Choosing a boat: RS600

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RS600

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=7159
Printed Date: 10 Aug 25 at 4:29am
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Topic: RS600

Posted By: tim grasse
Subject: RS600
Date Posted: 18 Sep 10 at 8:22pm

Hi
i curantly sail a contender but i am thinking of moving up to a 600.
I have a few questions,
How unstable are the boats?
how hard are they to sail?
Do they perform well in light wind?
and how much would i have to spend on an ok boat with 2 sails?
thanks
tim

Replies:

Posted By: tim grasse
Date Posted: 19 Sep 10 at 9:37am

i weigh about 80 kg and i sail on an inland lake in london called bury lake

Posted By: ratface
Date Posted: 19 Sep 10 at 8:28pm

tim

as i remind you everytime you see me and ask me this

this may seem personal tim but, get used to sailing the boat you have. trust me you have a LONG way to go still on the trapeze helming yet before you consider sailing something more unstable and less forgiving than you currently have!

also there is a reason very few trapeze boats get sailed at Bury lake!! so also worth waiting til either a) you can drive or b) you can be certain you can get lifts/tows off other people to sail the contender at bigger waters.

plus for what you want from sailing you will have better enjoyment with the contender

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Uk-Cherub 2644
Laser 4000 -4089

Posted By: rich96
Date Posted: 20 Sep 10 at 10:47am

Neither the contender nor the 600 are ideal for small lakes.

I've had both and would comment as follows:

Contender is far more forgiving, awsome on the sea/bigger waters (esp upwind) but is poor in light winds.

The 600 is totally different - much more twitchy, harder to tack, unforgiving, can be frustrating (and wet) in early days but better in lighter winds and brilliant when you get it right. Unless you can sail one regularly forget it - it's too unforgiving if you're even abit oit of practise.

I would 'nt sail either unless the lake is a decent size - neither are suited to the quick tacking and tactical sailing that you get on these small lakes.

If you are comfortable sailing the Contender you should be ok in a 600 but its a big step - almost like starting again.

On the other hand a 600 may suit handicap arcing better in lighter breeze ?.

£2k should get you a decent 600. Sails last well and generally the hulls are bullet proff. One thing to check carefully is the kicker fixings and ruddder fixings - if the timber pads in these areas have rotted it can be tricky to fix.

Most have Superspars masts now but some older Angell masts are still around and performing well.

Sure the RS600 forum can advise you in more detail.

Posted By: Villan
Date Posted: 20 Sep 10 at 7:58pm

If you are after sensible .. Solo or Laser. They are about the only things that have ever been able to sail sensibly yet keep up some speed on BLYM. (As long as you ignore the 5k Eurocups, 4k event and the 18 that have all been on that lake in the last few years. )

If you are after stupid quick and impossible to sail on BLYM .. spend your money on whatever. Hell, get a MPS, you'll have no shortage of people wanting a go on it, but its pretty damn expensive to repair when you run it aground. (I hope you know exactly where the road, the tree stump, and the old diving board are if you get anything quick!! ) Believe me, I very quickly learnt the painful way ...

I'm in the same camp as TT though, singlehanded assymetric on a lake where its not worth hoisting the kite and sailing the extra distance 99% of the time.

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