Boat For Teenage Girl

Take Zailors advice and try to find a cheap Byte C2. (I just did to replace my vandalised boat). The good thing about a Byte is that they de- power very well and if you get good, really good then they will sail well above their PY. They also look quite sexy....like half a29er.

I think a Radial would be the best option for you. The Byte CII is a great little boat but the class is tiny compared to the Radial meaning you would not get nearly the same opportunites for training and racing. There are obviously far more teenage girls sailing the Radial than the Byte CII.

Edited by Jon Emmett - 28 Dec 10 at 10:09am

I am surprised that no one so far has asked the obvious question, ie what do other people sail at your club?   All of the boats mentioned so far (Streaker, Byte, Radial etc) are all great boats, but you'll get so much more out of the sport if you've got a few other boats of the same type to sail with.  OK if everyone else is sailing boats that clearly don't suit, fine, get something you like and handicap race. But out of choice - at your age you should be aiming at sailing in fleets, you will learn so much more.

Thanks for all the responses guys, I'll answer a few questions.
- I sail at the Gunfleet Sailing Club in Holland-On-Sea
- I don't think I will be sailing at any other clubs or going to Nationals etc.
- I would like a boat that I could race on my own and also maybe cruise with another person.
- My club is mostly made up of Lasers, Toppers, Topazes, Solutions and Clinker dinghies, but there is one or two other classes such as Bytes, Contenders and RSs

Thanks guys



Edited by EmmyC - 29 Dec 10 at 11:35am

Great advice there from Jim. If you want to take an occasional friend out you will find a Laser (4.7/Radial/Full) just a little easier to do that with as it is a bit bigger than the Byte.