So what do I get?

Ok all, I've been reading the forum for a bit now, and am hoping you can all come up with some suggestion for me.

I've been thinking about buying a dinghy. But, the problem is I don't think what I want exists! So, I am up for ideas and compromises. I had better start by telling you what its for.

It's for me and the wife. That sounds easy, but it isn't. I've been sailing for 28 years now, done a fair bit of racing, and am at that point now where I love sailing, like the thrill of going fast, but can't be bothered with organised races any more (I am sure I am not the only one!) I have other ways of fulfilling my comptetitive tendancies!

So, The boat needs to be something thats easy to cart around, easy to launch, has OK performance, and room for the two of us. (Sounds easy so far!)

As well as that, I sail a lot on my own, so something that is well set up for single handed would be good. And it needs to be something with an assymetric spinnaker, cos that makes it more fun!

But now, let me bring the missus into the equation. She's been sailing...erm...4 months now. New starter. Loves it, but loves the feel of sailing. Doesn't like the competitive side. She learnt in Pico's and adores them. She would dearly like something that she can sail single handed if she wanted to, that didn't feel radically different from a Pico.

Oh yes, and the final requirement. It needs to be fairly bomb proof. The place I sail locally has not got the best slipway, and my wife is still a 'little nervous' when it comes to coming in alongside (she can do it, but if the boat is bombproof, she doesn't get so nervous). We also want to sail it in Cornwall, in secluded bays off beaches without screwing the bottom up!

So, simple, eh? I'll give you some starters about what I like. As I said, she adores the Pico, and would be more than happy if we just got two of them, but I don't feel it is anything like enough for me.

I spent a lot of time this summer sailing an RS Feva, which I fell in love with. Not the best boat out there, but fun, easy, stable, and in a good wind with the spinnaker up, quite respectable.

I sail GP14's quite regularly, but can't really see how you can sail singlehanded with a spinnaker (or is that just me?)

I like lasers, but prefer a boat with mainsail, jib, spinny rather than just the one.

I never had a great deal of affection for Toppers.

So, I was thinking about an RS Feva, but think it will be too small for two adults. (and a bit overloaded). Same thoughts about things like the Topper topaz, plus I have heard bad things about their spinnakers. I like the look of the RS Vision, and the new Laser Vago, but know nothing about them at all. Something that I can either have two sets of sails for, or can reef down sounds good. And if I have the choice of a trapeze for the future, when the missus gets more confident, then great.

I can't think of more info that you need, but let me know your thoughts. Have any of you sailed the Vision or Vago? Where can I get to have a go. More importantly, where can the missus have a go.

Oh yes, and one last thing. To start with, if my wife does sail singlehanded, she will probably want to sail with just a mainsail until she has some confidence, so the boat has to be able to go forwards under mainsail only, rather than just sit there!

Thanks for the ideas, as I am sure you'll come up with loads.

P

Sounds like the new laser vago would be a very
good option.
Room for two (more room for the crew as it has an
inverted vang).
Made out of an advanced form of the pico material.
Fast but also stable, (much faster than they ever
thought!!) with an aesymetric spinny, and a trapeze
with a good base to trapeze from.
A centerboard makes it easy to beach, and Laser
say that it is very easy to singlehand, (even with a
trapeze).
I saw it at the boat show, and it looked rather good -
but it would be nice to see and hear a few more boat
tests...

Some good photos on the laser website.

Max

to be honest, i don't know a huge amount about the
dart 16 and its various configutations, other than it
meets most of your criteria.
They do not sail to the same angles upwind as
dinghies, but are fast enough to achieve a higher
VMG at the end of the day.

tacking is just a knack, and comes quickly with
practise.

they can be wet, yes! but so can anything in a breeze.

the Dart 16 is an easy boat to take 'random punters'
out for a spin on holiday, as a crew can basically sit
where you tell it with causing too much upset.

you can hit the beach on a Dart 16 at full pelt, and
you'll do more damage to yourself than the boat!

i tow my Spitfire from Scotland to the South coast
once or twice a year. no problem. They are wide, but
well streamlined and generally light. even cope with
the Cornish twisty roads. You can put them on the
roof in bits too. (not too tricky - either one or two bolts
per corner and tramp off - job done)

yes, i have a spinnaker on the Spitfire (see movie on
www.spitfiresailing.org.uk in photos section)
goes like sh*t off a shovel

you don't need to restring tramp if you are towing -
just if you are breaking it down. restringing is usally
along one edge only - fits into a track on front beam
and two hulls with acing at the back - dead simple.

1. laser 3000, can be sailed double handed as well as single, u can sail them with the kite up on the trapeze on ur own if u wish,

2. topaz tres, NOOOOOOOOO. not gud not good at all,

• no room 4 the crew during a tack especially if ur borad is up, like if u wanted to gybe,
• spiniker is terrible for getting out and even worst for putting away,
• kicker in the crews way, no toe strap for the crew if they don't want to trapeze.
• too tipy, seriously too light 4 trapezing from, as soon as you push off the boat slides side ways from underneith you and both helm n crew end up swiming,
• the jib cleats r in the wrong place as far as i can see.
  
  ok my rant about topaz trez is over, as u can tell i don't like them and have good cause,
  
  3.hobbie 16 turbo??? nice boat, sail it on ur own or 2 up. trapeze, i'm not sure about a kite i think there is one, best ask a cat guy or gal on that.
  didn't seem to take that long to put together n trailing was pretty simple,
  
  hope this helps.
  
  P.S out of all the boats that have been mentioned i would go 4 a cat, i think that would suit ur criteria better,
  
  best of luck