What Asymettric?

Originally posted by redback Here's simple test (and big boat sailing will have helped here) - you should know the answer instinctively.  Assume you have just sailed up the beat of a windward/leeward course and you found the right hand side paid, what gybe should you be trying to get onto after the windward mark?

 

There is no one answer to that- let alone know the answer insticntively. Do you race often or read books, leading you to believe such black or white situations exist in sailing?!

It would depend entirely as to why the right hand side of the beat paid, if the tide was favoured on that side of the course then the downwind (assym) boat would want to stay on starboard gybe, for the opposite reasons as upwind (ie. sail into less adverse currect/ with more +ve current).

If the right paid due to there being more wind on the right hand side of the track, then downwind then you would want to gybe on port to get into the more pressure on that side.

Again these are only 2, simplistic options, there are many, many other possibilties as to why one side of the beat was favoured...

 

Theres a guy at my club who's taken his kids out on his vortex a few times.  plenty of room for them to sit and a kite to play with.
Its got the speed with the stability so certainly a good learning boat in my books. 

Suprised no-one has mentioned the Vortex.

You can sail it in asymmetric or standard mode(different handicap), so if it's too windy leave the kite alone, if it's lighter, you can get used to using it. There's no easier platform for learning to singlehand trapeze, but they're still very fast in most conditions.

Edited by Hector

Redback is probably right, if you want to learn racing and get good at it, a trapeze asymetric may not be the right thing at all. 

But .... do you want to race?  It's not compulsory and a trapeze asymetric is certainly the most fun.

RS600 / RS700 / MPS = single handed only and perhaps a bit too advanced

Contender = good value fast boat, but no room for 2 (not much for one!), heavy on the slipway (unless you remove those lead weights) and no spinny to play with.

Vario = good bet, but quite pricey even 2nd hand - and no chance to learn trapezing

Laser = no trapeze, no asymetric, little speed for the effort involved and dispiriting to race as the standard is SOO high.  But you're the perfect weight!

My own choice for the same criteria was an old laser 2 (but it still took me two or three seasons to get from beginner to S/H trapezer).  These days it would have been a laser 3000 which might be worth a look; especially a decent 2nd hand one with the original sail plan (about £2.5k), complete with furling jib and reefable main for confidence on windy days. 

Maybe move onto a contender or RS700 in a few years or a bigger double hander.

Edited by NickA

I'd say the contender is a good option. As isis says, it will be a challenge but an attainable one. They can also be very cheap to pick up with the possibility of selling and buying a better one as your skills develop. Not only that they have a very competitive circuit as far as i know. They are great boats and are really fun to sail, even without a kite, although they are not so fun in light airs.

yup, i think i got my 600 just at the right time. looks bitchin with the wide wings, although the UV faded red (pink) does make it slightly less beefy looking, they will be black soon! Could be an option to move onto if you get slightly bored with the stability of the contender. either that or MPS or 700. Then again you might fall in love with the contender as many people do and stay with it forever.

There are plenty of options for you to think about. The best piece of advice for buying a boat is to try all your optoins first, only then will you really know what you want, and what suits you. Also think about where you will be sailing it and who you will be sailing against as this can make any racing you do much more addictive.

Good luck
Ferg


Edited by 29er397