Icon

GRF, on the other thread you said -  "So a boat with fewer opportnity for boat handling an kite mare errors would be good, ninety percent of our problems last year were equipment issues of one description or another, hence wanting a simple layout like the Icon, that and the heavy lifting we're both done with." If this is the case, I really think you should sail it as an Icon for a while.  Keep the ideas/developments coming thru' the winter, then if you really need to add the weight & complexity of a kite do it next winter.

I've not had a close look at an Icon, but why wouldn't a deck stepped mast be suitable for trapping off? Twas fine on the Laser II back in the day.

Edited by Bootscooter - 05 Nov 13 at 9:39pm

Think Ecosse was looking for info from Icon sailors .... Can some of you divert the PY, 59er, RS400 elsewhere.  It dragging down the tone of the place!

Edited by Hector - 06 Nov 13 at 1:07am

Ecosse the best thing to do is get in touch with Martin (Scotsfinn) on this forum and go sailing with him. I don't know what his plans are for the Largs Winter Series but you could possibly crew for him and I'm sure he'll help you make the right decision. Anything else is just opinion! I think his is the only Icon in Scotland so if you want class racing you'll have to start organising it yourself. It's not such a bind, I'm doing it for the Merlin Rockets and I'm enjoying it, and the numbers there are creeping up.

You would need to do things like set some dates (open meetings with handicap classes until you have critical mass, which is usually 5 boats at every event), get a mailing list going, get a good boat available for demo sailing, then do as much publicity as you can. That's just for starters! All fun though, if you are of a mind. The only other class options in Scotland for 2 handed hikers are RS200/400 (not my cup of tea), Albacore (still surprisingly fast and good handicap), Merlin Rocket - only 2 events so far but 7 scheduled for next year, 2 new boats coming and 7 boats at the last event, 5 boats based in Bardowie next year), Enterprise (mostly St Mary's Loch I think) and GP14 (mostly South West Scotland). If you wanted a trap boat then a few of us are organising a 'Scottish Symmetrics' series for all the orphan boats to race handicap - 505, FD, Fireball, Osprey etc (although the Osprey's are possibly going to have a 4 event North England series). That's pretty much it I think.

The next problem you are faced with is getting people into the class, and with the limited number of people dinghy sailing you will either have to find newbies or plunder existing classes, the latter of which leads to forum nonsense and people getting pretty protective.

Dinghy sailing in the UK is pretty mature now, so the days of instant new classes are gone (unless you are RS and have marketing clout and brand loyalty). If you want a class up here, you need to have the passion and patience to do what Keith Bedborough did for the RS400's, but his was an easier sell as there were lots of secondhand boats already. It can be done, but more in a slow burner fashion. Not trying to put you off, just consider your options, and get yourself a test sail!