has anyone had a look at the "Zoom8" its a 8 1/2ft (2.65mts) unsinkable single sail dinghy thats designed to b the "olmpic stepping stine between the optimist and the laser", 

ive just stubled across it on tridents website, ive looked at a few pic n the bpat seems alright if not a little small, tho it has the took of something larger an "OK" maybe? or somwthing along those lines, looking from the back has a simlar shape to a solo? (IMG_6784.JPG)

have a look at some pictures
http://www.trident-uk.com/Class_Catalogues/zoom8/zoom8.htm - http://www.trident-uk.com/Class_Catalogues/zoom8/zoom8.htm

i don't like the kicker seems as tho it cud a little inaffective for pulling on, tho i suppose looking at the size of it, a youngster wouldn't b able to pull much on anyway,

do u think this could b the boat to take over from the topper???
i don't think so,    

Hmm interesting.

I dont think it stands a chance against the 4.7, when youngsters who are keen for developing in singlehanded racing i always reccomend the 4.7, beacuse although possibly more expensive @ the time, upgrading is cheaper, just mast and sail, and it introduces them to the wonderfully compettive laser fleets!

So personally i think its yet another no go boat, that people who do shell out for it will be dissapointed.

they sail e'm in UK, Ireland, Dubai, Japan, France and Germany

They are an ISAF class, but not sailed absolutely everywhere.

How come this was posted in October 2005?

To be fair most classes have small entries at the UK Nationals compared to the Topper (the notable exception being the Optimist). However the Laser 4.7 had a good turn out last year (over 50 at the Nationals) and an improving circuit. Nationals turn out in 2005 may be slightly down due to the Nationals being in School time and clashing with Europeans but do not let this 'blip' worry you!

In terms of being a truely international class the Laser 4.7 wins hands down, just compare the number of sailors from different countries at the World and European championships. As for training things are in the pipe line and should be much improved for the 2005/2006 winter training. The 4.7 of course makes the perfect stepping stone to Olympic single handed classes (Radial for girls, Standard for Boys).

Chris 249

That's a man ahead of his time! Look at the date of his last posting!! So tell me, how was the summer 2005? Hot and sunny? What about the various sporting events? No don't give the results here, send me a PM so I can go down to the bookies later!

Thnx

I've seen those Zoom8's out in Denmark, they look very good boats. They are alot better than Laser 4.7's which are silly boats. The Laser 4.7 has far to small a sail for the size of the boat. The boat wasn't designed to work well with a 4.7metre main, it was designed for the Full Rig.

The Zoom8 is almost as light as an an oppy 40kg all up and a 4.8mertre main is a far better design. I have seen them sailing and they looked like a perfect stepping stone from an oppy to laser, or just miss out the oppy all together. The design is a bit similar to the europe only smaller.

I would sail one if I wanted to sail lasers and I had just started sailing.

the zoom 8 looks like the the most boring boat in the world

substitute zoom 8 for pico and then you have a correct statement!!

they are bother boring boats

Hello!

In Scandinavia Zoom8 is popular and when you are discussing if this is something that you would consider I would say that we are used to se tall Scandinavian children reaching 12 years and do not find it nice to sit in a small Optimist anymore. We normally start optimist-training courses when children are 7-8 years old, we se that only 1 ore 2 of the starting 30 are still with us when they reach 13.  The Laser is not a cheap boat and is normally not a boat for 12 years old children. We see that the zoom8 is able to get our optimist-sailors continuing sailing and that this boat is faster and much more fun to sail than the optimist dingy.

The zoom8 is not a boat for the Olympic, but a boat making it exiting to sail until you are able to get in to bigger boats such as Laser, Europa-dingy, 470 ore 29’er.

For some children zoom8 is suitable from they are 12-15, but for those who are small build they are able to continue using this boat to they are 17-18-19 years old.

We really like this dingy, I hope you do not compare this with something that whose purpose is to be used for older children.  Regards  Arnfinn Hystad Norway

Pictures of the Zoom8  -à http://groups.msn.com/seiling/shoebox.msnw

Just read the Zoom8 article and I have to say it looks like fun for the younger kids.  Remembering my youth from 12 - 13 onwards the optimist does lose its charm, but you aren't heavy enough to sail anything else - apart from a Topper which I personally don't like although there are plenty of people who do.

Zoom8 would look much better with the rudder on a gantry out the back of the boat though - would give you more space internally....

5420 sed that there are other boring boats!      YEA like gp14 bosun gull .....