60kg 16 yr old looking for singlehander
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
Forum Discription: Ask any questions about the sport!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11361
Printed Date: 05 Aug 25 at 12:03pm
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Topic: 60kg 16 yr old looking for singlehander
Posted By: Dignhysailor
Subject: 60kg 16 yr old looking for singlehander
Date Posted: 26 Feb 14 at 9:29pm
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I am 16 yrs old and roughly 60 kg, although I will probably grow a bit more. I'm also about 5ft8. I am looking for a fast singlehanded dinghy. I have sailed quite a lot at school, helming and crewing 420s, 470s and fireflies. I also have a laser pico, which I now want to sell and get a more exciting dinghy. I sail inland at a lake (South Cerney Sailing Club) which is quite small. There is handicap racing, which I am keen to do. The two largest fleets are lasers and solos. Before anyone suggests a laser, I do not want one as I hate how you have to put the sail over the mast. I quite like the look of a solo, but am put off by the fact that it looks to be an older man's boat- is that wrong? I really like the look of a rs300, but not sure of handicap, as apparently it makes it hard to be competitive in a handicap race- again is this a false thought? I do not think that I would be able to cope with a rs100 properly, and trapezing dinghies will probably not work! I also want a fairly large national fleet, so that I might have option to progress to them if i get good enough! Sorry for the fairly long lists of I want this, I don't want that, but just trying to get it most specific! Finally, I have a budget of £4000, so will probably want a second hand- also I do not want wooden boats due to maintanence!
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Replies:
Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 26 Feb 14 at 9:50pm
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If you are going to carry on sailing at SCSC I'd go for the Solo. There is plenty of joking about them being old mans boats, but they provide good quality racing, and you'll be able to race in a competitive fleet. If you dont think you are upto an RS100 then you have no chance in an RS300.
In your general handicap fleet are there any singlehanders with more than one boat out as a regular? Streakers, Lightning, Byte CII. Its always best to try and find a boat that someone else keen is sailing so that you will have someone to sail against boat on boat. |
Posted By: Time Lord
Date Posted: 26 Feb 14 at 9:54pm
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Why not ask to have a trial sail in some of the single handers boats that are sailed at your club? Most people will help in this way if approached at the right time ie not just as they are rushing to get on the water before the race starts.
The owners will try to give you a hard sell as to why their choice is best but make up your own mind. Also keep in mind that It is easier to judge how your sailing is improving ( or not) when you are sailing against boats of the same class and this also means that you have people at the club who can help with rig setup, etc. ------------- Merlin Rocket 3609 |
Posted By: Dignhysailor
Date Posted: 26 Feb 14 at 10:03pm
| Unfortunately, there don't seem to be many singlehanders out, except lasers and sailors, although I think there are a few rs300s and 100s, hence the reason for looking at them! |
Posted By: Dignhysailor
Date Posted: 26 Feb 14 at 10:03pm
Sorry, I meant solos, rather than sailors!
