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Rise Of The Ok etc

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kneewrecker View Drop Down
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    Posted: 08 Oct 14 at 5:33pm
Originally posted by winging it

In the meantime I will continue spending five days a week dealing with sailing at grass roots level where there is little mention of the RYA, PYs, ENs etc, mainly because the majority either don't know or don't care, they are largely too busy enjoying their sailing, trying to upset the club pecking order and discussing cars and diy in the bar afterwards.

serious question Nessa - how do you broach the topic, at what point does sailing (for arguments sake) a club Vago become a question of helmsmanship as opposed to the handicap of the boat they are borrowing?

I only ask because in a private exchange with someone I suggested that there's no way on earth I'd buy a boat knowingly that it's got a stinker for a handicap if that was the racing I intended to participate in.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 14 at 5:51pm
In terms of people's ability hiring a club vago (we have three) we ask them to have around L3 or stage 4 to show their proficiency. Were they thinking of buying a boat I prefer to encourage them to find something that is sailed at the club already, since that will provide a knowledge bank to help them improve (assuming they are a novice) plus give them something on the water for them to gauge themselves against.

We do have one of the top vago helms here, but he only races it at bigger waters for opens, prefering his 300 for our shifty pit.

The up and coming fleet at Hunts is the Solo, because most people enjoy like for like racing - makes most sense doesn't it?

In the handicap fleet, which is the biggest, and of which I am Captain (because no one else will do it) the one assy that was racing has gone elsewhere for bigger water and better courses, and the others are mostly in twos and threes of the same class, eg two or three phantoms, two or three supernovas.  Most of these enjoy either racing against each other or racing to improve their usual position.

I am more likely to advise someone against buying something unsuitable for their size/weight/our water than I am to dissuade them from buying a py dog.  Anyway, most experienced racers would know what they were looking for - like you do - and most py 'dogs' are such because of either the water or the ability of the sailor.

Helmsmanship is hard to quantify.  I can sail my d one and my contender reasonably well, but they would be py disasters at Hunts.  If someone wanted just to have fun, yes buy one, but if they are only interested in results, go and sail somewhere else or buy a d zero.
the same, but different...

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Medway Maniac View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 14 at 5:53pm
Originally posted by rich96

Synergy are doing a great deal on these boats at the moment - Finn style quality and desirability for half the price !

http://www.synergymarine.co.uk/international-ok-dinghy/
Drool.  Sadly yet another boat I'm too light for, even though back when the Laser came out the likes of me bought them and just got on with it, accepting that Fat Rog would win on the blowy days.  Are we more discerning and calculating now, or just spoilt for choice?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote kneewrecker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 14 at 5:56pm
Thanks Nessa- makes sense, and of course the mini-fleet within a handicap race is a crucial component of successful handicap racing.  That's why at my old club there really is only one sensible choice for the handicap fleet - an RS300.  

Casting the net further afield offers some other considerations - the OK clearly being one if there's a couple of regulars down at OSC.
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kneewrecker View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote kneewrecker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 14 at 6:00pm
Originally posted by Medway Maniac

Originally posted by rich96

Synergy are doing a great deal on these boats at the moment - Finn style quality and desirability for half the price !

http://www.synergymarine.co.uk/international-ok-dinghy/
Drool.  Sadly yet another boat I'm too light for, even though back when the Laser came out the likes of me bought them and just got on with it, accepting that Fat Rog would win on the blowy days.  Are we more discerning and calculating now, or just spoilt for choice?

yep definitely 'drool worthy '... sadly ten grand I'm not flush with right now thanks to sodding stamp duty  Cry
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Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 14 at 6:07pm
It used to be the laser was the go-to boat for the single handers, we even had three as club boats.  But I think now people are fed up of its vices and are instead turning to the supernova - three or four out over the summer - the solo - enjoying good fleet status - plus there are still a few phantoms hanging on, though they recently chose to give up fleet status.  There will soon be two d zeroes out racing, and I wouldnt be surprised to see that rise.  Watching them race at Grafham on sunday, whilst doing safety duty, it was clear there was a good mix of sizes, ability and gender.  The boat has simplicity on its side and I think that could pay dividends.

What's really sad is the complete demise of the double hander.  There are a few fireballs about, but my view is that the pit is too small, there is sometimes a pretty successful Merlin.  The Enterprise is likely to lose fleet status because of poor tunrout.  The lake cries out for boats like the Scorpion, but there are none. Very few people tried out the icon while it was here, the X0 based herewill soon be more easily available for trial, I wonder if more will try that, it is ideal for our venue.


Edited by winging it - 08 Oct 14 at 6:09pm
the same, but different...

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Medway Maniac View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 14 at 6:16pm
Originally posted by winging it

We do have one of the top vago helms here, but he only races it at bigger waters for opens, prefering his 300 for our shifty pit.

[Splutters] He has a 300 and chooses to set foot in a Vago!  Surely just because he can take a club Vago to local opens - likes his open meeting attendance or something - surely can't be the boat that appeals.  Saw them racing at Grafham recently - they looked so cumbersome, esp. sailed singlehanded.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 14 at 6:34pm
Totally agree, it's a great training boat, but I wouldn't want to race one.  They have a great social scene though, I think that's why they do the travelling.
the same, but different...

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