Another 'what dinghy ?' - New sailing mum

Hi All,

Advice really welcomed if any of you have the patience for another "what boat" question!

Took ourselves on a family Neilson holiday last year. Me and son aged 9 really taken to sailing, which has been a long held ambition for me. Come home, found a lovely friendly club, both been on beginners courses there; son well catered for with club boats and junior training, I've been borrowing a Pico when it is available. Husband will do a beginners course later this month, but it will be a minor sporting hobby for him as he does other things. But if he sails he really wants something very simple as he doesn't do practical!

I'm in no rush to get a boat but starting to think about it. I'm not brave, like pottering in light winds and being able to reef a sail, don't particularly want to fall in but can cope. Confess I'm very happy in the Pico except for constantly having bruised knees! Club fleets are Laser, Solo, GP14, Topper.

But I'm thinking more along the lines of Mirror, RS Feva, Topper Topaz so that I can sail on my own most of the time, son or husband might join in races with me, and probably, both being very competitive, husband and son can race together. Or I can take a non sailing friend out before we go to the pub for lunch!

I recognise I'm not buying a boat for life and happy to trade up if necessary in the future when all our interests and abilities become clearer- but would be grateful for any advice you may have.

Thanks

The Mirror is pretty flexible in terms of sailing single or double handed, with any combination of kids or adults.

They are used for cruising too, so I assume there is a guide to reefing somewhere.

You could get an old perfectly servicable mirror for £250-£350 and see how it goes. If you really take to it you can consider spending more on something like a Feva. If you decide your not into it you haven't lost much.

Thats what I'd do.

Keith.

Just come back from holiday and really chuffed to find all these helpful
replies. As there is no votes for the topper it looks like I should keep
my eyes open for a Mirror or Feva. Although the Feva is more
expensive it looks like they keep their value so guess I wouldn't lose
much if I wanted to sell it again. Just a bit worried that the mirror is
complex to rig - is that the case? Off to the sailing club at the
weekend so will have to chat to some owners

The Mirror doesn't have to be complex to rig. If you buy one that someone has been racing it may have more ropes than you need, but don't feel daunted - you don't have to use them. Some can be tied off, and some removed. Anyone at your club could advise.