Laser Vortex

Hi Wave Rider,

I have not owned a Vortex, or sailed one, but I sail at a club which is the 'home' of the Vortex and all of the top sailors in the fleet are friends of mine and, normally, I sail against them on a weekly basis. I would normally leave it to one of my friends to respond to your queries but I just thought that I would let you know that the Vortex Nationals are being held, not too far from you at Lymington Town Y.C. on 12th/13th August 2006, and it would be an ideal opportunity if you could get there and talk to the sailors, I think that there is also training being organised there on the 11th.  You will find all of the sailors very approachable, very helpful and welcoming.  I am sure that you will also get a chance to sail in either a basic boat or one with a kite.

To briefly answer your other queries, the class is for anybody of any age, the oldest one I know is in his late fifties.  I must admit, I have not come across any 15 year olds.  The Vortex is as much a challenge as any other boat in order to sail it well.  I accept that with two hulls, it is a more stable platform, and therefore more forgiving, than say a 600, 700 or an MPS when the wind gets up.  When the boats were introduced in 2000 they were una rigged.  After a couple of years, some of our top sailors, who had also been very good in other classes,  thought that the boat's downwind performance would be greatly enhanced with a kite, also it would increase the skill factor and make for more exhilerating sailing. 

With this in mind, Keith Escritt spent about two years designing and experimenting with different kites and different systems until the present set up was perfected.  He went to the Class Association with a proposal and the assymetric option was adopted, the present PY's are 960 (una) and 930 (kite).

Considering that Laser are no longer having new boats built and that they are no longer marketing the class (like they have done with several other classes), the class is 'marking time' until a new builder/marketer is found.  I understand that this will be sorted out later this year.

With all due respect, as you are 15 years old, it is not surprising that the average age of the sailors is considerably more than 15 (probably 40'ish).  I am sure that anyone would have fun sailing the boat, with or without a kite, particularly when the wind gets up.

When the boats first came out it was possible to get a boat, combi and covers for around £4000, which was a very good price in terms of what you got for your money (goods, speed and excitement).  Some of these early boats are now being sold for around £1000 (again for boat, combi and covers) which is amazing considering what things cost these days.  I think that a new mast or a new sail is around £700.   The cost of the new kite kits (complete) were around £1000 depending on when and in what bulk the class association bought them.  The other week, there was a complete assymetric boat up for sale for around £1500 which must have been an absolute bargain. 

It is fair to say that alot of the boats have changed hands a few times but there always seems to be a demand for them.  I suspect that some people have bought them as a transition boat before moving on to a 700 or MPS.

Most of the good Vortex sailors at my club are between about 11 and 12.5 stones.  If you are wondering why I never bought one myself, the boat never appealled to me, there were a few early teething problems with the boats, the performance is very poor in very, very light conditions and I am far too heavy.  I still think that the boats are great fun and fantastic value for money.  Hopefully, a Vortex sailor will post and will be able to better answer your queries, albeit I know that some are away at the moment and Keith has been in Garda.  Why not post on the class website?  I hope that this helps - try to get to Lymington next week if you can make it.

Ian   (Yorkshire Dales S.C.)

 

Originally posted by Wave Rider Hi. This post if probably going to p*** off some people, but hey, its a serious question:D. I am wondering what boat to buy next which i could club race quite well, and seeing as im only a wee laddy i can't afford anything expensive. I will probably buy a cheap cherub juist for a laugh becuase they rock, but i also want a single hander definately. Thinking of a 600 but i want a kite ideally. Saw that laser vortex's are fairly cheap at the moment aswell and they have a kite if you wish... So the question is, is the class for more 'mature' gentlemen?? Becuase im 15 and see them batting along quite happily, and i obviously don't want a boat which isn't a challenge but surely vortex's can't be that eaasy with a kite aswell?? Also why is the class not doing so well?? Will i find the class's average age a hell of a lot older than me? will i have fun with it? and why are they so cheap for a single handed spinni thing. any answers to the questions GREATLY appreciated.

im 16 and sail a vortex  shared between 2 other mates at my club. Im using it to get used to singled handed trapezing and i gotta say they are quite stable in most winds ( i weigh 9 1/2 stone) im gunno annoy some sailors by saying this but only buy this boat as a stepping stone into a rs 700/mps cos the class is dying ( hence y low resell value). shame cos their a good boat for beginners  and are only poo in no wind
 

 

Seconded for the RS600 - as mentioned in a previous post, when I race my 600 against the Vortexes (Vortecies?) at my club, the results are very much weather dependant, with the Vortexes keeping up with me (or even ahead on the water), but back with the standard Lasers in no wind.

The 600 is definately a better all-rounder, rather than just having one gear, and second-hand values are strengthening now, similar to what happened to the RS300, thanks to a shortage of boats on the market.

If your eventual goal is a 700/MPS, then the step from the 600 upwards is more natural too.

 

Originally posted by tack'ho Not interested in a Byte CII then, as your of compact dimesions?

what is your current obsession with the byte tack'ho?

Edited by mike ellis

WRT the Vortex it's horses for courses. It's never going to be a mass market boat but it will always have a niche. I bought one because I wanted a fast trapeze asymmetric single hander I could sail in a fast handicap fleet without the extreme gymnastics of a 700/MPS (I'm 46 and only about 70kg) and without the need to be AFRAID of going sailing in anything above the top of a three (ever noticed how many 700s/MPS stay in the dinghy park when it's windy).

I havn't regretted it at all and I've won a few club events and local opens. Its not the best boat in light winds but all classes have their weaker areas, and the vortex is so cheap at the moment you could always buy a second boat for those light days (I have a solo) and still have change from what it would cost you to buy a 700/MPS! 

People often comment that it's difficult to tack but I would say no more so than any other high performance single hander (see comments on the 600 site re "irons")

With regard to the comments about the class dieing I'm not in any position to comment officially but I gather negociations are in place at the moment to establish a new builder and second hand prices seem to have bottomed out, certainly with regard to assymetric fitted boats and may even be beginning to pick up.

Give it a try, it's a great boat!