The RS900 - 'our' fantasy dinghy!

Originally posted by winging it Of course it probably doesn't justify the expense - I don't suppose any amount of money spent on a hobby like sailing can really be justified.  .................If you're looking to justify money spent on sailing you'd be pushed to cover £100, let alone £1,000.

[Sighs, defeated]

Originally posted by JimC Also I don't know that carbon sticks are going to be 1K over tin ones for most boats...

I've heard that figure quoted as the marked-up, VATted etc. margin that a boat manufacturer would expect to use for new boats. The actual cost difference could obviously be less.

I'm with Wingwang, It really isnt a hassle! There is nothing better then maintaining your pride and joy!  Some people spend hours polishing their cars! 

hmm, that would depend I think on whether or not I was going to try and race it properly.  If I was thinking of having one as my main racer then yes I would vote for carbon.  If I was simply having it as a fun boat - like my other dinghies, all of which have alloy masts, then no I wouldn't vote for it.

I really don't see varnishing a mast as hassle; I've done years of boat maintenance - rubbing down, fitting new slot gasket, doing my own repairs etc,  because I like to try to keep my boats sharp and race worthy.  I have a whole i14 in the garage waitng to be done, with a phantom then a streaker next in the queue.  A mast is nothing in comparison and I'm afraid I almost enjoy it!

Did I only shell out on the contender to catch up with the fast guys?  Of course!  If I want to race with them then I want to get myself as many advantages as possible - don't we all?

At present I have four sails for my contender - three varying older ones for practice, one brand new dacron for opens etc.  I want to get a new dacron and a new laminate some time this year.  I would also (fantasy) like to have a slightly cut down sail for really horribly heavy race days.  So far as I know this is allowed in our class rules.  If I went to a championship and I could measure in more than two sails then I would be prepared to buy them.

On another note, last year I finally afforded a carbon rig.  I don't know if my over the water speed is any better because I still haven't had the chance to race with it much (I took a different boat to Canada) but the difference it has made to my sailing is very noticeable.  The rig is much easier to amage all round.  Gybes are mkuch more controllable; the boom does not whip across half so fast or frighteningly, and the weight of the mast no longer pulls it off balance.  Upwind the boat seems much smoother in the water (hopefully a techie can explain this to me) and seems to come onto the plane faster.  Downwind the boat feels more balanced.

On a capsize the boat is far easier to right and doesn't turtle anything like so quickly.  If I forget the kickewr on a tack it doesn't hurt so much when the boom bashes into me!

Lastly, one of the biggest advantagfes is that I no longer feel like the poor relation at the back of the fleet.  I have the same kit as the fast guys, the playing field has been levelled out, so psychologically there is an advantage too.  (Though I have also lost a valuable excuse for my miserable performance!)