RS200 or ...?

Originally posted by G.R.F. Don't do it, go with the 200, the first thought is always the best, you've stumbled into a world of crazed old dodderers determined to cling on to yesterday. The chances of you getting one of those N12 things that is remotely on the pace with all the others is between slim and none, with the 200 you get what everyone else gets, it's a neat little boat with lots of fellows sailors and a good social scene. It performs really well across a wide range, doesn't stick in a drifter has plenty of volume so is equally OK on fresh or salt water and is relatively maintenance free, but, if you have issues is backed by great spares and service online if necessary. As to the ludicrous suggestion that using a clumsy antediluvian old school spinnaker and pole requires anything more than charisma removal at best or a frontal lobotomy at worse, that comes from someone who has no idea of downwind assym tactics, something that is fun to learn, and the 200 can go pretty deep in any event.

Hahaha - you summed me up with your first paragraph!

You have inspired me to have one more go in a 200 (had very light airs last time) but my observations are pretty much as follows:

1) The 200 is a bath tub - I much preferred the finer balance of the 12
2) The 200 kite is so small that the assym tactics (which I am a fan of) are not used except in a blow
3) I can get competition at a club level in any boat. I don't feel the need to 'win' - my experience from racing is that you get your kicks from your battles on the water which could be with excellent sailers in slower boats or terrible sailors in fast boats. I enjoy the position over the line and I'm less bothered by what happens after the PY adjustment lottery.
4) The dangly pole on the 200 is brilliant.  I never expected it to be so fun / useful.  All boats should have one.

Bottom line, if the National 12 had a decent assy then I think it would be my perfect boat, but although the RS200 looks like it would fit on paper, in practice it does not deliver because of the bathtub feel and tiny kite.

The 12 is not perfect.  I am not a fan of the rear sheeting (but I can change this) and to be honest there are more rig controls than I will ever really use with any confidence, but the feel of the boat is what is driving me down that route...

I'll give the 200 another chance in more wind and see if that changes my opinion - the club racing and strong circuit are definitely plus points.

Originally posted by G.R.F. Don't do it, go with the 200, the first thought is always the best, you've stumbled into a world of crazed old dodderers determined to cling on to yesterday.

Ben, for what it is worth I think there were 3 200's and 2 N12's sailing at Chew on Sunday, so you'll have others to race whatever you choose.

Originally posted by ben_a it will take just as much commitment to learn how to sail a boat well in order to keep up with those at the front of the fleet.

Edited by pondmonkey - 25 Sep 12 at 10:17am

Yep- you could get one (nice-ish secondhand would be the best for the money/depreciation), sail it for a couple of years and learn absolutely loads, with class training days aimed specifically at new entrants to the class etc.  The social vibe's excellent too, but I guess that's true of the 12s as well.  You'd also learn from others sailing them in the club too, simply by racing and chatting when you get the opportunity- it's an easier approach than bimbling and measuring rakes and rig tensions for sure.