New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Oppie, Topper or something else
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Oppie, Topper or something else
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
doeywizard View Drop Down
Posting king
Posting king
Avatar

Joined: 16 Jun 10
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 150 		Post Options Post Options   Quote doeywizard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Oppie, Topper or something else
    Posted: 07 May 13 at 9:05pm
I started sailing in a tera with the sport rig on, i found this really fun an manageable and once i wanted to try something a bit bigger i invested in the fully battened pro rig which made everything more lively once i had got some experience. A topper you will most probably need a 4.2 and although the 4.2 fleet is quite big at the moment the tera fleet is growing quickly. I moved into toppers after a few years in teras and even now i am sailing lasers by far the most fun i have had in a boat was when I was sailing my tera. The main thing is to get a boat she will want to sail and enjoy.  
Topper 46148 for sale    
http://sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=276804
Back to Top
ohFFsake View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 04 Sep 08
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 219 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ohFFsake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 May 13 at 12:52am
I've been through all of these issues with my two girls. Done Oppies, currently in Toppers and crewing in Mirrors; now talking of 29ers (Eek!).

As others have said, being in a fleet with friends is absolutely the top priority at that age; but if that still leaves a choice then I'd maybe have a little think about the venue. If it is inland and relatively sheltered with predominantly lighter winds then avoid the Oppie as they will spend a lot of time drifting around bored in a boat that won't go - a Topper will power up earlier and result in much more fun.

If it is a breezy coastal location then the opposite applies - the Topper will be a handful even with a 4.2 rig, whereas the Oppie will allow them to keep sailing in stronger winds and learn more.

And the Tera sits somewhere between the two. Not as powerful as the Topper but more easily driven than an Oppi, so probably suited to a wider range of wind conditions and crew weights than either of the other boats.

My eldest daughter moved up too soon, like they always insist on doing, and went into a Topper when she wasn't much more than 4 stone. Her first season involved a lot of swimming and not much progress but in the long run there's perhaps a lot to be learned from sailing in a boat that's massively overpowered for you. It turns you into a great heavy weather sailor as long as you have the enthusiasm and commitment to stick at it...
Back to Top
winging it View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 22 Mar 07
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3958 		Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 13 at 5:48pm
Originally posted by pondmonkey

She needs to speak to the kids who sail all three... buy the one with the group she thinks she is most likely to make friends with.  

The boat is irrelevant at that age.


dead right.  The parents who buy the kids the boat they think they ought to sail so often waste their money.  I do think kids move out of oppies way to soon, but as James says, if she doesn't like it she won't sail it, whatever it is.
the same, but different...

Back to Top
about a boat View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 25 Oct 06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 60 		Post Options Post Options   Quote about a boat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 13 at 9:13am
Thanks all. I agree with all really. At least I know it will be an Oppi, Topper or tera!. But it will be what she wants rather than what anyone else wants which is key. And the reasoning of her judgement I doubt I will ever figure out!
Back to Top
pondmonkey View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 12 Aug 11
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2202 		Post Options Post Options   Quote pondmonkey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Mar 13 at 7:13am
She needs to speak to the kids who sail all three... buy the one with the group she thinks she is most likely to make friends with.  

The boat is irrelevant at that age.
Back to Top
Rupert View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 11 Aug 04
Location: Whitefriars sc
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8956 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Mar 13 at 10:41pm
The Tera is a great boat, and by the sound of it she has already seen them and liked the look. Mainly, though, she should be in what her friends are in, I'd say, as that way she will be having fun.

My daughter, who is 10 now, has had a Puffin for many years, mind, which no one else has one of. She far preferred that to the Oppie, as it had Mirror style tanks to sit on. Now getting into the Topper more, and unlike her brother, isn't a Tera fan. Her Godsister at a different club sails Oppies in a fleet and loves it.

Best thing would be to be at a club with boats the Juniors can use whilst she gets the basics right, then she will be telling you what she'd like from a position of knowledge.
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
Back to Top
Contender443 View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 01 Oct 04
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1211 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Contender443 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Mar 13 at 5:36pm
Why not ask her what she thinks is best. I suspect she might go for a Tera, my then 8 year old did.
Bonnie Lass Contender 1764
Back to Top
kevg View Drop Down
Posting king
Posting king
Avatar

Joined: 13 Dec 05
Location: Wrexham
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 120 		Post Options Post Options   Quote kevg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Mar 13 at 4:56pm
I'm biased towards a Topper 4.2 and then the 5.3 but Optmists certainly have a strong following see:-
Back to Top
robin34024 View Drop Down
Posting king
Posting king
Avatar

Joined: 03 Jan 12
Location: Lincoln
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 116 		Post Options Post Options   Quote robin34024 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Mar 13 at 4:00pm
I would go for the topper 4.2 rig. she will probably still be overpowered if it gets breezy, but when she grows out of the 4.2, she can move into the 5.3.
Back to Top
about a boat View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 25 Oct 06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 60 		Post Options Post Options   Quote about a boat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Mar 13 at 3:53pm
Optimist, Topper and Teras are sailed! To be honest I think I will go with an Optimist but I will ask at the club too. May be a good idea will be for her to have a go in both and see how confortable she feels with them.
The biggest issue with the Optimist (hence my question) was during her taster days she saw some boys go out in Teras and was full of excitment only for her little face to drop when realaity hit that she would be in a boat that resembled a washing up tub!
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy