singlehander
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2787
Printed Date: 18 Aug 25 at 8:25pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: singlehander
Posted By: skiffcrew
Subject: singlehander
Date Posted: 15 Mar 07 at 8:40pm
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i am changing boats from a 29er to a single hander and i am not sure weather to go for an rs vareo for the challange of 2 sails or a solo because there is always 4 or more solos out racing so i would have some one to race against. any thoughts?  |
Replies:
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 15 Mar 07 at 8:51pm
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For a skiff crew, you sure must like sitting out, giving yourself those options. How much do you weigh - they both need a bit of weight upwind - more than most 29er crews have, I'd have thought.
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Posted By: Rob.e
Date Posted: 15 Mar 07 at 8:53pm
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Where do you sail? I got a Solo because there are 54 at HISC, and the quality and depth of the fleet is superb. Typically I can race 20-25 good boats at the w/end, and it is so close, you can't beat it: it's toned up my starts, tactics and boat for boat skills no end, BUT it isn't exactly the most exciting boat to sail. If the other boats are very similar standard to you, and good enough to push you, then great, otherwise you might actually have more fun in the Vario in a handicap fleet, particularly if there are other boats of a similar speed. I have won a good few races at the club, but if I get the start or first beat wrong, there are times I'm glad if I'm in the top 10, so it really keeps you on your toes, but if your boat is much newer/older than the othes, or if they are off the pace for some reason, I wouldn't bother! The Solo is great if you need a boat to nurse your poor old bones, too, but if you're coming from a 9er, I guess that's not an issue Re weight, the wavelength rig is for lightweights, but I would say min 11 stone to compete in all weathers (might be less inland). I think I read the optimum for the Vario was 11 1/2, but that seems light to me! ------------- |
Posted By: skiffcrew
Date Posted: 15 Mar 07 at 8:55pm
yeh mite need to change the name. i wieght 75kg, pretty heavy for the 29er but we were good in a blow. but any other suggestions would be welcome, my only experiance in an rs 600 wasn't much to shout about .
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Posted By: Rob.e
Date Posted: 15 Mar 07 at 8:59pm
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Get a 300, 75 kg is great, especially if you're tall and fit, and they are so much fun! Blaze 720 will say "get a Blaze" (any minute, I expect); never tried one, but they look good too. ------------- |
Posted By: combat wombat
Date Posted: 15 Mar 07 at 9:00pm
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Probs too light for a Vareo. I owned one and at 70-75kgs found
myself virtually always overpowered upwind - had the smaller sail as
well which seemed to make very little difference! Quick down the
breeze though. Fully powered up upwind in about 6 knots of breeze
(ie fully sheeted, fully hiked). 600 is hard to sail! Although apparently beautiful when mastered. Contender is your best bet, you can get one on the cheap, nice on the wire, takes the lighter weights and quick. Good fleets around and some good cheap boats going (sold mine a few weeks back), although you have to fight for them (15 enquiries on the first day of advertisement, sold to the first person to view!). ------------- B14 GBR 772 |
Posted By: skiffcrew
Date Posted: 15 Mar 07 at 9:02pm
i am quite tall about 186cm, but i sail at northampton so no other 300s although could i get a good race against a phantom , what am i looking at coughing up for a secondhand 300?
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Posted By: Villan
Date Posted: 15 Mar 07 at 9:21pm
I am 65 kg in a Vareo .. Its hard work upwind, but as long as you bear off quick enough downwind in the gusts, its great fun! 28 mph of wind forcast for this weekend .... Vareo is gonna flyyyyyyyyyy! ----- On topic, RS300 - in the region of about £2200 ish now. Check boats and outboards and the RS Association sites. ------------- Vareo - 149 "Secrets" http://www.TandyUKServers.co.uk" rel="nofollow - TandyUK Servers |
Posted By: Rob.e
Date Posted: 15 Mar 07 at 10:00pm
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Will Gulliver sails a Phantom out of Northants, doesn't he? Former 300 nat champ, and a good sailor...I think between £2500 and £5000 for a 300 depending on age, but an old one is just as quick. They are rare as rocking horse shhhh erm, shavings, though! Same problem with a contender, and I found the 2nd hand section of the contender site very out of date, when I looked. Vareos are easier to find, hold their value well, and should be easy to move on if you change your mind. I think your weight would be fine for Vareo or contender, and your height would help. Only problem with the contender is they aren't great in light winds so as you are inland that might be an issue on handicap: but you might be enjoying it so much, you won't care! ------------- |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 15 Mar 07 at 10:10pm
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"Blaze 720 will say "get a Blaze" (any minute, I expect); never tried one, but they look good too". Well you got there first ! - Not sure I'd say that but what I would say is simply 'Try a Blaze' and its about time you did as well Rob.e .... May not be for you, but it might just be a very interesting and different one to consider and talk about after. Well there you go, an open but genuine invitation. So if you are curious just contact me directly and I'll organise a go. I even build them with Rondar now having taken over production last September. www.cirrusrace.com Blaze 720 |
Posted By: skiffcrew
Date Posted: 15 Mar 07 at 10:19pm
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that would be great to have a go , and yes will does sail at northampton. there are 3 other conenders at northampton but i think they are moving to 600s.
