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ChrisJ View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 May 04
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Posts: 337 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ChrisJ Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: RS200
    Posted: 23 May 07 at 2:49pm

The 400 main might well be bigger! (Its probably not: the 800 main costs about 8% more than the 400 main).

The 800 being a skiff type of boat it tends to fly over the water more than the 400, which sails through the water. So once the 800 is up and flying (planing up-wind etc.) it would need less power to drive it than the heavier 400.

But once you need to tack to keep out of the tide, or to out-manouvre other boats, or to avoid the odd Laser or Enterprise during club racing: then the 400 comes into its own.

What ever the size of the main is, it is often the sheet load that matters - and that is a combination of sheeting position on the boom, bendiness of the boom, purchase in the main sheet, bendiness in the mast, and how the boats are sailed.



Edited by ChrisJ
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redback View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
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Joined: 16 Mar 04
Location: Tunbridge Wells
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Posts: 1502 		Post Options Post Options   Quote redback Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 07 at 12:18am
The 400 does have quite a large mainsail - larger than a 4000s for instance.  But getting back to the 200 they do seem like an excellent and racy boat for a couple of lightwieghts and they sail well to their handicap over a wide wind range.
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SetSail View Drop Down
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Joined: 06 Oct 06
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Posts: 100 		Post Options Post Options   Quote SetSail Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 07 at 9:51am
Originally posted by ChrisJ

But once you need to tack to keep out of the tide, or to out-manouvre other boats, or to avoid the odd Laser or Enterprise during club racing: then the 400 comes into its own.



i know from first hand experience how the 800 in small spaces can be a pig. try narrow harbour entrance, wind blowing straight onto the bow.

having such a big main (the 400) as is said bigger than the 4k, doesn't that mean you have to be a serious crew weight to get it flat or does it de-power well?
RS821 - Now for sale, PM for details
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andymck View Drop Down
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Joined: 15 Dec 06
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Posts: 397 		Post Options Post Options   Quote andymck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 07 at 2:27pm

I have found the 200 quite easy to depower upwind, a bit of rake, and loads of kicker and cunno allow the main to blade off nicely. Need to be a bit careful about the slot between main and jib, to avoid backwinding and tripping the boat up.

Down wind the rig is a bit strange, as its almost deck stepped, with no deck level support, so lots of kicker causes a lot of sideways mast bend. It could really do with a set of lowers. This means you use less kicker than you would in other boats, but it is still pretty fast, and a rewarding sail.

A well sailed 200 is going to go well on handicap, it is relatively light, has a wide beam for its length for when the wind gets up. In my experience with the 200, it does really reward smooth sailing, not too much use of the large rudder, which means slow tacks and gybes to avoid stalling. You only have to look at who sails them on the open circuit to know its a good boat, and the 2nd hand values. Wish the fleet was developing at our club, but most of the famillies think the GPlaser 2000 is the way to go.
Andy Mck
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