I'm thinking about moving out of toppers after this next year, but thinking about the move early.

I'm bout 165 cm, 8 stone now, but i'm reckoning  i'll be taller and heavier (by a lot!) by next year a t my current growth rate!!!!. I was going to say what kinds of boat wanted help with but i think if i say what i want from tthe boat then that might give me a better picture for you guys to suggest something

• Not too bothered about speed as long as it's faster than a topper
• Has to be fun to sail!
• Large fleet (50+ min. at the nationals)
• A growing class
• Preferably feeding into a bigger class eg rs200 to 400
• Strong youth scene
• 8 to 9 stone plus helm, with maaybe 10 stone crew
• Doublehander
• Be able ti fit on a lake the size of leigh and lowton in the north west if you know it.

If you can't think of anything just say a singlehander because thats another option for me!

Thanks for your help!

oh yeh erm under £7000 with not to much maintainng cost

7k you could buy 2 lasers for that

why not get a laser and go halfs withsome one on a 29er then you get the bests of both worlds!!!

Hi Harry,

I noticed that you are 14.5 years old and sail at Redesmere.  I also noticed that your results have been getting better in the Topper.  You have not stated, and I do not know, whether or not you are in any of the zone or national 'squads'.  It also looks as though you are considering changing clubs, i.e. to Leigh & Lowton.

Personally, I think that bearing in mind your age, height, weight, results and experience you could consider sailing the Topper for another year with goals to get into one of the regional 'squads', achieve a top ten position in one of the nationals, achieve a top three position in the regional travellers and win an open meeting, all by the end of 2005. You could even do a similar thing the following year and you would still be only 16.  When you are 16, as you say, you will be much taller and heavier and will then have more options e.g. Laser or Laser Radial. 

If you are intent on sailing a double handed boat then you could consider the usual youth classes of 420 or 29'er, both of which you could sail at Leigh & Lowton.  In the north, the RS 200 is becoming very popular and there is a good open meeting circuit run by Mike Saul.  I am not sure that there are many at L & L as the RS double handed hiking boats tend to be 400's which, I would suggest, would be far too powerful for you, in a blow, at the moment.

Don't forget that if you are to get a double handed boat, you will need to get a crew who is as enthusiastic, reliable and committed as you are.

I think that you need to consider which route you want to go down - the RYA route, the NSSA route or the Class Open Meetings route.  In the latter, obviously there will be more adults and less youths, except in the Toppers and Radials.  That's the good thing about sailing, you can do just what you want to do. Another  good thing is that you have time on your side.

If you are going to do alot of sailing at one club, then it is good to sail a class which is popular at that club. In the Topper you can sail at either of the clubs with which you are involved.

At your age, you are also going to be taking alot of exams at school in the next couple of years or so which might affect the sailing of yourself and your crew.

You could consider getting advice from the Northern RYA racing coach who might be able to help and assess your abilities and potential.  At my club a coach has recently been assisting two lads from Ripon who have changed from Toppers to a 29'er.

In the end, it's your decision.  I hope that this helps.

Ian   (Yorkshire Dales S.C.)

Thankyou Ian that sounds like very good advice

I'm just going into my second zone squad year. I will probably talk to my HPM, but they will probably give a very RYA youth class orentated view- notnecesarily what i want. I think there is a good rs200 fleet at Budworth- I'd stay at redesmere as well for convienience and its a nice club, but too small to get an a-symetric on. i reckon it all epends on how heavy i am at the end of next season (or whether i have a crew if too light for a radial) and whether i get a discretionary place in the national squad.

More suggestions welcome

Hi Harry,

I should have mentioned in my previous post that you are also going to have to consider your parents' wishes.  They are the people who are forking out all the cash for boats, equipment, clothing, entry fees, travelling expenses, etc.  Also, they are obviously putting in alot of precious time and money chauffering you around to all of the events. I suspect that you also have a younger brother who sails a Topper, your parents will have to consider his needs also, besides any other brothers and sisters, if you have any. It's not easy, as a parent, to be fair to everyone in the family, particularly when a family member, like you, is particularly good at a thing and is so enthusiastic about it.  Just think, in another 2.5 years, you will be starting to learn to drive a car, then you will be posting an entry on here "What car should  get?"  Your parents will then have to fork out more cash for a car but at least they might get more time to themselves.

Ian  (Yorkshire Dales S.C.)

ive already got a job for my brother- beach brigade!!! / light wind crew!!

well said

Harry,

You seem to like the big fleets and having seen some of your results in the mag you appear quite confident and more than a little competent.

I think that the laser 4.7 and radial would suit you very well, you have competitive fleets and reasonable turn outs.

