Choosing a boat: RS 400

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RS 400

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
Forum Discription: Ask any questions about the sport!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4550
Printed Date: 06 Aug 25 at 11:12am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: RS 400

Posted By: Scebers
Subject: RS 400
Date Posted: 21 Aug 08 at 6:34pm

Hi Guys,

Looking to buy a dinghy for my girlfriend and I to race iv been sailing and racing for quite a few years but my girlfriend is pretty inexperienced. The other factor is im not a exactly a little person and dont want to get something il sink. I guess combined we are about 170kg ish. I was thinking maybe an RS 400 which I know is a great boat just wasnt sure if it would be a little advanced for us at the moment. Any other suggestions greatly received. We have about 3000k to spend and will be racing on a mixture of estuary and the sea.

Cheers for all your help in advance.

Replies:

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 21 Aug 08 at 6:46pm

Go sail one... No, I'm wrong, have her go sail one. A competent helm can help out a less experienced crew more readily in a 400 than in the more full on boats, and the small kite is relatively easy to handle, so it certainly should be on your list...

The questions I suppose are whether she is happy with what is still a reasonably quick boat and wants to play spinnakers (oh, and does she fancy trapezes). She needs to find out her answers to those questions, not have us tell you, and she'll probably only find out by jumping into all the boats that are going... When she's got her answers we can all give you the "benefit" of our accumulated prejudices and dubious biases!

Posted By: Scebers
Date Posted: 21 Aug 08 at 6:50pm

Definetly not trapeze at the moment, Would like to play spinnakers though. Not somthing she has experience with at the moment so a boat she can learn would be great.

Posted By: Rockhopper
Date Posted: 21 Aug 08 at 8:51pm

what about trying a laser 2000 we have 13 in our club and they seem to be very good for learning and you can reef them if its too windy i think for 3000k you might just get one.we are on the sea and they suit it just fine and carry the weight well and go along quite well when the wind is up.

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Retired now after 35 seasons in a row and time for a rest.
2004 national champ Laser5000
2007,2010,National Champ Rs Vareo

Posted By: AlexM
Date Posted: 21 Aug 08 at 11:04pm

Great boat, you should be fine in that.

We have about 16 RS400 in our club and most of them have women crews.

Spinnaker nice and easy too, one string to pull the pole out and them another to hoist.

Alex

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