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Some help regarding Unicorns and Dart 15s please..

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Bootscooter View Drop Down
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    Posted: 02 Jan 13 at 11:28am
Gents (and Ladies),
 
I thought I'd better copy my post onto here for some help on boat choices...
Link to orig thread;
 
My son turned 14 last week, but despite his young age he stands at 6'1" and weighs in at 78Kg (and rising!). He's always been big for his age and consequently his sailing peers have always been at least 2 years older than him. His stated ambition is to represent GBR at the Olympics, probably in a Finn.
Since entering competitive sailing about 5 years ago he has done the Squad "thing", with Topper Zone Squad then on to 4.7 Nat Squad. Last summer he moved into the Radial and did superbly, getting in to the Gold Fleet at the Nationals (he's still only 13 at this point remember!). He also this year had the opportunity to sail a Spitfire a couple of times and did suprisingly well at the Nats, a result that ended up with him being offered at Youth Squad place in that class. He turned this down in order to try and gain a place in the Radial Transition Squad, but was unfortunately unsuccessful in this.
One thing I have noticed with his sailing is that despite his excellent sailing skills and physical prowess, as a genuine youngster, he isn't yet equiped with the emotional maturity to deal with the pressure (when he feels he has something to lose, like the Squad selectors, as opposed to the Nationals when he could just go for it) and the enevitable mind-games in the Youth Sailing enviroment.
As an upshot of this, we've decided that his best way forward is to "escape" from Squad chasing and to get away from the Laser youth circuit in order to do something completely different on order to just have fun enjoying sailing for a year, before going back in renewed and refreshed to have a crack at it again (subject to his size still being appropriate for a Radial).
So.... back to the original question...
I've got a budget (ish!) to buy a boat each for the 2 of us, of £1K each. We're looking to club race at Farmoor, do the Open Circuit/Nationals, and some Open Handicap events, like the Weymouth do in the summer. I've got a bit of a short-list of classes, which all have their pro's and con's, so I'd like the esteemed panel's thoughts...
1. OK - I love them, good boat for budget but too similar to the Laser...
2. RS600 - Budget? Poor turnouts at Opens. Very physical for this old git.
3. Contender - Budget (for a half-decent one)?
4. Dart 15 - Great Class setup, competitive at this price?
5. Dart 18 - Sailed unarig, much class racing?
6. Unicorn - very fast and fun but class racing? Fragile?
Any comments on the above, or other ideas?
The original question was asked regarding the kind of boat I could get within budget, specifically with the OK, but is just as applicable to the contender and Unicorn.
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ASok View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote ASok Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jan 13 at 12:38pm
Dart 15 - very active fleet, good travelling circuit, but I have no idea whether that price would get you a decent boat or not.

Dart 18 - again very active fleet with a good travelling circuit. Sailed solo with the main only is rated the same as two up/two sails. They are good fun singlehanded, but can be a handful for lighter sailors. Every now and then someone will sail at a normal event solo, but they are rare and I think are less competitive. In my opinion a single handed Dart 18 is slower than standard form, but then I am slower than the majority when sailing 2 up!! Price wise - you'll get an old boat for £1k. There are some old gems out there, but expect a well used one!

Unicorn - rare beasts...literally! I have seen one at Datchet and one sailing at Weston and thats it. There may be one at Netley, but who knows. The owner I knew at Datchet loved it and said it was lightning quick
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Bootscooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jan 13 at 1:56pm
Thanks for the reply, all good info. Big smile
 
Anyone else have info on the Unicorn?  There's not a huge amount on their website, and I know that there aren't many about, but they've been on my sailing "bucket list" for at least a couple of decades! LOL
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Post Options Post Options   Quote a_dowley Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jan 13 at 2:43pm
I would pick a Sprint 15 (don't call it a Dart 15 because Bob will pop up) over a Unicorn any day! When they come up for sail they go very quickly so you'll be lucky to get two. They do hold their value very well.

You could always get a Spitfire to sail together........
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Bootscooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jan 13 at 2:54pm
Much as he absolutely loved the Spitfire (I used to have one many years ago) he knows that this road leads along the squad path.  The problem is that at 78Kg, he knows that he'll be sent to the front of the boat where he doesn't really want to be.
 
My 95Kg doesn't help either LOL
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Hector Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jan 13 at 1:54pm
Pick up a reasonable ally mast 49er for around £2500 have a laugh and learn stacks about boat handling.
Keith
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Sprint Bob Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jan 13 at 6:26pm
Hi,
If you decide on a catamaran you need to pick one with an active circuit as handicap events against monohulls are not very satisfying. This pretty much means a Sprint 15 or a Dart 18. Both can be picked up for around £1000 and old boats in decent condition remain competitive and they both have active circuits.
It helps also if you home club has a cat fleet so you are not stuck sailing against mono hulls when not travelling.
Cheers
Bob
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