Am i Mad ? Novice in a RS700....

Hi All, 
First post here. I am returning to dinghy sailing after a 10 year absense, so im going to be rusty to say the least.

I was a reasonably competent helm in a 420 but now i'm looking to sail a singlehander and I keep coming back to the RS 700. It seems like a good package for the money and its something I can grow into...

My question is, am I mad going for a 700 ? Are they very difficult to learn to sail ? Would I be better going for a Blaze, or another non trapeze singlehander to start with ?

Cheers,
James

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jamesrose Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 01 Sep 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 22	Post Options Post Reply Quote jamesrose Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Am i Mad ? Novice in a RS700.... Posted: 01 Sep 14 at 12:28pm
	Hi All, First post here. I am returning to dinghy sailing after a 10 year absense, so im going to be rusty to say the least. I was a reasonably competent helm in a 420 but now i'm looking to sail a singlehander and I keep coming back to the RS 700. It seems like a good package for the money and its something I can grow into... My question is, am I mad going for a 700 ? Are they very difficult to learn to sail ? Would I be better going for a Blaze, or another non trapeze singlehander to start with ? Cheers, James

Andymac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 04 Apr 07 Location: Derbyshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 852	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andymac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 14 at 12:39pm
	Ah, something GRF is amply qualified (OK not a Musto, but as near as dammit) to give his opinion on! Over to you Graeme...

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 14 at 1:05pm
	A lot depends on where you sail I think, and how sensible you are going to be about going out when windy. If its an inland reservoir where the worst that's likely to happen is you keep drifting to the bank and getting towed in I suppose you could give it a try if you like. If however you could easily end up knackered and unable to right the boat under the bows of a supertanker then maybe it would not be wise.

jamesrose Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 01 Sep 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 22	Post Options Post Reply Quote jamesrose Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 14 at 1:29pm
	Thats a good point...I'm looking at Blackwater sailing club, which is on an estuary. My plan wouldnt be to sail much above a force 2-3 until im at least reasonably competent and I dont mind doing some swimming. Its a tough decision, maybe i should buy a slower (more stable) boat and then upgrade in the future, but then I enjoy a challenge.

kneewrecker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 09 Apr 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1586	Post Options Post Reply Quote kneewrecker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 14 at 1:33pm
	Go for it... if you find it's too much, sell it and get something more pedestrian. I'd consider a mast head float for a bit though: capsizing will be a given, as will yukky, sticky mud at Blackwater SC!!!

getafix Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 28 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2143	Post Options Post Reply Quote getafix Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 14 at 1:37pm
	Don't know much about the club, for my 3p worth I would advise that minimal frustration will result from being able to get into a decent sized bit of water quickly and easily after you launch. This is so you can just concentrate on getting on the wire and feeling the boat react, without having to try and short-tack it out of some tight little <shifty> river, which, I would imagine, for most people will be a deal-breaker. These (MPS too) are great boats in my very limited experience, but my one go did remind me a lot of the Contender and RS600, tacking in tight patches of water is something better attempted with 'experience' in doing it at a more leisurely (aka 'survivable') pace in more room, to start off with, ditto hoists and drops, gusts are great fun and you'll need 3 hands, which is a shame, because that's one more than the standard issue as many of us have found out plenty of times (I sail a 100 now and very happily swim about it when one sheet too many proves my un-doing!!). Edited by getafix - 01 Sep 14 at 1:40pm

Medway Maniac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788	Post Options Post Reply Quote Medway Maniac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 14 at 2:17pm
	Blackwater should suit the boat, I'd think (great place to sail), but are you the right weight for the boat? People always look to me like ants out on the wire, the acreage of sail is so vast offwind. I'd have thought the optimum weight was reasonably high (as seems to be the trend for RS boats).
	Wilsonian SC 3000 Class

jamesrose Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 01 Sep 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 22	Post Options Post Reply Quote jamesrose Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 14 at 2:28pm
	Weight is something that im not lacking...about 95KG in a tall frame so that might be one thing going for me !

rb_stretch Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 742	Post Options Post Reply Quote rb_stretch Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 14 at 2:31pm
	If it is any help I went straight from a 12 year old sailing Mirrors to a 30 old year teaching my wife to sail in the back of a twin trapeze boat. I was a windsurfer in the intervening years, which helped a bit, but as long as you pick your conditions and are prepared for a few knackering outings, you should be OK.

Medway Maniac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788	Post Options Post Reply Quote Medway Maniac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Sep 14 at 2:36pm
	How's your trapezing James - do you enjoy it? If yes, then go for it!
	Wilsonian SC 3000 Class