Hello everyone

Have decided to take the punge into yottin' again and placed an order for a Solution.  Would like to know if anyone's got one, what they think of it, any hints and tips they have found sailing it and for reassurance I've made the right decision, which I know I have.

Ta!

Hi Jeffers

It's a really good boat, did a trial sail at the weekend and even in less than 10 knots it sat up on the plane quite easily.  Enjoyed it a lot.  There's no learning curve either, just get on it and go sailing, obviously learning to sail it fast is a different ball game but am looking forward to learning that bit.

Giles

Matt

Decision on a Phantom or not depends on your height, weight and fitness, although if you are going to just sail it in the light wind it'll be fine.  I really wanted a Phantom but a rather supercillious reply on the class forum when I asked about it convinced me I was making the wrong decision.  To be honest, the Solution looks like a Phantom that's been through the wash and shrunk so I am looking forward to sailing it.

Will let you know.

Giles

Yeah. I did a fair bit of research and it came down to whether I would end up sailing the second boat more than the Contender in which case I'm just on the light side for a Phantom at 14.5 stone.

There is definitly something about them Phantom boys and I'd probably own one now if I'd had no contact with the fleet, I'm just not sure I share the majority of their views.

Phantoms boys can be as light as 13stone (look at Richard Parkin, 16th at the Nats and won a race on the last day). Knowing Richard quite well (he is a a member of my local club) you have to be bloody good if you are light.

The Solution was designed to 'fill the gap' between the Laser and the Phantom. There are not many boats that offer Solution performance in that gap, the Blaze does but has a reputation of being slow in the light stuff and looking quite extreme

I managed to persuade a couple of people from my club to have a pop in it. Once they got over the width they found it very enjoyable!

As for Phantom sailors, they live hard an play hard by and large. Met a lot of them at Ali Pali this year so the supercilious person is definitely the exception rather than the rule.

Paul

As light as 13st - that is heavy ...

I am 6ft and weight 13st.

I had a go in a Phantom a few weeks back in light airs and found the boat to have very little feel but plenty of power.

It was rigged for the large gentleman though (the guy who normally sails it must be around 15/16st).

Paul

I'm just too damm short!  Never mind, the Solution will be a good alternative

G

my tech teacher has got himself a solution. he said hed have it in a few weeks.

Hi to all those considering buying a Solution..hope these few words will help you make the right decision.

I'm in my sixties, 6'2" and 13 stone, and sail on the sea, as opposed to a pond. My previous boats have been Nat12, Merlin Rocket, Hit, Phantom, and I'm awaiting delivery of a Solution.

My Phantom, was the best boat I have had, for sheer heart stopping thrills, unfortunately too many of the thrills saw me looking at the bottom of the boat! Anything over a F4, saw me struggling then swimming, which was a pity because those are the conditions I like for sailing. Then along comes the Solution..a Phantom that sailed into a brick wall..yes it's 2 foot shorter and a bit wider...but it has inherited the feel of the Phantom on the water without it biting your backside when you make a mistake.

I would  loved to have kept my Phantom, but had to admit, age, fitness (and yes  lack of skill) restricted my sailing to top F3 conditions.

I have now sailed one of the demo Solutions in top 4/5 conditions on several occasions and can assure you it, hits the spot, in terms of thrills. 

Yes, less demanding than the Phantom, but to sail it fast you still need to heave on the kicker as far as it will go, and a bit more,  and get your rear end over the side  going up wind; the reaches are just so much fun, (Ok most boats are), but this feels a bit like the Phantom, and the icing on the cake, the gybes at the end of the reach can be taken without heart in mouth. Having said that I have still managed to capsize...but getting it back up is (for me) so much easier compared to the Phantom. 

So if you want a boat with performance, still reasonably demanding, plenty of controls to play with, more fun than a Solo, don't want a trapeze, and a bit daunted by the Phantom, then this is the boat for you.

Hope this helps

Sounds good! The problem is there are thousands of Solos and Lasers out there. The idea of the Solution really appeals, but I want to race against other boats the same. Don't mean to sound negative, but the RS300 is the best boat I have ever sailed, and I am all too aware of the problems of trying to persuade other people to give something new a chance! I was RS300 class rep for a year, and I knew it was the best boat in the world, but there was a time I thought it would just die...

On a positive note, it didn't, and they are now slowly building, but it needs people willing to invest in the class. With the 300's a few stalwarts bought new boats, together with a bit of new blood, and suddenly they are in demand, and a few more people are going to events, they've had a good nationals, and there is a positive air about the class. If the right people buy the boat, and the builders keep the faith, they will do OK. There was a time I thought LDC had lost interest in the 300, but they didn't, despite precedents from Topper and Laser, and I now think you can have a lot more faith in LDC's products (see RS500 topics!)

 Anyhow, good luck to the Solution, I say- it looks a nice boat.

That's really good advice.  Thanks.

General question to Solution owners, and those awaiting delivery - where does everyone sail their boats, have not decided where I should sail and it would be good if I could join some other people - I am based near Warrington by the way.

Rob

You're right about the RS300, I had a go in one in Minroca a number of years ago and it's a great boat, there is a learning curve however, I am sure I would spend the first few weeks upside down.  The Soution, yes, I shall fall in, but it's a boat you can get in and sail fairly easily without having to practice capsize drilsl too much!

Giles

Hi Mike

Yes, the Blaze looks like a riot, there is one where I used to sail and that guy gets a lot of fun out of it.  The concern I had was what I've referred to in another message - a bit of a learning curve which I do not think I shall have in the Solution.  Enjoy a challenge, but I just want to get sailing again after a long time off the water.  May be I'll have a think about my next boat in a few years time.

Giles