Single Handed Trapezing

   I'm looking for a boat to get started with sailing single handed on the wire, probably without a spinnaker. 
I've been sailing lasers and a laser 2 for a few years now, so i'm pretty familiar with crewing on the wire, but i'm looking for something a little more challenging. 
I've looked at laser vortex, rs600 and contender so far, but i'm not really familiar with these boats, and havent tried anything like them. I'm about 5'9 and 70kg, looking to probably spend no more than £1500. 
Any suggestions? 

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Delicious Digg Facebook Furl Google MySpace Newsvine reddit StumbleUpon Translate Twitter Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
JTaylor Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 15 Jul 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote JTaylor Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Single Handed Trapezing Posted: 15 Jul 09 at 9:45pm
	I'm looking for a boat to get started with sailing single handed on the wire, probably without a spinnaker. I've been sailing lasers and a laser 2 for a few years now, so i'm pretty familiar with crewing on the wire, but i'm looking for something a little more challenging. I've looked at laser vortex, rs600 and contender so far, but i'm not really familiar with these boats, and havent tried anything like them. I'm about 5'9 and 70kg, looking to probably spend no more than £1500. Any suggestions?
	Laser 2 - 9104 KWSC

Merlinboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jul 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merlinboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jul 09 at 10:30pm
	Laser Vortex would be my choice. Stable, fast, cheap and choice of a kyte.

no limits Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 09 Feb 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 88	Post Options Post Reply Quote no limits Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jul 09 at 11:03pm
	The only key problem with the vortex is re sale as im sure other people on the forum will agree to they dont move on quickly. Rs600 maybe ok if you have a good sense of balance and happy to get wet for the first few months as im finding with the 700. You can pick 600's up reasonably cheap however the older ones have been known to have dodgy kicker bolts and the rear of the daggerboard cases wear out. Just my opinon as i was in a similar situation a few moths ago.

JTaylor Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 15 Jul 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote JTaylor Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jul 09 at 11:09pm
	it seems a vortex would be easier, but 600 would be more similar to a MPS, something which i'd like to move into after a few years with this boat. are there any other dinghy classes around which are suitable for learning the skills pre-musto?
	Laser 2 - 9104 KWSC

English Dave Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 06 Location: Northern Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 682	Post Options Post Reply Quote English Dave Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jul 09 at 11:36pm
	Contender is an option, although for your weight and size I'd still go for a Vortex.
	English Dave Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700

Rockhopper Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 16 Nov 07 Location: Eastry Online Status: Offline Posts: 642	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockhopper Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jul 09 at 7:54am
	A contender is good choice if you are after a good cheap most boats seem pretty good now days but if you thinking about a musto skiff later i would get the 600 as the others say they can be a bit tipy while you are learning but it would be a good learning platform i would go for either the 600 or contender
	Retired now after 35 seasons in a row and time for a rest. 2004 national champ Laser5000 2007,2010,National Champ Rs Vareo

G.R.F. Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 4028	Post Options Post Reply Quote G.R.F. Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jul 09 at 9:04am
	Do what I've done, get a cheap Blaze and add wires to it. It's got a Fireball mast so will take a trapeze, it has racks and has the appearance of being a good easy stable platform to get you back if the wiring fails, my thinking is to start sat on the racks then gradually pull the trapeze pulley and cleat till it lifts me clear then I can settle in without that irrational fear of windward dumping without in my case a boom to hang on to (I'm a windsurfer so trapezing without a boom feels totally alien). Other than that I've been looking for something to fulfil this very same niche for ages but it seems it's Contender and splinters in your nose as you kiss the deck everytime you tack, that Vortex with it three daggerboards, and no nose volume which is not much use in waves, or do it yourself with another boat in my case what will become known as Frankenblaze.
	https://www.ease-distribution.com/

iamalipaul Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 26 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 30	Post Options Post Reply Quote iamalipaul Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jul 09 at 10:07am
	Thats where I was last year, I went straight to a 700 mainly because it would be the only boat I would be buying for a few years due to uni fees etc.. and I wanted a single assy boat that would be a challenge, and it is. I left the kite off for the first few sails until I got used to steering from the wire - still swimming loads though I'm not qualified to advise on choice of which boat, its jus thats the route I took. I paid more that £1500 for my 7 and 2nd hand mustos are even more.
	Still swimming with an RS700!

JTaylor Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 15 Jul 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote JTaylor Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jul 09 at 10:11am
	i had considered a blaze at one point, but it seems most second hand blazes are around £2500-£3000? If there's such thing as a cheaper blaze then i think that might be something to look at.
	Laser 2 - 9104 KWSC

winging it Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Mar 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3958	Post Options Post Reply Quote winging it Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jul 09 at 10:21am
	If you're coming out of a laser 2 then the contender would seem a logical step up; the two have more in common than a 2 and a 600 for example. Your weight will be fine in a contender, as will your height, you can learn the trapezing skills you need without getting disheartened from tipping in all the time. The 2nd hand market for contenders is good so you won't lose money when it comes to selling when you're ready to move on. If you come down to Grafham at all drop me a pm - we have lots of 600s there, but also my contender is there and if the weather is right you could have a go.
	the same, but different...