yesterday i got a go in a 700, it was incredibly fun and very very wet. it was the first time i'd helmed from the wire, the helming from the wire wasnt dificult, the getting onto the wire with all the other bits of string was the hard bit. but once i was out there with the rig over the hull it just went but how the hell are you meant to tack from the wire????????? as i pushed the tiller away and moved in it was all going fine then after that it all went ape sh*t. on the rare occaisons when i did get across the boat and have it pointing the right way i just couldn't get back out on the wire again. i think the major problem i had was the boat getting stuck in irons. but hey ho i had a great time and i even got the kite up briefly before being knocked off the wing by a wave and going for an elongated swim whilst dropping the kite.

Hi Mike

Glad to hear you enjoyed the boat.  A couple of things you can do to make tacking easier, rake the dagger board earlier than you think you should by using the front elastic.  You should also drop more mainsheet off during the tack, hook on and then sheet back in quickly as you go out.  Get it right and the boat squirts away very nicely.

There's a couple of videos of tacking available via the association website.  PM me if you can't find them or have any other questions.

Cheers

Ian

Sounds like a bit more time on your feet required - this will also get you across the boat quicker which helps as you have more speed and rudder control.  They aren't an easy boat to sail but are quite an achievable challenge for any decent club sailor.

Glad you enjoyed it.

Cheers

Ian

I had the same fun in the mps to start the trick is to keep the   speed   on and weight to windard before  a very sharp jab of the helm  to turn the boat.   If you do not keep  your weight to windward and let the boat slow  they  can get into irons easily.  I found the 700  easier to tack  than a mps  early on.

Gav H