So what do I get?

Skiffman,

Sorry if I am missing something, but surely the 59er doesnt really fit the bill. It doesn't have the option of a trapeze, so no practice there, it seems a might high requirements for a single handed beginner (145kg+ ideal crew weight) and it really is way too expensive and not very bullet proof.

I've sailed darts, and I'll agree with what you say regarding righting a capsized one. It was hard on my own, and I am not sure my wife would manage on her own. As for pitchpoling, I don't know. Never happened to me, but I was told its a big risk on a hobie, but not so much on a dart.

I am concerned that they don't go upwind so well, and they tack very slowly, but on the straight they are great fun! I was wondering whether anyone has more experience of hobies and what they think about the new middle size one (twixxy, I think).

Anyway, still open to suggestions. It still sounds like I should be looking at either a cat or the RS Vision, as the only other thing people have suggested is the topper magno, and some have had a bad response to that (particularly the spinnaker).

So, what is it to be. Cat, or RS. And if its a cat, which one?

As for going on the roof, it seems the maximum load for my car is around 75kg, so you are right about the cat being too heavy, as is the RS.Ah well, I suppose its a tow then!

Thanks once again for all the help. I am sure I am being demanding, but hey, I bet there are loads of people out there looking for something similar.

P

The laser vago will be available in Oct.

Laser are taking orders and then compiling a demo list giving preference to those who have ordered and paid a deposit.

Ordered one myself as it hits many of the criteria you have.

Would love to hear from a mere mortal who had test sailed one.

Redback you seems to know a lot about the boat. Have you sailed it and if so whats it like.

Iain,

Sounds reasonable. I'll be very interested when you have tried it. This whole search started when I sailed an RS Feva, which was great fun for me single handed with spinnaker, but lacked the trapeze. However, at the same time, my wife wanted something that she could sail, and is very new to sailing. The Feva suited perfectly right now, but I reckoned that if we got something that we can only sail single-handed, it was a problem. Hence the interest in Vago, RS Vision (and I suppose the Topper magno as well, though it seems to get bad reviews from many people). But then, cats are good fun as well.

Anyway, please do post when you've had a sail. By the way, is the demo a one off chance, or do you get a day of sailing, or what?

Ta

Perry

i looked at the vago at the london boat show in great detail because it was very simlar to what i was looking for. but what i still cant defide is whether its a singlehanded boat with the means to 2-up racing or the other way around. i hope someone out there will have the anwser to this. the only thing i was against was the price as 4 and a half grand is quite a lot of money for us growing teenagers. do you have a budget? eventually i went for the laser 2 although it is a declining class. my brother and i cam sail it in most conditions and the risks of deathrolling downwind in a blow, kept us from an assemetric.