what boat

Probably not the Topaz. I don't think you'd find it an advance on the Laser...

There are of course foiling Moths in the middle east, but that's a very big jump from the Laser.

You need to decide on kite or not, trapeze or not, other local boats or not.

For my money the performance singlehanders that are most worth considering are:-

RS300 for a sparkling sit on the side boat
RS600/Contender for wire without kite
RS700/Musto Skiff for wire and kite
International Moth with/without foils for a lighter weight sailor with very good experience, but maintenance might be an issue
and, of course
International Canoe, available with or without kite for unbeatable style:-)








Edited by JimC

yep know your pain!

Am thinking myself what to get next, I also had:

Blaze - Good but has a following similar to the Solo (not raced by teens/twenties people)
Vareo - sounds good but not for PY racing.

So the 600 is a good idea but not the easiest to sail. But if your up for a challenge...
700 - if you have the guts
the Moth if you have the cash!

Wooow!  Big jump from a laser to an RS700.  Though I guess the water in UAE is nice and warm.  It would need to be.

Maybe try a contender first, but only if you get regular strong wind.  Or a Vareo if you don't necessarily want to trapeze but do want a kite and then move on to an RS 600/700, MPS, IC etc later.

So far no-one makes a dedicated, asymetric, trapeze, single hander for the less than heroic sailor.

You'd have to tell us your weight and skill level really.

Blaze - Good but has a following similar to the Solo (not raced by teens/twenties people)

eeerrm - oh yes they are -  perhaps you better put 'Blaze Nationals 2008' into UTube ... most of us do look a little young(er) to say the least ... so do you think you could keep up either on or off the water ..... bet UR over 30 anyway and thinking about you pipe / slippers and sad man mortgage !    try   http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tDjECk4_rdo

Blaze720

 

Blaze720    

Originally posted by NickA Wooow!  Big jump from a laser to an RS700.  Though I guess the water in UAE is nice and warm.  It would need to be. Maybe try a contender first, but only if you get regular strong wind.  Or a Vareo if you don't necessarily want to trapeze but do want a kite and then move on to an RS 600/700, MPS, IC etc later. So far no-one makes a dedicated, asymetric, trapeze, single hander for the less than heroic sailor. You'd have to tell us your weight and skill level really.

A lot of people move from the Laser to the 700 including me - it's emminently do-able for a good club sailor. 

I did buy a Contender for a few months while I had the 700 on order but apart from meeting some very nice people, there was very little which I learnt that helped in the 700. 

The 700 is not quite as full on as people think, although I'd never describe it as easy.  The soft sail, wider more stable hull form, pump system and cockpit design are all there to make the boat as accessible as possible.

After all, if I can sail one, (almost) anyone can!

Ian

RS700 GBR960

www.sail4cancer.org