Hi,

I'm sorry for the length of this post. Based on some other posts I've seen, I thought I should provide some information upfront.

I'm a nearly 40 year old +/-100 kg 'has been' dinghy sailor... Did my stint in a few classes as a teenager and then had a gap of about 20 years with no sailing at all. I wasn't a top ranking sailor back then but could save my skin when needed and had lots of fun in general. I now have a 9 year old daughter competing in the Opti circuit and I started to get back into the sport again. Its a lot of fun and pain at the same time.

I did some Laser Pico sailing to get back up to speed and started sailing the Laser again. Obviously I'm in no shape or form to be competetive in the class. So in general this puts me from 'has been' to a 'wannabe' category I guess.

Other than single handed fun & mayhem, I would like to be able to sail with my 9 year old and occasionally with my 5 year old on gentle days. Idea is to get the 9 year old to enjoy different aspects of sailing beyond what Opti can offer and get the 5 year old hooked up on sailing so she jumps into the Opti ready to closehaul when she is old enough!

I currently live in Singapore with my family. Olympic classes have a good presence here with a small fleet of Laser Pico's used in adult training by the clubs. Number of other dingies such as Laser 2, Laser 2000, Laser 4000 etc is less than 5 to 6. There is no RS presence at all. Few multihulls (Nacra / Hobie) mostly baking under the sun. Most dinghy sailing is done by < 20 year olds and I'm certainly an anomaly.

I considered buying a Pico to meet my needs but there is almost no second hand market. When I looked at the brand new Pico cost here I decided I might as well spend some more and get something with a little more oomph to enjoy as I get better at sailing.

Anyways, long story short, the Laser representative here can import a laser Vago for me. They have already supplied some units to neighboring Malaysia where I can go and do a test sail but its about 5-6 hours drive away... Based on all I've read and heard I think Vago is the right dinghy for me but I still have few questions which I would really appreciate if Vago owners could help me answer. Thanks in advance!

1. Based on everything said above, and having sailed Vago for a while, would you buy it if you were me?
2. Why is there so little said or written about Vago still after almost a year since launch. Is this a dead end product? Are there resources you can point me towards in case I'm missing them all on Google?
3. When the main is reefed along with the jib, can the Vago be almost as docile as a Pico? This is for the times when I sail with my 5 year old daughter.
4. How long does it take for you to rig & commence sailing once you reach the club. For this question, please assume the Vago is dry berthed at the club and not trailered.
5. After almost a year in the market, is there a known problem with the dinghy that Laser is supposed to fix in the later production batches? I can wait a little more.
6. Is there any routine maintenance you find yourself doing other than washing and rinsing with fresh water after each sail?
7. Given the long distance to source, I would like to buy all the spares & accesorries in one shot rather than bit by bit. This way I might be able to negotiate a better price as well. What would you recommed I get along with the Vago XD? I am already planning to get the XD version but order the regular mainsail for the windy days + reefing.
8. Anything else I should be aware of or consider before writing the cheque?

Thank you so much for all your help. Most appreciated.

I can comment on the Laser 2000: which is now a very well established class with many family sailors. My 4 1/2 year old is keen to sail with me, just furl the jib and spill the main if overpowered ("attacking wobbly fish") reef the main if necessary. 2000s can easily be sailed single handed but not full on like a Vago is supposed too. 2000s provide a stable platform to introduce your 9 year old to the world of asymmetric sailing. Also a trapeze kit can be added (mail order for £100 ish).

Can you get a test sail of the 2000 at your locale?

Kevin

Kevin,

Thanks for your kind reply. Yes, I do believe there is one demo boat which my Laser reseller has on the ground. I will take your suggestion and arrange a test sail with them. I did look at the 2000 on the web a lot and certainly appreciate it is a larger & more stable looking boat compared to the Vago. The two reasons why I had not considered it further were :

• Price - About %50 more expensive compared to Vago. More than I'm willing to spend and no 2nd hand boats available here for a reduced cost.
• Construction - GRP vs Rotomould - I feel rotomould is the way to go for me. I am a little obsessive compulsive for nicks & dents and get very stressed each time I sail a 'glass' boat. Perhaps this is very silly but I feel I would have more ease of mind if I was on a plastic boat. I know I will upset many with this comment but thats how it is. I am scared of the maintenance aspects of a GRP boat.

