Boat advice - light/oldie
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1386
Printed Date: 13 Jul 25 at 4:04am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Boat advice - light/oldie
Posted By: cedric
Subject: Boat advice - light/oldie
Date Posted: 17 Jan 06 at 11:59am
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Hi I am returning to sailing after a gap of about 35 years, I used to do a bit of crewing/racing in a GP14 when at school. I am about to take a couple of RYA dinghy courses and my intention is to get into singlehanded racing. I have tried looking through many of the topics but can't seem to find anything that quite answers my query. I am 5' 4" and about 55kgs, as a runner my aim is to be as light as possible! As a 51 year old I am wanting to race in master categories rather than the junior/female categories who are the usual people asking this sort of query. The boat that seems to fit is the Laser Radial, would this be fine and what else might fit? |
Replies:
Posted By: Scooby_simon
Date Posted: 17 Jan 06 at 12:02pm
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Depends where you sail (or plan to sail). I'd point you in the direction of the Sprint 15 (Dart 15)! http://www.sprint15.com/ - http://www.sprint15.com/ ------------- Wanna learn to Ski - PM me.. |
Posted By: cedric
Date Posted: 17 Jan 06 at 12:33pm
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Sailing will probably all be on the coast. Hadn't thought of a catamaran |
Posted By: Chew my RS
Date Posted: 17 Jan 06 at 1:30pm
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There's quite a few that would fit the bill, links to all the websites can be found under the Y&Y Classes pages. Dinghies:Laser Radial, Solo, Streaker, Lightning 368, Topper, Byte, Comet. Cats: Sprint 15 Its best to look at what they sail at the club you are likely to join - if there is a fleet of one of these classes it would be sensible to get that boat. If there is no dominant class I would suggest that the Solo is most suitable but the others are all good boats. The Solo is more refined (and expensive) than most and is popular nationwide (easy to buy/sell etc). You may be a bit small for the Radial, but not significantly. In many ways the Topper is the ideal size, but it is mainly raced by youths and women. The new, improved, Byte looks good but is still quite rare, as are the Streaker, Lightning and Comet. |
Posted By: Chew my RS
Date Posted: 17 Jan 06 at 1:32pm
| I should add that the Radial and Solo get the biggest fleets at open meetings and nationals. |
Posted By: m_liddell
Date Posted: 17 Jan 06 at 2:10pm
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I would definitly consider the Byte or something similar over the laser radial, though I really have no idea what the racing is like and you might not have a fleet where you sail. It is aimed at lighter sailors (100lbs - 160lbs). You will be overpowered in the radial very quickly at 5'4" and 55kgs, the optimum weight for it is 65kg - 72kg and height also plays an important role in righting moment. The laser is just no fun to sail upwind if you are very overpowered. There are loads of radials around though, so try one out in different winds and see how you get on with it. It might be frustrating if you are uncompetitive in F4+ though. |
Posted By: Rob.e
Date Posted: 17 Jan 06 at 5:06pm
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The Solo is a lovely boat ( I should know, I have one) but I would say you are really too small and light. Jack Holt designed the Streaker when he was older and struggling with his Solo, and if you can find a fleet it would be a good bet. They seem to be doing well, with a new builder in Rooster, but the best advice would be to find what is sailed near you! At HISC we do have lighter Solo sailers, and the fleet is big enough that most people will find someone to race. The trouble with the Radial is that you'd be racing a lot of youngsters, many of whom will have been through some good training and who may well be sailing to a rather higher standard if you are just coming back to it after a long break. As m-liddel says, the Laser in any form) is a struggle if you are the wrong size. ------------- |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 17 Jan 06 at 5:32pm
Don't bother getting a laser Radial. I've got one and i'm 50kg and i'm overpowered upwind in anything over a F3! .
You'd be better off to go for something with more speed for the effort
put in - i think a catamaran sounds like the best idea. A Sprint 15
would be good.
