Forgiving trapeze boat...?

Originally posted by ratface p.s i know if i say Spice i will get slaughtered by people on the forum... however people at bough beach sailing club saw how much fun i was having at the weekend in it, not swimming like another twin wire boat there

May be built like a rock, but it sure goes like stink. It can be sailed in a lot of wind with just one wire, or both, It doesnt capsise almost every time you gybe ( *cough* Like someone ... ) and is basically guarenteed to come back in one peice .. no matter WHAT you do to it!

It may also be old, It may not cost a lot, It may be "slow" in some peoples eyes ( But most of those people have either never sailed one, or have only ever sailed "fast" boats ( I14 / Cherubs or Int Canoes / Other generic development classes )

And yes. We had a lot of people over the weekend basically asking to go for a sail on the Spice ( "I might have to have a go on that later or tomorow" etc etc )

Fireball ... Can be powerful, But very easily depowered. You can get a decent "Practice" one for about £750 .. Maybe £1500 if you want a decent GRP one. ( But of course, Wood all the way!! ) £4k would probably get you an old Winder ( Kevlar / Foam I beleive ) hull.

Either way, Try boats, See what works.

Or wait til the Dinghy Show, and see all the boats up close and personal. Pull ropes, Fiddle with stuff .. Thats what they are there for!

I bet half the people knocking the Spice haven't sailed one - they're as rare as hen's teeth.  They sound like a very good introduction to twin wiring although I doubt they'd be fast enough to be much of an introduction to apparent wind sailing.

Come on then Jim, name something that can be picked up cheaply as a twin wire starter boat and WAS NOT a total flop after launch? ( So exclude the RS800 )

12 ft skiffs are rare as hens teeth over here ... Does that mean they are no good, and noone should sail them?

Cherubs? Nuff said.

RS800 - The target not the one to learn in.

I would suggest a 5k, but you have to have quite a bit of lard to sail one with any degree of success. Would set them up right for the racks though.

Originally posted by Gray Daze Wouldnt the fireball be a bit overpowered?? And i did forget to include the price range, it about £3500 - £4500. I was keen on the 3000, does anyone know the minimum weight range and also how are these on handicap?

We have teams between 100-150kg crew weight in the 3000 fleet. 120 is about optimal, i'd guess, but frankly it depends upon the conditions. I'm 65kg and usually have a <60kg crew; when I sail with heavier crews I have much more power but go no faster- equally, when the wind drops we don't seem to lose much - weight placement is far more important than absolute weight. With a 55kg crew the boat feels to have no power but goes just as fast even when i'm spilling wind like mad - the lower drag matches the lower power, apparently.

I wouldn't write off the Laser 3000 if I were you, i've had both that and now the V, and have to say that while there are times when the V is lightning-fast, over all conditions and courses the difference is not so great - my club PY results this season on 1010 with the V3k have been absolutely no better than 1030 with the L3k. Also, you can do a lot now within the rules to update an L3k for very little cost.

If you're anywhere near Draycote (Rugby/Coventry) this weekend, we are having a 'Try a 3000' session after racing on the Saturday (of our Nationals). You'll be able to see the whole range from unmodified L3k's through to V3k's.

I wasn't gonna say anything but you did set him off guys you know what he's like