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Posted By: Skiffman
Date Posted: 16 Mar 07 at 8:38am
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why did you not like a 600, theres a fleet of them getting together at northampton and there great boats to sail and not too expensive. Or rs700's are getting pretty cheap I have seen one or two for about £3000, but if you can afford a musto skiff then get one or a second hand moth with foils. ------------- 49er GBR5 http://www.teamfletcherandsign.co.uk - teamfletcherandsign.co.uk Team Fletcher and Sign campaign site |
Posted By: Contender 541
Date Posted: 16 Mar 07 at 9:53am
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75Kg and 6' Contender anyone. You can pick up a good one for not much money, not quite as quick as a 600, but a little more forgiving and a much better looking boat (In my biased opinion) ------------- When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss Crew on 505 8780 |
Posted By: HinExeter
Date Posted: 16 Mar 07 at 10:32am
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Had my first propper sail in my new (old) Balze on Sunday in a F3-4. Loads of fun despite the boat not being at all set up yet. I had so mush more fun than the poor chap in his new 600 who spent nearly all of his time swimming. Sure he will be grinning in a few weeks when it starts to come together for him. I'm 5'11" and 78kg and was strugeling to get upwind as the extension on my boat is too short, but this weekend I'll be going much quicker with an extra 800mm of carbon to hang onto. Blaze sails off 1047 same as the Phantom so you would have some interestng competition. H
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Posted By: Rob.e
Date Posted: 16 Mar 07 at 6:06pm
I have been promising myself a go in a Blaze for a long time (I'll do it soon!) but I must say, I liked the look from the first time I saw one. ------------- |
Posted By: steviemac
Date Posted: 16 Mar 07 at 6:49pm
Yep! That poor bloke was me!!! I thought I'd bought a submarine! I really hope it does come together - I thought I could sail until I got a 600. Honest, they are really difficult to master initially. I never really realised the learning curve was so steep (everyone kept telling me but I didn't believe them). I am going to master it - oh yes I am!! |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 16 Mar 07 at 7:20pm
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Skiffcrew, If you fancy a go in a Blaze then pop over to Hunts, we are not a million miles away from you, and you can have a go in mine. As for the PYs the Phantom should now be off 1043 with the Blaze still on 1047. Not a hge gap I grant you but the boats are fairly evenly matched until it gets really light then the Phantoms do tend to scoot off a bit. Planing conditions the Blaze comes in to it's own and will slips past the Phantoms just nicely. I am a convert...couldn't you tell! The other advantage to the Blaze you can pick up a competitive boat for around £2k, Phantoms you are looking more like £4-5k for a down to weight boat. Just my 2p..were I your weight I would also consider an OK and definitely the Vareo given the size of Pitsford. Paul ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: m_liddell
Date Posted: 16 Mar 07 at 8:18pm
If all goes to plan I should be buying a 600 tomorrow so I'll be doing the 'swim round rather than sail' thing too I've only sailed the 600 once before in a F3 and even then tacking was really really hard - way harder than my 14. I see much swimming in my future... |
Posted By: BBSCFaithfull
Date Posted: 16 Mar 07 at 8:22pm
600s are a piece of art. Oh so responsive, powerfull and just soo quick. i would recommend one to anyone  ------------- Greatfully Sponsored By www.allgoodfun.com Int 14 GBR 1503!! |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 16 Mar 07 at 9:12pm
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Rob.e said "I have been promising myself a go in a Blaze for a long time (I'll do it soon!) but I must say, I liked the look from the first time I saw one" Just get in contact. We can arrange something in one of the better examples. It's more than just good looks ! ........ Know at HISC you have a good Solo fleet but I sail other boats as well myself - and enjoy them in different ways. Blaze 720 . |
Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 20 Mar 07 at 6:33pm
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Go for the 300 definatly quicker than all the hiking options given and less of a challange than the 600 ------------- RS600 988 |
Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 20 Mar 07 at 6:37pm
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" Planing conditions the Blaze comes in to it's own and will slips past the Phantoms just nicely." true but there was a blaze out last weekend in about a 4-5 and he was really overpowered at about 80-85kgs we were also going much quicker than he was up and downwind in my n12 which has a py of about 1060 ------------- RS600 988 |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 20 Mar 07 at 6:52pm
Within any class the difference between the top and bottom end of the fleet will be around 20% - say 200 points of yardstick - so any observation of relative speed is pretty meaningless unless you know the skill levels of the sailors. You go to my club and you'll see an RS300 seriously competing with a Canoe a lot of the time. Its because the RS300 sailor is a far better helmsman than me... |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 20 Mar 07 at 7:07pm
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Just try them all if you are looking ..... Only you will know what you enjoy or want to sail. If you want to try a Blaze just ask us or the CA and we won't be upset if you end up with something else. If you get in a class that does not suit you you'd leave anyway so take your time and try any offered. Impulse decisions are easy - but expensive. Most of us have made at least one mistake in the past so know ! Blaze '720' |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 20 Mar 07 at 7:09pm
| n12 PN = 1060 ..... really ? |