What Asymettric?

Well said Dave,

....but cats are cheating. 

Like going fast in a car instead of on a bike

 

 

Dave

I would thouroughly recommend the Contender.  I learnt to drive from the wire in one, and it's a nice stable platform to learn in.   I consider myself reasonably handy yet when I sailed a 600 recently it certainly kept me on my toes and i did swim a couple of times.

If you are learning you WILL end up capsizing and dragging your hook across the deck and an older Rondar Contender will put up with that just fine.  And if you are 10st in medium breeze on anything apart from a dead run the Contender will feel powerful and exciting.  In fact the only real drawback is the space to get under the boom whilst tacking, however again if you are 10st you will probably find this much easier than me (13.5st).

Good circuit, lovely looking boat, good sails/rigs from Wavelength, older boats still competitive, dacron sails rather than mylar (although you can have mylar if you really want) mean it will put up with you falling on the main, you can't lose really.  One thing, get a space near the water as they are heavy for a singlehander.

Good luck!!!

QUOTE=NickA]

An asymetric Vortex sounds like a good idea. 

Anyone tried double handing one? 

How much does the add-on asymetric kit cost these days?  And where do you get spares (sails etc) now laser have stopped making them?

[/QUOTE]

The asymmetric kit costs around £1000 from the class association or get a secondhand one (although the asymmetric versions sell quite fast. Laser have committed to continue to stock spares for the standard boat. In time, it may well be that one of the potential new builders the class association are talking to will take over spares etc.

There's plenty of room so you can sail two up but there's not much point for an adult as there's not much for the crew to do. If you want to sail two up regularly, get a doublehander. On the other hand, I have sailed with one daughter trapezing for first time including 'Hanging five' over the bow - that got her hooked (bad pun) into trapeze sailing and she now crews a 29er. Also once with up to 5 kids aboard so that was fun for different reasons.

The Vortex is vastly underated by many (especially on this forum) and given your criteria, and the potential to develop your skills deserves consideration. but as always, its best to have a trial sail - where are you based NickA?

Edited by Hector

Originally posted by radixon Before parting with any money, its best to take a look at the boats you are considering in question. Not sure if it has been mentioned but why not take a look at them at the London Boat Show.

Unlikely to be many classes represented at the London Boat Show - Dinghy Show is far better

The B14's will be at the London Boat Show... although I wouldn't recommend singlehanding one!  Don't forget the docks race on the 14th at the Boat Show, many classes being represented there.  Watch the B14's win :)

My vote is for the Contender.  You can pick them up for obscenely cheap prices and they last - very good platform to trapeze off and awesomely quick upwind (ie pace a 29er!).  Buy a cheap one to start with, sail it then get an RS600 or 700 when you're feeling confident.  Or, buy the most beautiful boat ever built - a Bonezzi Contender.