Thoughts on a single-hander

Originally posted by Chris 249 How fast does the 3000 go singlehanded? Does it work well with kite one- up? .

Up to a F3-4, appreciably quicker than 2-up.

Kite is no problem once you've thought about it a bit, even using off-the-boom sheeting for the main while helming from the wire (you just take the main and kite in one hand and pull ropes till the correct ratchet block clicks!). Above Force 4, the best solution imho is to get rid of the jib, step the mast as far forward as possible and use lots of kicker and a long, thin Tasar daggerboard raked right aft - balance is fine and the main alone is about right to take a 3k-sized person on the wire. It's a mini MPS, in effect. In that mode it's probably similar speed to a 2-up boat upwind and quicker downwind.

The only thing that doesn't work is using the main alone in light airs - dog slow.

Being a bit heavier than Medway at around 12 stone,  I always single hand my V3000 with a jib on - it helps that there is a smaller jib available, which helps if it's windy. 

With 2 or 3 sails up the boat is appreciably quicker than a Vareo above force 2 and approches scary-fast two-up in a force 6.  Getting the kite out (and away again) is a bit of a challenge on your own, but quite possible.  It's no different from an MPS in that respect

I've considered:

an RS700 = loved it, but it's hard work, delicate and relatively expensive to run, and there isn't really any space for a friend,

a contender = no kite = less fun down wind (whatever the unarig lobby say)

a vago = strangely tippy, hard to trapeze but oddly slow - the 3000 is a good bit quicker, and 2nd hand is cheaper too!

a vario .... but trapezing is fun and doesn't hurt  like hiking does.

a vortex asymetric ... heavy and nearly a cat - but very tempting

a small cat (Dart 15, Stealth 16 etc) .. too wide for the boat park and ... they're cats and somehow I just like monohulls.

However, that the 3000 is a compromised single hander is also true.  Too powerful to single hand above force 4, the jib can be troublesome with only two arms and the controls don't fall to hand.

Anyway try one, it's the only way.

Originally posted by turnturtle shocking isn't it Philsy... but to be fair, the Vareo is so much nicer and in a different league to the Vago!

So do you really think that the V3000 is a better single-hander than the Vareo?..., it's a great boat but it does depend very much on what you want - a single hander that carries a passenger well or a two-hander for two lightweights that can be sailed as a single hander...........hmmmm - I guess that you takes your choice etc. etc.

Nigel

Originally posted by Webmuppet So do you really think that the V3000 is a better single-hander than the Vareo?..., it's a great boat but it does depend very much on what you want - a single hander that carries a passenger well or a two-hander for two lightweights that can be sailed as a single hander...........hmmmm - I guess that you takes your choice etc. etc. Nigel

Depends if you want to trapeze or not.

Worth bearing in mind that a two-man, single-wire trapeze boat only loses well under half its righting moment when you omit the hiking crew member. Thus it's a lot more viable than a two-man hiking boat sailed singlehanded, unless the latter was using a crisp-packet crew when two-up, as is the case with many Nat 12's.

The L3k can of course also be sailed as a hiking singlehander, reefing the main and furling the jib as necessary, but it won't be quick.

Had an interesting time at the boat show.

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed by the Vago's appearance and
finish - and my 11 year old daughter said she'd 'never sail in it' which
wasn't a good start. I will, though remain open minded and have a test
sail.

I then went back to the Vareo and, in comparison, it was much more
appealing. It would, though, have to be an addition to the fleet and not a
replacement for the L2000.

I was impressed by the V3000. The chap I was talking to explained that
he's developing a single-handed version with the mast moved forward
and a lower boom - the boat could be swapped easily from one rig to the
other. As a two-person boat it wouldn't replace the L2000 either, but
then I doubt the Vago would, if I'm honest.

Maybe, then, that the idea of a boat that will perform both single- and
double-handed functions is a pipedream, and I need to have two.

So, test sails with all three is the next stage.

Thanks for all the feedback so far - much appreciated.

Phil