Hey There,

I was wondering if i could have a non-biased opinion of the RS 700? I've sailed the Fevas, and while i think they're a good beginner boat, their preformance (in my experience) has been, to be polite, bad.

Also, what weight is required to sail it? I'm just over 12 stone, and have sailed lasers for 5 years, both 4.7 and radial, and occasionally full rig in lighter weather. I've sailed trapeze boats, and raced 420/laser 2s, but never sailed a singlehander trapeze boat.

Thanks a lot,

_Kar.

The 700 is weight equalised and can be raced effectively by a wide range of weights.  The circuit is currently being led by a 78kg sailor and the Europeans have just been won by someone who is over 90kg. At 12 Stone you'll be absolutely fine.

Moving from a laser to the 700 is quite a leap, but I managed it as have a number of others, and haven't stopped grinning first.

As to where you'll find an unbiased opinion, I'm not sure.  I sail one and think it's awesome, but then I sail one so I would.  Feel freee to PM me if you've got any other questions.

Ian

Do you know why he switched from 700 back to 600?

Thanks a lot,

_Kar.

Well, seen from the outside, the 700 is quite a handful. To quote a very experienced sailor and coach in our club, it's "the most challenging single hander you can get". Our resident 700er nodded emphatically...

The sail area is bigger than a Musto Skiff and it's got many idiosyncracies you've got to get used to.

It's also getting into the realm of skiff handling, sometimes far away from the traditional monohull dinghy sailing. Our same resident 700er, who made the switch after being highly competitive for many years in Contenders, spent many a time swimming around his new toy. After two seasons, he's getting much more confident and he's not dreading those high speed gybes quite so much.

Really, Kareir, if you fancy that boat, if you're ready to swim but have time and determination to tame it, go for it! They're not too expensive and are loads of fun. I only wish I was good enough (and heavy enough) to give it a go.

Finally, don't forget to let us know how you're doing and post some photos   

Have fun!

Hi BNS.

As usual you are quite right.  After getting to the point where a single capsize in the Laser left me feeling really annoyed with myself, getting back onto a learning curve was just what I needed to avoid taking up golf.

Say hi to GA for me.

Cheers

Ian

http://www.aroundthecans.co.uk/gallery_magnify.asp?id=396082582008 - http://www.aroundthecans.co.uk/gallery_magnify.asp?id=396082 582008

just a geuss but because the 600 is a completely different beast from anything else out there at all he might have not been able to get over the feeling of how a 600 glides to windward. The 7 may have a kite but the 600 IS quicker upwind and i reckon its more challenging to sail. because of the stupidly round hull shape its so twitchy and you will never really master it, there's always a bit more speed to be had out of it.

I made the jump from laser to 600, with a bit of practice trapezing on a fireball and 800 in between but not much. its taken me a years worth of swimming to get it round a course without a capsize, and by god is it rewarding.

obviously im slightly biased but i have sailed both boats. I much prefer the layout of the 600 to the 7, i dont like how you have such a step out over all the lumpy bits in the cockpit of a 7.

"but the 600 IS quicker upwind "

Are you sure?  I know what I've seen when we've shared circuit events....

so more like a 500 say? (the hull/deck on the 500 and 700 look rather similar actually. even the layouts are quite similar considering how different the boats are meant to be....

just noticed the gooseneck is not at the base of the mast like the musto but rather slightly up the mast and with a conventional kicker. it looks slightly odd on that boat, does it still work as well with the angled boom?