dinghies."

I've just been thinking that there is a valid point about there being a break point from the sport for teenagers, however its going to be difficult for one boat to solve this problem. I think the problem stems from parents forcing kids into boats when they don't won't to sail and when they get older, they just give up due to parents having less influence over them. Other teenagers go on to further education or start jobs at the age range RS have identified and may not have the means or time to sail at this point in their life. Teenagers who want to sail will be focused upon the sport and will have a good idea of the route they want to take and although marketing can influence people, most people know what they want to sail without being told what they want to sail and if teenagers at this stage want to continue sailing, they will have most likely planned which boats they definately want to continue the sport in.

I guess it will be at the boat show so will be good to have a look in the flesh, but it certainly looks a bit more 'meaty' than the original information suggested....

Martin - if you're still checking this forum...what are the latest thoughts on yardstick for the 2 versions?

At the risk of starting a new tirade, what's the latest feedback on the Vago...I haven't seen anyone discussing it for a while and never seen one at our club...are they selling any?