Having said all that about kids etc, I will still sail probably about %50 of the time single handed or with other adult sailors of my calibre or better. Vago seemed more appealing from that angle too given that it looks like a faster & more agressive boat. Then again looks can be deceiving. There is at least one Laser 2000 photo on the Laser website which looks real fast.

Will arrange a test sail. Thats for sure. Thanks for your input. Regards

PS . Loved the "attacking wobbly fish" reference. I am sure I will use this with my 5 year old.

That's a tricky set of requirements...."sailing 50% of the time or with other adult sailors" means there is inevitably going to be some major compromises in one requirement in order to fulfil the other.

Views on Vago (after just a few test sails - don't own one):

• With young kids you'll be OK in light winds or reefed, will never be quite as stable as a Pico but not far off.  2000 is an excellent family boat - family of 2 adults and 2 under 10s can cruise very happily, and 2 adults can have a great blast in a blow
• For sailing on your own the Vago is the clear winner, but need the XD rig I think
• With another adult you're OK in the Vago as long as it's really blowing and they're on the wire.  If they're not than it can feel very cramped - really not comfortable for a couple of 6-footers to be sitting in.  2000 wakes up when the breeze gets up

I'm sure you'll get more responses on the GRP / rotomoulded issue, (one thing to bear in mind is that if whilst GRP is more prone to light damage than plastic, if you puncture the plastic you've a trickier job on your hands than the equivalent fibreglass repair).  IMHO the same is true if fittings pull out etc. Understand it's tricky where you are but If you can get a 2nd hand boat with a few free scratches thrown in, might that help chill you out on adding your own battlescars?!

i sailed a vago for the first time yesterday.  found it a bit crap reali.  we did have the small main and kite on.  i cant see how u are ment to sail it single handed easily.  the kite hoist and jib and all mounted on the front beam so is not very easy to get to them.  also the kick outs for the wire are inthe front so cant be doen

Hi, I have owned a Vago since last year and I will attempt to answer your questions, as follows:

1. Like yourself I wanted a boat I could sail single or double handed. I spend about 50% of my time sailing single handed with no problems. Raising the kite single handed is no more difficult than on the RS Vareo, also adding an extra block to lead the halyard further back would not be difficult.

2. Laser have sold about 400 Vago's so far, which is ahead of Laser's original projections. You will start to hear more about the Vago as the first proper events for the Vago kick off at Grafham water at the end of the month.

3. I have never sailed a Pico or a Vago with a reef so I can't comment, but on the whole the Vago is quite a tippy boat when not moving and I would never descibe it is docile.

4. If like myself you take off the jib, the kite and the boom when you have finished sailing, then it is about 15mins to get the cover off and rigged to go.

5. Laser have only made two modifications, for which they supplied parts and instructions. The first was a minor change to the Rudder assembly and the second was a new furler drum.

6. The only maintence has been tightning of some nuts and bolts. In addition my clud, Queen Mary, has run a couple of Vago's since August without any problems.

7. For yourself the small sail is probably a good option, otherwise I can't think of anything!

8. The Vago is fun to sail, you will enjoy it, however with the hull shape it has to be sailed flat to be fast.

Regards

Nigel 

MainlySwimming,

Thanks for your input. I know where you're coming from. GRP repair service is so widely available and yet if I make a hole in the rotomould there is no way I can get it patched where I am. Good point. Is it likely that I might get fittings pull out? Saw this happen on GRP occasionally but don't know how the rotomould boats are reinforced where the fittings are screwed in. Take care.

olly_love,

Thanks for your input. I have heard about the jib cleat being difficult to get to when sailing single handed but had not heard about the rest. Is it likely that one could get used to it after a while?

Nigel,

Thanks for your input. You're one of two people I saw mentioning on this forum that they own a Vago so I really value your feedback. This is most useful.

Best Regards

When you have a variety of needs it is difficult to win really.

I have owned a Vago since December and found it to be great fun. However if I was going to sail with a young child on a regular basis I would go for the 2000. You will spend less time swimming........... Although having said that I have had the Vago so far over it started to fill with water and it still didnt capsize, however one unexpected gybe and I was swimming!

The only problem with the 2000 compared to the Vago is the weight, the Vago is manageble on your own, but the 2000 could be a struggle. In the longer term the youngsters might find the Vago more fun than the 2000.

As I said, you will find it difficult to achieve everything you want.

Paul

Paul,

what number are you and are we going to see you at any of the Vago events?

Sumo (Vago 68)

Hi Sumo

I am 303. At the moment I have never raced but might in the future..... When the class association gets going I will certainly join.

Paul