4000 Facelift by Rooster

A gentleman GP sailor I know was telling me that his very successful kitesurfing granddaughter (Hanna Whiteley) has been bought a new VW Camper by her sponsors.

Do you think it is easier to get sponsors if you look the part?

Don't bother answering that...

The year before last Hannah turned up at our club in the rain....every inch the California girl...from Stockport. She crewed for her grandfather and was mightily amused by his WW2 shorts.

Originally posted by getafix Originally posted by Jack Sparrow difficult decision putting a carbon stick on it though. It makes it instantaneously an expensive boat / upgrade to an old boat. And probably kills any chance of lift off. But without it there is a chance it might gain some traction. IMPO "traction" is what you'll need after hauling one around on shore and dealing with the loads from the mainsheet, 'interesting' controls layout and other foibles.... along with the ISO, Buzz, 5000 and Spice, the 4000 is of it's day, and that day, in my opinion, has past, RIP

The 4000 is still a fast boat.
Club sailors can enjoy it when 400's become hard work up wind.
If you want a single trapeze boat, it's still a good option if you're too old/heavy to fit in with the 29ers.
It would be intreresting to see what people could do with them if the class rules were a little less prescriptive about controls etc.
They're not that heavy, except when the equalisation comes into play. Perhaps that is the bit that's had its day?
The Buzz is too slow for a trapeze boat, the 5000 has no market because the 800 and 49er have twin traps for big boys covered, the Iso seemed an Ok boat but why would you choose it over a 4000 or 500?
Do we need carbon masts for 4000's? Probably not, as it is, it's still the fastest thing most people will find accessible. It may not look too bling ashore, but get it going in F5 and it looks OK to me.

Originally posted by boatshed I suppose you could say the 300 and the 600 ticked the boxes many on this forum desire.   Light weight, good performance, well built, modern looking etc.    But they have been rejected by lack of sales, so, I pity any dinghy manufacturer trying to launch any new boats.     They are dammed if they do and dammed if they don't. Maybe it's just a demographic thing.   Not enough yoof around that want to sail edgy boats or can be @rsed to put in a bit of effort to get the hang of them.   And when the  yoof pack in sailing their Lasers, they probably want something a little  more stable, technical  and with good class racing.    The Solo ticks all those boxes.    The Aero and Zero don't. Since this thread has now veered off course, I see the Int Canoe as the perfect boat for older sailors.   Very technical, quick, plenty of bimbling opportunities, sufficiently radical and a bleddy great plank to perch on ( or indeed lie on) as you whiz along.    Trouble is there are non to be had 2nd hand and quite serious money new with a long lead time.    If RS wanted to tap into the older dinghy racing market, then a narrow, slippery, Canoe type one design would be an opportunity.   No kite but a bigger mainsail to help the heavier helms.  I say bring back the plank.