Hi Guys

Ive just come back into sailing in the last couple of years after a 10 year lay off (lack of time, kids priorities etc..) and I am excited by the new dinghys and skiffs that are now available, when I started 30 years ago, the fastest boats were 505 470 & fireball. 

I fancy a single hander with a trapeze; RS6,7 MPS seem to be the choices at the moment.  I would appreciate comments to the merits of all 3 especially if you have tried them all.  Yes I know they will be difficult to sail and i expect to swim for the first year or so! but I did race a laser II 10 years ago and enjoyed the ride and response. 

So my questions are:

I am fairly fit and agile but only 68kg, I know they have weight equalisation, but really am I heavy enough!

Which is the most difficult to sail?

How fragile are they?

the RS700/MPS seem to be increasing in numbers, is that true?

My thoughts so far are my head tells me to start with a RS6 (cheaper) and then move to the next after a year or so, but my heart wants a 700!  Its probably my mid life crisis, but it will be safer than a Harley D.

cheers in advance

If you've been out of the sport for 10 years, and never helmed from the wire, how about starting with a Vortex?  You will be spending a lot less time swimming than with a RS6/700 or MPS, whilst still learning tequniques that can be used on the 700 & MPS.  Plus you can get one with or witout an assymetric for a lot less.

Mark

See the other topic on this board regarding the differences between RS600 and Vortex, but in a nutshell, a Vortex is the most stable of the 4, and as Swirly said you can start with a non-spinaker version and upgrade, then trasfer those skills to a 700 or Musto. The 600 is a lot tippier but if you can master that then the step up to 700 or Musto is more natural, and is in fact a popular route.

A lot will depend on where you are and what is sailed locally, Vortexes and Musto's are popular in the North, 600's and 700's are more south-coast based.

Are any of the boats mentioned sailed locally to you? Bearing in mind the time off you've had, it's much better to be part of a fleet who can help and encourage you than struggling alone.

Another option may be to spend, say, the rest of the season crewing in a single-wire boat, then buy the singlehander of your choice when you have perfected trapezing, if you are new to that particular skill.

Hi Swirly

I sail at Grafham and ive never seen a vortex here, but there are plenty of RS6/7s; anyway i dont mind swimming - part of the fun. 

Trouble is, I wont be able to change boats as I progress; once bought, that will be it for a few years (university fees- arrrgh).

As for crewing on the wire, i cant committ to every wkd, and I know that is a pain for your crew/helm, so a single hander seems best.

I've a very cheap Single Handed Cat for sail (at Grafham!)

Ever considered a Cat ?

Hi Scooby

I do have access to a dart16 that I dabble with my daughter, but I was brought up on monohulls so my heart is there (may change my mind after a season of swimming!). 

I think Ive seen your cat, a little too new and shiny for my budget - fast though!  Have you sold it yet?

I find peoples desire to jump into a fast exciting boat kinda interesting.  When I switched to singlehanders I intailly went for a RS300.  With a little laser experience I wanted something with a bit of poke.  Trouble was at the bottom of the weight scale I was struggling as soon as the wind got up and found I was doing less sailing than I wanted and not feeling confident out at sea without decent rescue cover.  So much of my capacity was being sapped with boat handling that my tactics fell totally off the radar.  I took the decsion at the end of the season to step back and look for a boat which ticked the boxes from a logical point of view, not just a 'i want i want...it's so pretty' one.  This was the best decsion i could have made.  I now sail a boat where I sit just shy of the max competative weight (which I think is the ideal place to be) that I can handle in all conditions that any sane person would take to the water in.  My tactical sailing has come on in leaps and bounds and as I can get out and practice more my boat handling is constantly improving.

My rather long winded point being, Before you buy a boat with your heart, work out what you want to do with it, and how long you have to spend mastering it.  You may just find you enjoy your sailing more as a result.

Mark, your just trying to get some poor sole to buy your Vortex! 

If you fancy stretching yourself then the MPS will be great fun.

The class is developing fast will with almost 70 new boats sold in the last 12 months ... second hand values remain strong.

To get a feel for the comparison with the 700 the best thing to do is have a go in both boats and make your own mind up ...

Quite a few people have owned both and you can read their reviews here.

http://www.mustoskiff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23 - http://www.mustoskiff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23
http://www.mustoskiff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=98 - http://www.mustoskiff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=98

But these are of course other peoples views so try all the boats you can and then make your choice.

Also - try talking to some of the sailors to get a feel for the class as that is also an important factor.

If you want to talk to a fellow light weight PM me and I'll give you the mobile number for Ant Chapman - he sails a MPS and he weighs about 65kgs  and Kit Stenhouse who is also less than 70Kgs

regards,

Rick

That one is a liittle signposted Rick

'You can read the reviews of people who have owned both boats on the MPS website'

wonder what those reviews say?!?!

You should set up a pseudo un-biased website and send people there.  Your attempts at world domination are beginning to fall short, maybe you are not as powerful as Mr. Burns foresaw.

Thanks for the replies guys, I can see that i have generated a 'my boat is better' type debate.  However there are some useful comments. 

My choice will be subject to when my inheritance finally comes in, cost, availabilty, and whether I can persuade her that a sailing skiff is really a useful investment (see university fees). 

Hi iamalipaul (good name!)

You say you sail at Grafham so you will have seen the 700's there, but there are also Vortex's at least 2.

I think the fun for value is probably going to be the 700 ( there are no Mps's that I know of at GWSC)we have 3 700's I can think of who sail fairly regulary and 2 that come back for the winter every year.So you will get some class racing as well.

 (you could always consider the 49er!! and join us ) I know it's not a singlehander btw!! but it is fun

Boat is not sold; seriously considering mothballing it for a few months and moving into a new class anyway, so I am willing to (at least) consider any offers made for it  !