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Merlinboy View Drop Down
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Posts: 3169 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Merlinboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Rs 800
    Posted: 10 Feb 08 at 2:16pm
I have said it before and i will say  it again, whoever thinks high performance boats are the future for sailing is greatly misleaded! The orignal classes like Solos, Lasers, GP14's, Enterprises etrc etc. out sell all of the skiffs by massive ammounts.  I have sailed skiff style boats for a while now and both my helm and i have come to the conclusion that there is only a 20% window where they are fun! The 14 is a great boat, but when its blowing 20-25 knots it will chew you up and spit you out! usually i end up hurt and charlie ends up treading water in the middle of the main sail!!  When you stand back and look at the money we spend maintaining and trying to stay fast you kind of think "why!?" Having said that when its July and the sun is belting down with a nice sea breeze and your in the footloops kite up and "flying" you realise that there is no better feeling in the world (Apart from when you see your first born) Its striking the balance hence why i now sail 300 in winter months and club sailing and the 14 or whatever it will be next year in the summer at events!
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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: 10 Feb 08 at 5:00pm
Right but to move the topic back onto the original question what does everyone think of the 800. I compared it to a b14 because they are a similar sort of speed, admittedly the 800 is faster but...

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George  
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simsy View Drop Down
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Posts: 158 		Post Options Post Options   Quote simsy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 08 at 10:00pm
I personally think the 800 is a great boat. Yes i'm probably slightly biased as I own one,  but for what the boat is designed for - its perfect. And the article in the magazine illustrates this.

The boat is not designed for Olympic aspirants, and has some excellent racing. In comparison to the 29er, it is a lot more stable, but whether its easier - is questionable,  inevitabley, different people will have their own preference to what is easier. Not many people are used to helming from the wire, different people will have find it easier and harder.

It also has its advantages, you can sail an 800 in breeze a 49er wouldn't dream of launching in. It was designed to accomadate sailors that wanted the feeling of 49er's, 14's and skiffs, but manageable and for your average sailor.

But by all means dont think that becuase it is easier to sail then other skiffs, getting to the front of the 800 fleet is not easy, espeically with the likes Steve Irish and Peter Barton sailing them.




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Ross View Drop Down
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Posts: 1163 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Ross Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Feb 08 at 10:36pm
Peter Barton now sails a Cherub  . I don't know if he still has an 800 though.
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combat wombat View Drop Down
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Posts: 345 		Post Options Post Options   Quote combat wombat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 08 at 9:59am

Originally posted by Smight at BBSC

Right but to move the topic back onto the original question what does everyone think of the 800. I compared it to a b14 because they are a similar sort of speed, admittedly the 800 is faster but...

Cheers

George  

An interesting observation, I think in the mid to strong breeze the B14 on a true windward/leeward is marginally faster.  Downwind we sail much deeper although they have an ever-so-slight edge upwind. 

In the light the B14 can be made to sail quite fast, last winter we had good results in light wind handicap events (ie Tiger 2nd place - sub 5 knots the whole weekend). 

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Iain C View Drop Down
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Posts: 1113 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Iain C Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 08 at 11:07am

I also think that the 800 is a very good boat, and excellent in a blow.  My first Skiff experience was crewing for Steve Irish in 30kts plus at Draycote years ago...to say I was blown away (fastest I'd been before was in a Fireball in probably 20kts) was an understatement!

Having helmed one since, my main gripe with it is the fact that the driver has the mainsheet...I hate that, but I can see RS's reasons for doing it in terms of negating the need for a gorilla in the front.  I would much rather see the option of having skiff sheeting and twin sticks, but this is obvioulsly under development with "GBR2012" and other boats.

I think it's a nice boat for people who want to have a totally on the pace boat are not mad/strong/rich enough to sail a 49er or I14, yet who have no interest in the DIY/development side of Cherub sailing.  I'd certainly see it's closest competition as the B14 and then it's a simple choice of trapeze or hike.
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Guests View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 08 at 12:07pm
I think the 800 is quite a good boat as well. I can even claim some
experience crewing one back home after a long distance race in my
Musto left me doubting my ability to get it home in the increasing wind.

So I was the dodgy inexperienced crew that didn't have any trouble
getting back with a handy helm giving words of encouragement.

I don't think I'm yet up to the skill level to entertain one just yet, but it's
on the list of "maybe in the future" although it aint that easy off our
beach with the daggerboard although it did have a kick up rudder if
memory serves and that helps.

I tend to be with Merlinboy's view as to high performance boats being the
future of sailing, seriously if someone with my background and half
decent motor skills and wind perception struggles, there is not a hope for
normal newcomers who lets face it these days want to do it and do it
now, not for them two or three seasons of paying their dues..
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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: 11 Feb 08 at 1:01pm

I think you can now fit twin tillers with off the boom sheeting, you can definatly fit twin tillers for sure. What are the thoughts of 800 vs i14 besides the obvious speed advantage.
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hollandsd View Drop Down
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Posts: 853 		Post Options Post Options   Quote hollandsd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 08 at 1:56pm

I have tried the Int 14, Cherub, B14, Rs800 as well as other boats when we were buying, They are all excelent boats ad the RS800 has to be at the top or close.

The b14 is very close as well, each poses there own chalenge and some may be easier in some conditions than others.

B14 = Chalenge 20+ Knots
RS800= Chalenge -- 8 Knots

They are all good, i must admit my favorites are B14 and RS800
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BBSCFaithfull View Drop Down
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Posts: 1251 		Post Options Post Options   Quote BBSCFaithfull Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Feb 08 at 2:01pm
Originally posted by turnturtle

Originally posted by Smight at BBSC

What are the thoughts of 800 vs i14 besides the obvious speed advantage.

 

different markets, so horses for courses- the main difference is the cost of entry for a new top end boat 10k vs 25k... i know there are major differences in the build etc; but from an outsider's perspective the 14 isn't 'two and half times the boat' of an 800. 



You need to look harder james . A new 14s rig is very sophisticated with PBO etc, not like the 800s which is made by selden .

The foils are high tech. We have foiling rudders which are exspensive pieces of kit

As well as a better sail plan, Better hulls which are made out of better stuff

Also the 14 is quite a hard boat to make money off for a boat builder i would think so the price will be high for this reason. For example RS may sell 20 800s one year but the UK 14 builders may only sell one or two. So there fore it is more of a niche market

Cheers,
Alex
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