The RS900 - 'our' fantasy dinghy!

Hey Chas.

No criticism from here for the 505, it is/was/probably still is for those
who know how to operate it, the finest boat around to my mind, check my
very early posts which went along the lines "Pity No-ones converted a five
oh to Asymmetric" then someone pointed it out and the rest is History.

Had it not been for this forum, I'd have never found it.

We have 505 History at our club, My Crew owned one, the two guys we
battle with have just bought one we'll be going head to head next year
and it will be fun seeing who comes out on top.

As to how long the Alto lasts, that's down to Rondar, they built 505's in
their day I seem to recall and there's no reason to assume any different
going forward.

But two things, I've never sailed anything that isn't Asymmetric, so
actually know no difference. I've seen 505's and they are very
complicated, too many controls that I just dont get and dont really want
to, I'm not big on controls, we have them on windsurf rigs and the time it
takes to fiddle you can often lose more than you gain, and modern sail
materials have moved on a tad, so has sail design thanks to paying a bit
of attention to what we in windsurfing developed, the batten tensioners
for example.

I am a style 'tart' I like new stuff, the Alto looks more modern, more in
keeping with newer designs, yet it retains the core hull shape that
afforded the five oh it's versatility and seaworthy behaviour.

It goes in all weather, it planes in strong wind yet it displaces minimum
wetted area in drifty weather, no drag, minimal stern wake, the first time I
took the helm it was like, well what can i say, it's just balanced and 'right',
no fighting with weather helm, kind of a Rolls Royce feel to use a car
analogy, just like a 505.

But modern, if I were running the 505 Class, I'd consider opening it up to
Alto users and build on the association, unlikely it would challenge a well
sailed five oh in speed over the water, but it could provide better fleet
numbers if they are on the wane.

I didn't buy it to Class Race, there is no class yet to my knowledge, but I
believe there is a debate as to how it should progress forward, how it
should be marketed, wether it should be Open to All Sail Builders/Hull
Manufacturers, that's all internal politics that I'm not privy to, just
obviously interested because I think a lot of other folk would appreciate
this sort of boat.

As too the "Old Men in wellies" comment, I am an old man in years,
although I still consider myself young in spirit, I just dont happen to wear
yellow wellies, and it was a joke.

there is a problem with the pole and they cannot get the pole to go any further down its because of the design of the wing wang and it causes real problems with the kites stability and it doesent fly very well, i personally belive it needs a bigger kite as there is mo point having a monster square top main and a slightly larger then V3000 kite, especially on a boat that size.

Originally posted by hollandsd there is a problem with the pole and they cannot get the pole to go any further down its because of the design of the wing wang and it causes real problems with the kites stability and it doesent fly very well, i personally belive it needs a bigger kite as there is mo point having a monster square top main and a slightly larger then V3000 kite, especially on a boat that size.

They've sorted it on the new boat, check the picture a few posts back,
they've cut away the lip of the nose, beefed up the carrier and built a
cradle, it works 100% better now. Oh and they have a bigger kite.

Next year you might as well just stay at home and climb into the toaster..

They will be nowhere unless someone has given them a detailed
Windspeed by Windspeed setting for every available adjustment.

They have a chart with every measurement under the sun written down in
triplicate.

They have to arrive five hours before the start of the race to set things
up.

We've had to get the Paramedics down when they've had a seizure if the
wind changes mid race and that was a 470..

I hate to think of what they'll have to do to write down every conceivable
setting on a five oh. I suggested fitting one of those dispensable paper
towel machines with the lever on the side.

They'll just have to do without the magazine rack if they want to keep the
coffee machine and cupholders..

But it makes the point, though.  That if you want a design that performs in the 970 - 860 range (single wire) then you are probably going to need to be able to adjust the rig.  With all the costs implicated.

If you have decided that the "ideal boat" is in the 505/FD/F'ball arena, then it has to be able to perform in all conditions!  Clearly I am a convert already.