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Alto - Why?
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JimC View Drop Down
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    Posted: 05 Mar 08 at 8:23pm
Some Recent Classes without the majors behind them.

Lightning 368     1997
Comet Zero     1999
MRX     1999
Musto Skiff     1999
Comet Versa     2002
Solution     2006
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Smight at BBSC View Drop Down
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Posts: 1129 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Smight at BBSC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 08 at 8:28pm
Isn't the lightning 368 dead 
RS600 988
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alstorer View Drop Down
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Posts: 2899 		Post Options Post Options   Quote alstorer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 08 at 10:13pm
The Comets clearly sell well enough that the company hasn't gone bust yet, but is there ANY class racing anywhere for them? I relaise this isn't the be-all and end-all, especially given the AltO is squarely aimed at the handicap club racer, but still, it would help the class to get a circuit of some sort going ASAP.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 08 at 11:38pm
Originally posted by alstorer

The Comets clearly sell well enough that the company
hasn't gone bust yet, but is there ANY class racing anywhere for them? I
relaise this isn't the be-all and end-all, especially given the AltO is
squarely aimed at the handicap club racer, but still, it would help the
class to get a circuit of some sort going ASAP.


I'm sure if enough of us buy them, then we could band together, form a
class and run the odd event, I know a company or two that would
sponsor them, but like it says, this is a grown ups club racer as I see it. It
would be a pleasant change to have something develop naturally where
folk can learn the ropes without being Atheletes SI's or drop outs from
some RYA youf squad.
A class formed around a boat that is tactical as well as reasonably quick, I
know I'm still a newbie here, but i do wonder if you lot sometimes miss
the bigger picture, you let a fine forum like this get dominated by kids,
luddites and stuffy rule mongers then have endless discussions as to why
folk aint sailing..
Something new pops up, there never seems to be a sense of optimism
just a hundred reasons it wont work, the RS500 being a case to point,
there's nothing wrong with it, but hell was it damned here.

This boat is one guys dream, he's had the balls to go build it, the British
way, there's no container trip to Cobra or Brazil, no plastic pump linked to
a rotomould, just good old Rondar doing it the way they always did.
Now he doesn't have to build hundreds, twentyfive this year will do just
fine, then maybe twentyfive more next year.

I'm glad I'm going to get one early, it'll have teething problems of that
much I'm sure, but I don't mind, I like new ideas, especially if they're
within my motor skill set.





Edited by G.R.F
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lazy mavis View Drop Down
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Posts: 44 		Post Options Post Options   Quote lazy mavis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Mar 08 at 11:48pm
25 boats built this year and another 25 next year???

my, my mr G.R.F. it seems you are a bit of dreamer.....

i'm sure mr alto would be absolutely over the moon if he managed to shift that amount of product

personally, i think if they manage double figures they will be doing very well

mavis xx
whatever
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 12:00am
No Mavis, it's called optimism, the belief in a better tomorrow, lots of
businesses are founded on it.

You wouldn't understand, you're a dinghy sailor by nature, they never did
get commerce, it's why us windsurfers had to show em how to do it in the
first place.
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Bootscooter View Drop Down
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Posts: 1094 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Bootscooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 12:34am

Originally posted by G.R.F

Originally posted by alstorer

The Comets clearly sell well enough that the company
hasn't gone bust yet, but is there ANY class racing anywhere for them? I
relaise this isn't the be-all and end-all, especially given the AltO is
squarely aimed at the handicap club racer, but still, it would help the
class to get a circuit of some sort going ASAP.


I'm sure if enough of us buy them, then we could band together, form a
class and run the odd event, I know a company or two that would
sponsor them, but like it says, this is a grown ups club racer as I see it. It
would be a pleasant change to have something develop naturally where
folk can learn the ropes without being Atheletes SI's or drop outs from
some RYA youf squad.
A class formed around a boat that is tactical as well as reasonably quick, I
know I'm still a newbie here, but i do wonder if you lot sometimes miss
the bigger picture, you let a fine forum like this get dominated by kids,
luddites and stuffy rule mongers then have endless discussions as to why
folk aint sailing..
Something new pops up, there never seems to be a sense of optimism
just a hundred reasons it wont work, the RS500 being a case to point,
there's nothing wrong with it, but hell was it damned here.

This boat is one guys dream, he's had the balls to go build it, the British
way, there's no container trip to Cobra or Brazil, no plastic pump linked to
a rotomould, just good old Rondar doing it the way they always did.
Now he doesn't have to build hundreds, twentyfive this year will do just
fine, then maybe twentyfive more next year.

I'm glad I'm going to get one early, it'll have teething problems of that
much I'm sure, but I don't mind, I like new ideas, especially if they're
within my motor skill set.



 

I'm not sure I agree with your turn of phrase, GRF, but I totally agree with your sentiment.   I'd be prepared to wager a fair sum that the vast majority of the "Doom'n'Gloom" mongers on here are;

a)  under 30

b)  under 13 stone

c)  perfectly happy tear-arsing around in skiff/moth/cherub etc with your hair on fire!

 

The majority of people you see sailing are probably doing exactly the same as you, and consequently, whilst you're out competing in your TT series/class racing, you don't notice the thousands of slightly older people out sailing every weekend up and down the country in Ents, GPs, Wayfarers, Wanderers, and even the likes of 420s.  These are the people that would see that this boat could give them the higher performance thrills that they'd like, without having the astronomical costs associated with ownership of many of the more traditional high performance dinghies.  And without having to be aged 19 and made of rubber!  

  There is a massive potential market there, and I hope Oldarn can make it work.  As I said earlier, I dont have the finances to buy one right now, but if I did, I'd be sorely  tempted.

 

As an aside, Oldarn I may try to give you a call sometime to see if I could come for a play sometime, and I may possibly be able to offer some assistance with "exposure" to a quite sizable potential market! 

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Chris Noble View Drop Down
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Posts: 710 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Chris Noble Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 12:37am

Originally posted by G.R.F

A class formed around a boat that is tactical as well as reasonably quick,

 

Firefly...? RS200...?

Both with centreboards both very much grown up, both well established and very very well respected. Not knocking the AltO just responging to what you've said in the quote...
Competitive Boat Insurance From Noble Marine

FOR SALE:

I14 2 Masts 2 poles 3 Booms, Foils Kites/Mains/Jibs too many to list.
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Bootscooter View Drop Down
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Posts: 1094 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Bootscooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 12:45am

neither have a wire, are nowhere near as quick (as advertised) and neither will be competitive with a couple of fatties on board.  Also see comments earlier about the design being suitable for choppy, lumpy seas.

 

again, not having a go, but there nothing like the same market.
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foaminatthedeck View Drop Down
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Posts: 318 		Post Options Post Options   Quote foaminatthedeck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Mar 08 at 7:44am
  24, 14st, sail a Lark
Do the Rs500 and the Alto have similar crew weights as the 500 looks like it would suit lighter sailors while the Alto looks like it may need a bit more weight?

GRF sound to me like you have not mastered the sysmetric spinnaker( (its not realy old fashoned just different) I think that once some has got the hang of one it improves there assametric skills noticably.
If your in the SW I'd be happy to take you out and show you it appeal, PM me.
Lark 2170
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