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Step Down From a Laser?
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EmmyC View Drop Down
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Posts: 39 		Post Options Post Options   Quote EmmyC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Step Down From a Laser?
    Posted: 24 Dec 12 at 1:38pm
Hi all, you may remember last year I was gearing up for a Laser season. Well, in that season I regularly capsized spectacularly, suffered far too much gear failure and a back injury. I then went and lost 2 stone in weight. So I am now selling the Laser (if I can piece it back together) and down-grading (in size, not performance (hopefully)) and am desperately in need of suggestions for another boat. At my club the main fleets are Toppers, Topazes, Lasers and Solutions. As I want a bit more performance than the first two, and a bit less weight than the latter two, I will have to bid farewell to tight class racing Disapprove. So, does anyone know a boat that'd be good for a <60kg young female sailor?

Emily
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kevg View Drop Down
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Posts: 120 		Post Options Post Options   Quote kevg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Dec 12 at 1:55pm
Europe? Byte? There are many other single handers but what about double handed?
 
Kevin
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Posts: 39 		Post Options Post Options   Quote EmmyC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Dec 12 at 2:09pm
Well, there is talk of a B14 at the club, and I don't know who the crew is yet. I may have to have a word with the person who may/may not get it. Also, at cadet week I raced as a crew in a Tres, and we were pretty successful. I was hoping to be a crew next year actually, but I don't want to be left high and dry if I'm dependent on a helm. Also, if I bought my own double-hander, I'm fairly certain I'd have no one to sail with. Is a Byte much lighter than a Laser? I know they're fairly similar........ 
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ex laser View Drop Down
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Posts: 725 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ex laser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Dec 12 at 2:44pm
 it all depends what you want out of the boat and what size of water you sail on. also are you looking for a good class open series?

if you want an unstayed rig, think europe, lightning 368, comet or byte.

if you want stayed think, streaker.

if you sail on a very small puddle even a british moth could be worth a look.


all these boat have good and bad points, it just depends how they match up with what you want out of a boat.

if it was me i would look at the streaker first (great boat with a good open seres), if you dont fancy it, then take a look at the europe, byte and lightning 368 in that order.




Edited by ex laser - 24 Dec 12 at 6:46pm
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ham4sand View Drop Down
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Posts: 452 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ham4sand Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Dec 12 at 7:30pm
funboat?
John Hamilton
cherub 2645 - cheese before bedtime
cherub 3209 - anatidaephobia
laser 176847 - kiss this
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JimC View Drop Down
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Dec 12 at 8:06pm
Maybe we should explore why you had so much trouble with the Laser... Europes are super little boats for example, but no-one ever said they are easier to sail than a Laser... Also was it full rig or Radial Laser?
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EmmyC View Drop Down
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Posts: 39 		Post Options Post Options   Quote EmmyC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Dec 12 at 8:46pm
Well, my original back injury came from rigging up the full rig in a force 5-6 when first got the boat. Then, whenever I sailed I sailed with the radial rig. The main problem is really where sail from. Launching is horrible in the Laser (especially in the rudder) as I sail off of the Essex coast where the swell is occasionally quite terrifying. Now that mention it, a boat with a good rudder system is necessary ;) 

Emily
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winging it View Drop Down
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Posts: 3958 		Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Dec 12 at 9:22pm
Emmy, we have a byte c2 and a bunch of Europes here at Hunts - just outside Cambridge.  You'd be welcome to coem and try them both.  The last forumite to do this chose the europe, not question, but given where you sail you might well find it a tad alarming in big swell plus it isn't easy to launch - quite tippy.  The europe is the better boat, but the c2 is more stable and will cope with the waves better - in my opinion.  Also, consider a splash with a flash rig for the lighter days.
the same, but different...

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Wee Man View Drop Down
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Posts: 214 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Wee Man Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Dec 12 at 9:37am
Lots of cat sailing in Essex, Spitfire helming or crewing or single handed Shaddow.
Nacra Infusion F18
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ex laser View Drop Down
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Posts: 725 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ex laser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Dec 12 at 10:39am
Originally posted by winging it

Emmy, we have a byte c2 and a bunch of Europes here at Hunts - just outside Cambridge.  You'd be welcome to coem and try them both.  The last forumite to do this chose the europe, not question, but given where you sail you might well find it a tad alarming in big swell plus it isn't easy to launch - quite tippy.  The europe is the better boat, but the c2 is more stable and will cope with the waves better - in my opinion.  Also, consider a splash with a flash rig for the lighter days.


my daughter had a splash with an extra flash rig and i must say i thought it was very well designed and well built boat. the only reason we sold it was it did not suit our tiny puddle( on a larger bit of water it would be great) and the fact my daughter commandeered my lightning 368 to sail so much, i had to buy yet another another  boat for myself!!!!!!!! LOL
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