RS 700 info?

Hey There,

I was wondering if i could have a non-biased opinion of the RS 700? I've sailed the Fevas, and while i think they're a good beginner boat, their preformance (in my experience) has been, to be polite, bad.

Also, what weight is required to sail it? I'm just over 12 stone, and have sailed lasers for 5 years, both 4.7 and radial, and occasionally full rig in lighter weather. I've sailed trapeze boats, and raced 420/laser 2s, but never sailed a singlehander trapeze boat.

 

Thanks a lot,

_Kar.

Edited by Kareir

The 700 is weight equalised and can be raced effectively by a wide range of weights.  The circuit is currently being led by a 78kg sailor and the Europeans have just been won by someone who is over 90kg. At 12 Stone you'll be absolutely fine.

Moving from a laser to the 700 is quite a leap, but I managed it as have a number of others, and haven't stopped grinning first.

As to where you'll find an unbiased opinion, I'm not sure.  I sail one and think it's awesome, but then I sail one so I would.   Feel freee to PM me if you've got any other questions.

Ian

Well, seen from the outside, the 700 is quite a handful. To quote a very experienced sailor and coach in our club, it's "the most challenging single hander you can get". Our resident 700er nodded emphatically...

The sail area is bigger than a Musto Skiff and it's got many idiosyncracies you've got to get used to.

It's also getting into the realm of skiff handling, sometimes far away from the traditional monohull dinghy sailing. Our same resident 700er, who made the switch after being highly competitive for many years in Contenders, spent many a time swimming around his new toy. After two seasons, he's getting much more confident and he's not dreading those high speed gybes quite so much.

Really, Kareir, if you fancy that boat, if you're ready to swim but have time and determination to tame it, go for it! They're not too expensive and are loads of fun. I only wish I was good enough (and heavy enough) to give it a go.

Finally, don't forget to let us know how you're doing and post some photos   

Have fun!

Originally posted by Kareir Do you know why he switched from 700 back to 600?   Thanks a lot,   _Kar.

just a geuss but because the 600 is a completely different beast from anything else out there at all he might have not been able to get over the feeling of how a 600 glides to windward. The 7 may have a kite but the 600 IS quicker upwind and i reckon its more challenging to sail. because of the stupidly round hull shape its so twitchy and you will never really master it, there's always a bit more speed to be had out of it.

I made the jump from laser to 600, with a bit of practice trapezing on a fireball and 800 in between but not much. its taken me a years worth of swimming to get it round a course without a capsize, and by god is it rewarding.

obviously im slightly biased but i have sailed both boats. I much prefer the layout of the 600 to the 7, i dont like how you have such a step out over all the lumpy bits in the cockpit of a 7.

Edited by mike ellis

Mike, I dont know which 700s you've been watching but the 7 is definately quicker upwind than the 600, as proven at many of the opens they have shared in the past.

Having previously owned a 600 and competed in the circuit for many years, and now owning a 700 I would agree that the deck layout of the 700 isnt as easy to live with as the 600 however this is compensated by the higher boom, also the extra stability of the 700 makes getting in off the wire and across the boat easier than with the 6, (its easier to stay standing up).

For Kareir however, I would suggest that a 600 is probably for you the better boat to develop your skills in. With no singlehanded trapeze experience you are going to get very wet, and the boat will take a lot of punishment, and the 600 is in my opinion a little more robust than the 7. Spend a few years getting to grips with the 600 and if you are still enjoying it and the courses sailed at your club are predominantly W/L then move onto the 700 and you can then focus on learning the downwind technique without having to worry about tacking it.

Paul