The RS900 - 'our' fantasy dinghy!

Hi there GRF - apols for being offline, as you seem to have got the wrong end of what I said (back on page 7 or so).

I like the idea of progress / development, the point I was making, is that if you wanted the fantasy boat to look something like a 505/f'ball/FD/Javelin etc, then you need to factor in the cost of a fully adjustable rig, so that the power can be switched on and off effectively enough to make the hullshape viable across the wind range.....that's all..!

Two other points.

Costwise, the boat that Dougal and I won the 2003 Nationals was built in 1995 and cost us £5,500 when we bought it in 2003.  Our boat was 1 number newer than 8554 which you can see in the photograph of the 505's a few pages back. 

That boat is still owned by an American called Doug Hagan, and he has had top 10 worlds finishes in that boat during the past 5 years.  Interestingly that photo also has 7771 in it.  That is about a 1983 boat, that has the greatest worlds record of any 505 ever...except perhaps 8266 (the boat that Howie Hamlin is sailing, also in that picture).  I just wonder how well a 25 year old Alto is likely to perform?

Finally on the old men and wellie boots comment.  Our team for the Battle of the Classes this year will (work allowing) have 2 boats in it.  The 4 sailors will have an average age of about 32.  I am the oldest at 35.  I trust that your class will be demonstrating a much younger demographic.