There is also another important point to consider. You are approaching an age where girls will be playing a very important role in your life.  The radial is now the ladies boat for the Olympics.  get yourself to on the radial circuit and be swamped by loads of girlies sailing an affordable Olympic class.  Think of the totty!

If I was not such an old lard a£$3  I would be getting a radial.

Just a thought.

yep i 2nd that go for a laser 4.7 and work up its the best step from toppers

i wish there was some decent totty sailing in the catamaran fleet

well their is the girls on the pink hobie tiger!!!! 

 hi at the moment i sail in a mirror and i am in the rya mirror national squad i have recently won the rya winter zone regata championships and i was wonderin what to go on to next after the mirror

lewis turner

420 is the most naturall progression i'd say. Or 29er to be more adventerous. it all depends on you and your crews weight (if you want to sail double handed with the same crew.

You should paralle sail your mirror with the new class for the first year to introduce yourself slowely.

That's what i've been advised from Zone Squad coaches. Talk to your HPM

my parents wont take me on the youth rout so i need a class to sail at club level

Find a crew (I agree for a 420) who has parents who will take you!!!

Jon

merlin rockets, hornets, lasres, b14, rs400, rs800

but i only waigh 7 stone and i want to helm as i am good at it

i think the best answer to what to sail at 7 stone is stay in the mirror, because you're far too light to sail a 420 etc. unles you have a huge crew- and there arnt that many 12 stone crews in junior sailing!

Or of course you could wait til your 7.5 to 8 stone then your the minimum weight for a topper, which has a great fleet and very high quality BTW i'm not at all biased!

there faster than mirrors, and you can get away from the junior classes with square bows- mirror and oppy!

Sailor Girls right a topper prob. weouldn't be a good move from a mirror, wait till your at least 8.5 stone and go in a 420.

or you could get a hobie dragoon and sail proper boats with 2 hulls

Wow, fantastic, raft racing

i think it looks sexy boats and the sailors

Lewis...!

Pop quiz about your home club:

Since when does a couple of rs800s that only go out once per series constitute a club fleet!!???

Which club fleet that you missed off your list regularly has bigger turnouts than any other two handed class at Starcross, had the biggest open meeting in 2004 (34 boats) and would be ideal for your size?!

You got it, National 12, 15 boats in the club and increasing.  Regular 5-8 boats out in club racing.  Probably the only club class you'll realistically be able to sail when you come out of Mirrors.  Very active at club level and a lot of us do the open circuit so can assist in advice and logistics there.  South west has a great series and there are quite a lot of teen helms in the area (and the only two teenage helms sailing in two handers in the club winter series are both in 12s).  Come and talk to me at the club about it and I'll sort you out a test sail if you're interested.

Tim

No denying the 12 is a good boat but id rather do something differen eg: spinny/ asymetric, and it'd be a lot harder to find a crew/helm as most want to follow the rya route, I also don't like transom sheeting.

But the main reason is the funding, i would want to go into a class with rya supported squads, but if that doesn't work out i may well be sailing a 12 on the national circuit in 5 years.

yup thats right, my first was 3066.

Harry,

Where do you Ski???

Im going skiing soon in Scotland (Cairngorms) I just hope there's some snow!

Ps Are scorps similar in speed to a Fireball???

Big man i'll buy you a pint if you can flat hike the whole of the race!

That should keep him quiet for a while!

OOOO That sound's a painful offer !!

Agony

Lol oh  right sadly i can'y buy beer at one of my clubs !

The other one doesnt seem to mind cos when you win races people buy you beer ! amazing

if theres no bar theres always the cans back at the tent or home

Don't answer that, sailorgirl! He's being rude... and you're too young to find that type of question flattering

cough cough

Yep, alcohol could be a great incentive.

One of our friends won European Championships at the age of 16, years ago, cos he was so hungover he couldn't stand the motion of his boat and sailed as fast as he could! He got to be first off the water.... and first in the loo

oh, he's now a reformed character - doesn't drink anymore, but still sails bloody fast!

I always sail best with a hangover because i'm less arguementative with the crew then! Though there a wavy days wen a hang over just makes u feel

Nothing like a can of beer in your hand as you power down a reach on the trapeze.  Cures any hangover I've ever had. Oh and as for troublesome helms, if you're on the beat, then remember who's in control of the spini pole... (unless you're in one of these new-fangled aesymetric things!!).

all i'll say is plymouth laser qualifier 2004 any memories people!

i was lucky but i saw a fair few people being very

Now I thought pot noodles were disgusting

How long was the curry in the bin?

about 2 days

it tasted like s###