Dinghy Show

Originally posted by turnturtle I'd agree with David to a point- a Solo is a more sophisticated choice in some ways.  You can choose hull shapes with different rocker profiles, spars with different bend characteristics.  Foils sections can vary and all these subtle differences enable a level of customisation we just don't have in the Zero - for good reason, but I don't think 'price point' was the key driver. There's evolution in the sail design which will not stop - a new North Solo sail is £1200, a new North D-Zero sail is £899.  You are paying for the ongoing technical development and campaign of professional sailors in one, in the other the development work is done, it's over.... for the time being anyway. One of the design goals for the Zero was simplicity- it's something I respect, because having sailed one, I think this has been achieved without any noticeable compromise on how the boat feels to sail. It's not a tweakers boat though, it was never intended to be, so I respect that someone with a penchant for Merlins and Solos would probably need a little more convincing than someone like me who just wants a wednesday evening chariot which requires minimal set up and intellectual bandwidth when making my buying decisions. I'm now busy looking at the pros and cons of a boom up cover.... this is about as technical as I want really.

Originally posted by davidyacht  I suspect that you are going to tell me that all of the "single" cleated lines can be reached from the hiking position.</span>

The only control I need to adjust on a hiking leg is the cunningham when switching gear due to change in wind strength, always at hand and accessible, and led through a wide angle fairlead. So yes, you're correct.

Originally posted by Old Timer The Dinghy Show is for dinghy sailors; I don't think the show attempts to recruit people in to the sport it is more of an "in house" activity. Well that is my take on it ... if the RYA run it to try and bring people into the sport then I don't think that is working ...

I thought it was great, the only bad point was that I knew too many people and didn't have enough time to talk to everyone. I thought the OK's looked fab in wood! I really wanted to find out more about the class going back down a wood route, with the top 2 at the worlds being wooden boats.
The devote/suntouched stand was hectic, which must have been good for them.
One thing that was said to me by two non sailor girls looking pretty by a certain car stand, was "I cannot believe all these fools pay £15 to come in and let us try and sell them things". Now I have been to shows in all sorts of industries and paid to get in and never looked at it that way. When put to me like that, it does seem pretty odd haha

Originally posted by jeffers A lot of people liked seeing the Punk there too and looking at the evolution of the design from the Punk through to the production D-Zero.