Following previous posts I have been in the market for a Solo, I did locate one to suit my requirements but unfortuantely I was outbid!! This has given me chance to reflect and consider a Laser for club racing on our small club water, I was told Laser due to the size of the class association.

 

I was very surprised to find that the UK laser association website & particulary the message boards appear rubish with very dated information, also there does not appear to be any Wales region to the association which is where i live.

 

I am 41 5'7 78Kg with little sailing experience would a laser be a sensible choice? 

 

Thanks again, looking forward to getting sorted and stoping 'going on & on & on' about what type!!

 

Seasick 

 

I am in North Wales near the Chester border, Shotwick ismy local water and I also have Bala and Brenig bearby with the anglesey & Llyn peninsula within an hour

 

Is it possible for a 41yr old Newbie to be competitive in a Laser with a lot of practice?

 

Steve

Is it possible for a 41yr old Newbie to be competitive in a Laser with a lot of practice?

 

That is one of my concerns for jumping for the laser, but I am told the upside is easy to buy, lots of advice and local racing, easy to sell and give you a good grounding / understandng of single handed dinghy sailing 

 

To be honest all my sailing to date has been in old wooden mirror, so any racing dinghy centre main is going to feel radically different so a quick go 'try before you buy' probably wont help.

 

I like the look of the Supernova but if that does not suit I would imagine it is harder to sell on than a Laser would be

 

Steve

As for the Laser most UK people are not a member of the CA unless they regularly attend class open meetings. In my mind the Laser class offers very little value to your 'run of the mill' club sailor. This is a problem they have faced for many years. Jon Emmett who lurks round here on occasions might want to add more as he had a CA hat once upon a time I believe....before he went of coaching Chinese ladies.....

Thanks for everyone's hep and suggestions

Would the blaze be suitable for a smaller club water and in terms of popularity and resale how do they Compare with supernovas?

Steve

I know at my local club the main single handers seem to be solos, lasers and A couple of streakers

Is a laser a lot more difficult to tame than a solo.?

Steve

 

I'll stick my neck out and say that a Solo is easier than a Laser....

 

Principally:-

1) Solo has a pivoting cetnreboard - not a daggerboard - so you won't hit the shallows and stop

2) Solo is more comfortable - I found that the Laser cockpit was too shallow. Sitting out was OK (strain in knees), but I found it difficult to scramble back in in a lull.

3) Solo has a centre mainsheet - when gybing it doesn't catch on the transom corner ...

4) Solo rigging is easier - Sail slides up the mast with a haliyard - Laser requires you to fit the mast together & sleeve the sail onto it - then "toss the caber" into the mast socket. It's a bit tricky in high winds!

5) The Solo mast can be varied (within limits) to match your weight (more flexible if you're lighter) and the sail should be cut to match (all within Class rules - of course).

 

My oersnoal opinion is that you'll find the transition from Mirror to Solo easier than Mirror to Laser (having started sailing in a Mirror).

 

Best advise is mentioned above:-

Talk to the class members at a local club, and you should be able to cadge a test sail (might cost you a pint or two!).

Don't worry about the details of the racing rigging just yet, see how comfortable you feel in the dinghy. I nearly bought a Europe single handed (nice to sail - and reasonably proced) till I tried to tack it. The boom is so low that I fond myself kissing the floor!

 

Colin

Your boat handling needs to be good to get it to perform on a smaller water. I had one at Hunts for a few years, the sailable area is 55 acres, I would not want to sail one on much less than that. It does like to stretch it's legs as it tacks relatively slowly (compared to other classes).

As for resale, they hold their value very well if looked after as the older 'Mk1' hulls are still competitive if looked after. The class association is small but active and definitely there for the members.

As for whether it would be the boat for you my advice would be go and have a try in every class you are considering before you make your choice. If you want to develop your sailing and technique then going for a class where you have others with the same boat would be good as you can exchange ideas.

If you do want to try a Blaze the drop 'Blaze720' a PM on here and he might be able to get you in touch with the guys at Bala.

 

Yes Lasers are plentiful, the tips endless, the simplicity laudible and the number of bimbles for them truly mind-boggling.  They are easy enough to rig, easy enough to launch, sail and recover and for a newbie, ideal; because it'll be a miracle if you manage to find the sailing club in this country where there isn't at least a.n.other one out of a Sunday to sail against/with.

 

No, they are not brilliantly designed, ultra-modern, super-light or fabulously constructed from space-age materials, they won't plane upwind and they don't foil (at least as standard).

 

I've owned three, ranging from <£100 'rescue from weeds' to >£2000 'want to go class racing', they're a grin in a blow and you can roll tack/gybe them big-time to keep the interest up in a drifter.  I don't own one now as I got experienced enough (notice I don't claim to be any good) and decided to faff about with more complicated craft and the joys of having a crew.