The vortex concept

My observations were based on the performances of six Vortices, five with asymmetrics - surely they can't all have been unrepresentative?

We're down to one now, plus a couple of occasionals; the others have gone back to ''normal' performance dinghies'.

Sorry to say this Dave but you must have been sailing it very badly.

The notion that a Vortex (being even half decently sailed) could be as slow as you describe is quite ridiculous. For instance, I'm quite competitive in an RS200 and except in a very light winds I only rarely beat a well sailed Vortex on the water. As soon as it's more than 5 kts they're away.

I also sail a Vortex and can tell you that pre-asymmetric no-one at the front of the fleet sailed angles offwind - as straight downwind virtually always paid. That's a significant part of why the boat needed the asymmetric. If as you indicate, you were trying to sail angles without an asymmetric no wonder you struggled. The only exception was the drifter when an angle was better - but you were doing the opposite. Not suprising as you obviously had no fast Vortex to compare yourself with.

Now of course there's 15m2+ of asymmetric to play with and so it's very quick offwind - even in light winds. For instance, we often come across decent 29ers and they don't always beat the best Vortex in light stuff. They are quicker upwind but the Vortex is slightly faster offwind.

So to summarise, I accept it's not good on handicap in light winds - but it's not as poor as all that - in fact only slightly more so than many other performance trapeze boats

And BTW - when we have sailed with good Sprint 15s, we beat them on the water in the light stuff. Rather like a 'normal' performance dinghy also would - funny that .

I'm a vortex sailer. I also think it's perfect for you Rob. It's an easy boat to get going with but it's always going to be a challenge.

There is a difference in relative speed in big and light winds but the kite has made a big difference there. It's also made it a more interesting boat downwind in middling winds.

laser, in my view, just haven't a clue about marketing and I think they just give up without really trying. Look at how many of their boats discontinued after a very short period. Most of them were pretty good boats.

Vortex opens are a blast too. And very friendly.

Check out the Vortex web site to find someone close to you for a demo: http://www.sailvortex.org/

and check out the boat in action at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4da-JpFlYA. a cut down of Sky Sports' televising of the 2003 Nationals in Torbay.

Rob,

If you are allowed Cat's where you sail, then don't discount an F16.  Single handed with a kite and as fast as a fast thing