Heavy singlehander

Caer Urfa)

Funny I also remember you from the PBO site (I was Caer Urfa). I also sailed offshore single handed for over 50 years and reluctantly sold my motor Sailor during the year. I am 72 and 15.5 stone and wanted still to mainly sail 'single handed', 'I thought' moving from offshore sailing to dinghy sailing would be no problem,         BIG MISTAKE, I started by trying the boats 'I liked the look of' when I eventually went for a boat I was more physically comfortable in and enjoyed sailing, I also tried them all before buying my Hartley 12 , Lasers,Solo, miracles, GP14, Toppers you name it, what you have to remember is your old knees and admit you may not be able to move as quick as you think you can, I could plan to do a tack for 3 minutes offshore, now I might get three seconds, my advice is buy a boat you can now physically handle not what might look good  

Edited by Tynesider - 06 Oct 17 at 3:43pm

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Tynesider Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 19 Aug 17 Location: Shropshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tynesider Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Heavy singlehander Posted: 06 Oct 17 at 3:42pm
	Funny I also remember you from the PBO site (I was Caer Urfa). I also sailed offshore single handed for over 50 years and reluctantly sold my motor Sailor during the year. I am 72 and 15.5 stone and wanted still to mainly sail 'single handed', 'I thought' moving from offshore sailing to dinghy sailing would be no problem, BIG MISTAKE, I started by trying the boats 'I liked the look of' when I eventually went for a boat I was more physically comfortable in and enjoyed sailing, I also tried them all before buying my Hartley 12 , Lasers,Solo, miracles, GP14, Toppers you name it, what you have to remember is your old knees and admit you may not be able to move as quick as you think you can, I could plan to do a tack for 3 minutes offshore, now I might get three seconds, my advice is buy a boat you can now physically handle not what might look good Edited by Tynesider - 06 Oct 17 at 3:43pm
	Archivist for the Colvic Watson Owners Group

snowleopard Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 02 Oct 17 Location: Cornwall Online Status: Offline Posts: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote snowleopard Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Oct 17 at 8:37pm
	Thanks for all the input. My short list came down to Megabyte, Phantom and Finn. In the end it was a question of what was available so I am now the proud owner of a Finn.
	One hull good, two hulls better.

Do Different Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jan 12 Location: North Online Status: Offline Posts: 1312	Post Options Post Reply Quote Do Different Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Oct 17 at 8:44pm
	Nice one, not the lightest and most trendy but a classy boat none the less.

snowleopard Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 02 Oct 17 Location: Cornwall Online Status: Offline Posts: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote snowleopard Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Apr 18 at 12:25pm
	Well after a long winter, I got out for the first time today. The Finn is a powerful beast and goes pretty quickly. With a F2-3 I was able to get it up on the plane a bit and sit on the side rather than squatting in the middle. Hauling 300 lbs up a ramp on your own is not so funny but maybe it will get me fitter. I wouldn't want to try a steep tidal ramp though. Edited by snowleopard - 01 Apr 18 at 12:26pm
	One hull good, two hulls better.

Bootscooter Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 15 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1094	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bootscooter Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Apr 18 at 12:01pm
	Good to see you went with the Finn - I joined the Class 2 years ago at the age of 47 and have absolutely loved it! Off to the World Masters next month too!!!

snowleopard Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 02 Oct 17 Location: Cornwall Online Status: Offline Posts: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote snowleopard Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 18 at 4:53pm
	Well having struggled up the ramp for a while I have reluctantly concluded that the Finn will have to go. Also, despite adjusting the mast rake fully forward, It's still a struggle with my 6'4" 70 year old frame to get under the boom when tacking or worse - gybing. There are lots of boats that would suit, including the Mirror clone I'm putting a lugsail on but I do still have the hankering for speed.
	One hull good, two hulls better.

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 18 at 5:36pm
	Looks like you need to revisit the Phantom then.....
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

snowleopard Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 02 Oct 17 Location: Cornwall Online Status: Offline Posts: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote snowleopard Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 18 at 5:43pm
	Indeed it does. Then I googled it and found this comment on another forum... "The phantom's I've sailed with have to slack off the kicker to get under the boom every tack" Edited by snowleopard - 24 Jul 18 at 5:48pm
	One hull good, two hulls better.

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 18 at 5:53pm
	You need a deep cockpit version, either an old-un or a one of the new deep cockpit designs. My mate is well over 6' and a big lad to boot (though a lot younger than you and I) and has no difficulty tacking his old GRP Phant. Try to get a go in one but looking at it it seems a roomy boat.
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

rich96 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 20 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 596	Post Options Post Reply Quote rich96 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 18 at 6:17pm
	Snowleopard If you have struggled tacking the Finn something must have been not quite right ? If the kicker is fully off upwind the boom will jump up quite high when you let off the mainsheet to tack. With its deep cockpit there's loads of room. If you tack with the main cleated or don't let it off you will haver problems. Regardless of the type of Phantom it will be much harder to get under the boom than the Finn. When its breezy it gets worse as you rake the rig and have loads of kicker on. In addition you with wreck your knees when you have to sit 'in' it when the breeze is light. If you are most interested in comfort perhaps neither of these racers are suitable ? The Phantom is a fantastic boat but the Finn is so much more comfortable When gybing you just need to remember to let off the kicker