What next?

The 4k would be a good choice, depending on just how novice your crews will be if you are OK in a 4k and have the money you could look at an 800 - there must be a lot going cheap right now and it's easier than the 29er to sail imo. I've taken inexperienced people out in them.

Learning to sail a high performance singlehander on soton water would be a bit scary given the traffic and most are pretty full on (RS600, MPS etc.) maybe look at a vortex with an asy or even a blaze? I'd def stay away from the 600 coming from a 405/4000, it is an animal. Harder than my 14 to sail.


Edited by m_liddell

Splosh (my brother) had a vortex before his 600........

He got bored.......so he fitted a kite..........he got bored again.........so he bought a 600........now he loves the 600 and doesn't ever want to sell it!!

Although saying that the vortex may be ok if you want to take a novice out in light winds as there is plenty of room and they are very stable but then in strong winds you can go for a play!!

I suppose the learning curve could be a bit steep for somewhere like soton water in a 600 or mps but once learnt it would be great fun!!

Adam

i have to say dont listen to all the nancy boys saying get some experience on another class before trying the 600. i jumped into my 600 with several years in a feva, one year in a laser, during which i did some furball crewing and went out on a 800 once or twice and a 700 once. Just jump into the 600, be prepared to swim alot, and ignore the muppets sitting behind the bar comenting on how much of an eejit you look!

P.S. I had all of last summer after my GCSEs to muck about in the demo 600 to work out exactly what i was doing wrong. I was sailing at least every other day and it took me a long time to get up to speed enough to get around a race course in the same time as a laser due to all the capsizes. but it was sooooo much fun, and its even more fun now ive got the hang of it!

 

I'm not 100% sure you should go for the 6 straight away but they are amazing boats.

I went from a cr*ppy laser (my first ever boat!) sailor to a ok'ish 4k crew then a standard vortex sailor for half a year, then fitted the assy kit i kept that for another half year and then finally progresed into the 600. The vortex was a perfet platform into "high/wet" performance boats - It was very stable and you had the extra 2-3 seconds to react to the gusts/lulls, It also can easilly carry 2 people and with the kite fitted it becomes a right hoot downwind!

If thats not your thing a Laser Vago could be a ok idea - Single trap boat sailed either 1 or 2 up, i have not personally sailed one so cant really comment but it seems/looks ok!?

Mark.

I only got the 405 as something to sail with people who cant sail and its pretty good for that. I think I might hang on to it and get a contender as well with the long term view of a 700?/