Completely new to sailing, due to complete the RYA Begin Sailing course next week. Looking round for a boat. Influenced by brochures and magazine tests so far and at the top of the list are a Topaz Omega and a Laser 2000. The boat will be inland lake sailed, double handed or 2 + a teenager, and, while the idea is to be “messing around in boats” eventually some, not too serious, racing will have to be done. I would welcome comments for everyone but especially from those who have sailed both.

Laser 2000 - its a good learnin boat, the omega just handles like a complete pig and doesnt EVER go in the direction you point it in, + it may actually weigh more than your house! & racing wise you can actually do this in the 2000, but again, its a big ole heavy thing.

Or from your choice, there is also an albacore - its a very big stable boat, like the 2000 and omega, so you can take the family out. but once you have got good at sailing, you can race them and they dont hang about when pushed. Its what my dad taught me in yearsssss ago - he still races it today!

But a 2000 is a bit more indestructable, as in - you cant actually break it!!

Hope this helps, Andy

Yeah if i were you id go for the laser 2000 becaue it is faster than the omega and is nicer to sail than a omega because of the omega being rotomoulded.

The 2000 is often used for training and has optional trapeze to when it gets windy you could have a blast when its windy

Thanks for the response. The omega reads well in the magazines but after reading what people say who have sailed them I am leaning towards the laser 2000. Thanks for the albacore tip though.

My partner likes the sit in look of the laser 2000 and the Omega and thinks they would make nice stable boats for cruising around the lake. It won’t be long before we will want to tag on the back of the informal races, and when that happens I won’t want to come last. I think the RS 200 is a little bit small for us and maybe a bit too race focused. So I think the laser/Omega size is about right for us but I want a boat we can grow with.

I take the point about having a boat that is in an association or has a fleet presence at the club. You can tap into help and knowledge. I’m slightly disappointed the Omega hasn’t got a following, as it looks just the job on paper. But getting the low down from people who have sailed them is an important part of not making a mistake that would get our sailing off on the wrong foot.

I reckon a laser 2000 would suit you fine, but if you want a nice sit on cruiser which you could then race I really do recomend an albacore. Its very stable, has seats inside - a bit in the front for a cool box with your sandwiches! and most of all you can easily grow with it and race it in time. Here is the class assocation http://www.albacore.org.uk/ - http://www.albacore.org.uk/

Our club has a wayfarer that we can try when we have completed the course. They look plenty big enough if not slightly too big. I’m going to look at the Albacore it sounds a good boat, thanks for the picture.

how about a wanderer then?

Their class asoc page is http://www.wanderer.org.uk/try_a_wanderer.htm - www.wanderer.org.u k

DO NOT TOUCH AN OMEGA! they are hell!

Riggin  you totally need a Vision.

Its got your name all over it

Food for thought - the 2nd hand market for L2k's is such that they are normally only for sale for a matter of days and command a high price. This, of course, is only a good thing, but may affect your decision if you can't afford or don't want to go new.

I sail one reguraly (not mine though), we have 8 or so at our club with a wide range of skill. People all seam to manage them, yet they really do go in a blow with the kite up.