Farr 3.7

asymmetrics.... n'ah forget it unless you want this for class racing and then there's a problem... no class in the UK, bag loads of enthusiasm is simply not enough to push through the inertia of the rest of the competition. Even if 10 of you get it sorted, the reality of modern life is you'll not get an open circuit with enough bodies to bother with.... it'll fail.

Look at the RS100... 100's of boats sold, lucky if 20 show up for an open.   It's an asymmetric and like many asymmetric dinghies it sucks around the cans, therefore you'd have thought more owners would want, sorry need, to get to class events to get the most out of the boat. 10% attendance from fleet... work the maths for a homebuild class without the commercial push someone like RS gives a new class...

Another new asymmetric boat- the D1, had 11 entries for their first nationals of which four weren't even owners. It doesn't matter how good it is, it also doesn't matter whther you think it's ugly or not, the simple fact is you have a chicken and egg situation where the boat NEEDS a windward/leeward course to perform to its handicap, and you simply don't get this very often club racing in the UK.

This is going to come across as negative, which I wish it didn't as I love asymmetric dinghies. But being realistic for a moment, whilst sailing clubs have a reluctance to lay on decent windward/leeward racing (or even box or old school olympic courses) any new asymmetric is going to really struggle to get a foot hold in the club market. Without the big name backing to get a circuit established, like RS with the 100, there's just little other option other than club racing open to a 'new entrant', where it will inevitably suck if you bang a kite on it for racing.

Edited by rogue - 04 Nov 11 at 4:42pm

The difference between what's being talked about here and RS100s, D1s et al is that nobody here is trying to sell them. 

Originally posted by rogue asymmetrics.... n'ah forget it unless you want this for class racing and then there's a problem... no class in the UK, bag loads of enthusiasm is simply not enough to push through the inertia of the rest of the competition. Even if 10 of you get it sorted, the reality of modern life is you'll not get an open circuit with enough bodies to bother with.... it'll fail. Look at the RS100... 100's of boats sold, lucky if 20 show up for an open.   It's an asymmetric and like many asymmetric dinghies it sucks around the cans, therefore you'd have thought more owners would want, sorry need, to get to class events to get the most out of the boat. 10% attendance from fleet... work the maths for a homebuild class without the commercial push someone like RS gives a new class... Another new asymmetric boat- the D1, had 11 entries for their first nationals of which four weren't even owners. It doesn't matter how good it is, it also doesn't matter whther you think it's ugly or not, the simple fact is you have a chicken and egg situation where the boat NEEDS a windward/leeward course to perform to its handicap, and you simply don't get this very often club racing in the UK. This is going to come across as negative, which I wish it didn't as I love asymmetric dinghies. But being realistic for a moment, whilst sailing clubs have a reluctance to lay on decent windward/leeward racing (or even box or old school olympic courses) any new asymmetric is going to really struggle to get a foot hold in the club market. Without the big name backing to get a circuit established, like RS with the 100, there's just little other option other than club racing open to a 'new entrant', where it will inevitably suck if you bang a kite on it for racing.

And which kiteless singlehanders have been launched more successfully lately?

Obviously the class has to decide, you can't be all things to all people.
Not sure a masthead kit is such a good idea, you need a lot more rigging to support the mast, or a very strong mast which might not be much fun upwind. All about understanding your target market and wind conditions.

Quite!

Originally posted by Bootscooter Nobody needs a circuit or even a nationals - they just quite like the boat and fancy building one!

well that's possibly the best attitude I've seen on here in a while, my apologies for the negativity previous and with the above quoted modus operandi, fit a kite if you want, if you don't, don't!

Nice one, good luck and please make it happen.