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Posted By: JP233
Date Posted: 26 Feb 14 at 11:12pm
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im 18, and 60kilos, get a moth, your budgets right for one on moth mart. http://www.mothmart.com/foiling-moth/mistressninja-gbr-3080-for-sale/ ------------- Thanks Jamie |
Posted By: timeintheboat
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 1:36pm
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There is a good fleet of Supernovas just down the road at Cotswold SC ------------- Like some other things - sailing is more enjoyable when you do it with someone else |
Posted By: yellowwelly
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 1:45pm
at south cerney? seriously? Even if it wasn't the dumbest recommendation so far, it wouldn't be allowed on the lake.  In answer to the OP- see if you can borrow an RS300, I think Sven has got one there now. They are a great boat for that lake - and will provide you with loads of fun and thrills. Sure, you're a little on the light side, but the A rig would be fine, and you'd do really well after a few weeks in the lighter winds even with a B rig. Forget the 100, it's just not suited there. If you were 26 and mad keen for the best racing circuit around those parts, then I'd say look at the Solo and forget the old man stereotype. But at 16, no way, you need some silly boats first.... the 300 is the most sensible silly boat for that location and in a year or so, a driving licence will enable access to really great bunch of guys in the national fleet. ------------- |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 2:16pm
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If you want to try a Lightning, pop round to Whitefriars and you can have a go in mine. However, if you want fleet racing at SCSC and elsewhere, then a Solo will give that to you. If you fancy a faster boat, for sh*t and giggles (and why not - if you can't do it at 16, then when?) then the 300 has a lot going for it, provided you like swimming while you learn! Weight doesn't matter as much on a small lake as on the sea. You won't need to spend the whole budget, either. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: NickM
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 5:23pm
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My suggestion would be to get a Solo for a couple of years. I am sure the local fleet will welcome you and there will be some good local sailors who may give you tips about sailing a Solo faster which will be transferrable to other classes. Also you can measure how much you improve against the others in the fleet there. Close fleet sailing will also sharpen up your tactics. You can pick up a good competitive FRP Solo for your budget and you won't loose too much when you come to sell it. Then move on to something else a bit more challenging, choosing a class depending on where you are sailing (uni?). You are a bit on the light side for a Solo at the moment so be sure to get the right rig for your weight - lots of advice on the Solo Class website.
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Posted By: yellowwelly
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 5:27pm
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4 grand... RS Aero or Devoti Zero and chuck in some sweat equity / work experience. Negotiate hard, play on your yoof (tell them you're on Facebook and AskFM or something), tweet them etc.... bag yourself one of the bargains at the dinghy exhibition this weekend- doesn't matter which one, both look great! ------------- |
Posted By: Dignhysailor
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 5:31pm
| Thanks, that sounds like good advice! With the handicap, does the 300 'work' for handicap racing, as it is 995, which surely means it's hard to be competitive in this type of racing? |
Posted By: Dignhysailor
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 5:48pm
| Do you have any details on the RS Aero, as can't find anything except that it's being released at the dinghy show?! |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 7:12pm
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May I suggest.... a Farr 3.7.... 60kg is perfect.
%20" rel="nofollow - http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html Designed by Bruce Farr... Now being built in the UK by Butler Boats... %20" rel="nofollow - http://www.butlerboats.biz/farr.php Come and see us at the Dinghy Show... ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: JP233
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 7:12pm
i have no idea where or what south cerney is.
------------- Thanks Jamie |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 7:39pm
    
 ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 7:51pm
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60kg in a solo will struggle at time when your joints are still developing. You'd do far better in a streaker, europe, lightning, byte CII, etc. The Farr is also a great suggestion if you want the excitment of the trapeze. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 8:05pm
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Don't even think about a Solo young chap. Those 300's are pretty quick and a young guy down our lake has his moments, but I notice he's not out when it's windy and I guess fro someone your age, more fun and exciting.
If your budget would stretch to that new RS Aero, I hear they are going to be offering some sort of cash back deal if you encourage some other club guys to buy into it, but I guess at your age something more testing would be appropriate. It's a tough one this, what to recommend to a youngster who should be windsurfing instead of hanging round with old people.. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Dignhysailor
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 8:06pm
I'm sorry, while they look awesome, I am not getting a trapezing boat because my lake is not large enough. Also, Farr 3.7s are (or appear to be) wooden, which again is not what I want- too much upkeep time/ money! Thank you very much for your idea,but unfortunately the practicalities do not work!
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Posted By: Dignhysailor
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 8:09pm
To help you, South Cerney is a fairly small lake!
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Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 11:47pm
Composite boats are available from Butler Boats for roughly the same price as wooden. I've not sailed on South Cerney but I do know of it. One of the cool things about the Farr 3.7 is its ability to work on restricted waters. Think of it like a Laser with the ability to stand on the side up wind! Hamilton in NZ is a small tree lined lake, as are a couple of the locations those pictures were taken. Just thought you should know that the Farr 3.7's out there and with thinking about. ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 27 Feb 14 at 11:53pm
South Cerney looks plenty big enough to me! [TUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rxP8eenbNA#t=36[/TUBE] ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: yellowwelly
Date Posted: 28 Feb 14 at 12:05am
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It would be- a good suggestion there for exploring trapeze options. ------------- |
Posted By: yellowwelly
Date Posted: 28 Feb 14 at 12:07am
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Jamie- Cotswolds water park. It would be perfect if it weren't for the bit of land joining it all together. ;-). ------------- |
Posted By: Dignhysailor
Date Posted: 28 Feb 14 at 8:33am
Does the Farr have a PY number, important for south carney racing where it's all handicap racing? Also, how many boats are there in the UK?
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Posted By: Er-Indoors
Date Posted: 28 Feb 14 at 8:49am
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If you can get to the dinghy show this weekend, I'd recommend it. You can see all the boats, and speak to their sailors - who will of course all tell you their boat is best. Many of them will also know of people who will let you have a try before you buy. Getting them all in your brain in one day (and take a camera/smartphone and even be geeky and write some notes on each) will make it easier to compare.
------------- Lightning 418 "Octarine" |
Posted By: Steve411
Date Posted: 28 Feb 14 at 9:07am
Now 990 (and we're not complaining). It's absolutely fine as the handicap goes and it is competitive on handicap once you have learned to sail the boat properly. You're a bit light for a B (big) rig at 60kg (the lightest B rig helm at last year's Nationals was 68), but you could probably get away with it inland in most conditions. The A rig is slightly less sail area but the rig is a lot bendier so less powerful. We have one 16 year old in the fleet already,who's doing rather well. http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/174777/Crewsaver-Tipsy-Icicle-Series-day-8" rel="nofollow - http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/174777/Crewsaver-Tipsy-Icicle-Series-day-8 That's him in the pic. ------------- Steve B RS300 411 https://www.facebook.com/groups/55859303803" rel="nofollow - RS300 page |
Posted By: Dignhysailor
Date Posted: 28 Feb 14 at 10:48am
Thanks,this has sort of made up my mind, as the handicap was one of the things that I was most unsure of!
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Posted By: yellowwelly
Date Posted: 28 Feb 14 at 11:18am
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I'm not trying to dissuade you from a 300- they are great boats - however if you wanted to demo a Farr before finally spending four grand on something, then it might be worth hooking up with Jack Sparrow via PM on here. There is a boat at Draycote- a lovely one - we're only an hour or so up the Fosse Way from South Cerney, 'Jack' could probably sort out a quick ride. FWIW- If I were 16 again the one skill I really wish I'd nailed into the memory bank was decent trapezing. It opens up a world of amazing boats - either as a crew or a helm - when you're a bit older and skills take a bit longer to sink in. At 16 I f**ked my knees up on a Laser instead..... Just a thought... enjoy whatever you get anyway. ------------- |
Posted By: Steve411
Date Posted: 28 Feb 14 at 11:19am
I would still recommend having a go in one before buying. ------------- Steve B RS300 411 https://www.facebook.com/groups/55859303803" rel="nofollow - RS300 page |
Posted By: Ruscoe
Date Posted: 28 Feb 14 at 2:23pm
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I really would not recommend a trapeze boat at South Cerney, its a small lake lined with trees and holiday homes. Which will have more holiday homes built around it in the very near future. It will be flukey as hell! There are a couple of 300's at South Cerney now, so why not ask if you can have a go. Gary Morris is a nice guy and i'm sure he will be keen to grow the fleet. (It has always just about started to build then dropped off in the past) If you want fleet racing you wont beat a Solo there, but you will need a very bendy rig and will be making firends with blokes 4 times your age. If it were me i would be looking at a Streaker and trying to build a fleet of like minded friends. ------------- |
Posted By: AlexM
Date Posted: 28 Feb 14 at 2:25pm
And we're using 980 as H'cap at L&L
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