------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: Scooby_simon
Date Posted: 17 Jan 06 at 6:08pm
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If it's the coat; then I would 100% back a Sprint 15. ------------- Wanna learn to Ski - PM me.. |
Posted By: Sprint Bob
Date Posted: 17 Jan 06 at 9:00pm
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Hi I endorse Scooby Simon's recommendation of the Sprint 15, particularly if you are near a Club which has a fleet. It is an exciting but relatively under canvassed catamaran which is less physically demanding due to the larger righting moment offered by a catamaran. This make it somewhat forgiving to sail. It is very flexible as it can be sailed single handed or 2-up. It can be trailed or car topped if you plan to travel. The class association is very active and friendly. Take a look at their excellent web site at http://www.sprint15.com - www.sprint15.com The National Championship entry tends to to be dominated by competitors who are over 50 years old. Ladies and youths do well also. The Championships have been won by a 7 stone 17 year old, a girl of about 21 as well as older guys of 50-60. At Whitstable a couple of tears ago an 83 year old took part as well as a 13 year old. Anyway give the web site a look Best Wishes |
Posted By: cedric
Date Posted: 18 Jan 06 at 8:01am
| Thanks for all the advice, I will definitely look into the Byte and the Sprint 15 |
Posted By: 5420
Date Posted: 18 Jan 06 at 12:41pm
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i think befor you go and get a boat you should go and see what is sailed at the club that you are going to sail at as you do not want to waching lots of boats racing agenst each other and you are there by your self just sailing with no one to race ------------- |
Posted By: Hector
Date Posted: 18 Jan 06 at 1:49pm
| 5420 is right - You should also think about whether your 51yr old knees are going to like hiking. Get a trapeze boat - far more fun and good aerobic exercise! |
Posted By: 5420
Date Posted: 18 Jan 06 at 5:26pm
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it also depends on what expeunse you have there is no pint i geting a boat that is to hard as all you will do is swim ------------- |
Posted By: Sprint Bob
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 8:50am
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Cedric, If you indicate your sailing club or a club near you I can probably set you up with a ride on a Sprint 15 near you. We are a keen lot in the Sprint 15 Association and have a network to set up rides. If you can get to Grafham I can even do it myself (and Jamie could probably show you his Vareo). We are coming up to the Alexandra Palace Boat Show on 4 & 5 March. If you are thinking about buying a boat you cannot do better than to spend a day at the show. It is supported by all the class associations so you get to talk to the sailors - not the salesmen. In the Sprint 15 Association we are thinking about displaying an 18 year old boat which still gets top places in open meetings to stress the benefits of a one design class. Cheers |
Posted By: cedric
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 11:41am
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Hi Sprint Bob thanks for the offer I will get back in touch once I have completed the courses I have booked in March as I will probably get more out of trying one then. Unfortunately I am going to be away 4/5 March so can't make the Boat show |
Posted By: Sprint Bob
Date Posted: 28 Mar 06 at 10:42am
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Hi Cedric, So how did the course go? We are in the process of setting up demonstration rides on the Sprint 15 from our list from Alexandra Palace. Let me know if we can put you on the list or help you in any way. Regards Bob Carter |
Posted By: moomin
Date Posted: 28 Mar 06 at 12:11pm
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Hi Cedric, I'll start off by admiting I'm biased as I sail one myself but I think most of the people here will be promoting their own classes. I'd like to add the europe to the melting pot for your consideration, ideally suited to your weight, a light manoverable boat that handles well, I find it is a boat you can sail, where as I always find I'm fighting against the radial rather than sailing with it. The rigs have undergone a lot of development whilst being an olympic class and so are easy to use and controllable. The price of a second had boat is very competetive. Don't discount the class as a ladies boat, just because it was in the olympics, check out http://www.europeclass.org.uk - www.europeclass.org.uk for details of the open circuit, second hand boats etc. Gareth Europe 302
------------- Moomin |
Posted By: cedric
Date Posted: 28 Mar 06 at 2:50pm
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Hi Bob Not done the courses yet, they are the end on April/beginning of May but will keep you in mind Regards |
Posted By: andy_cherub
Date Posted: 28 Mar 06 at 11:58pm
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Cedric - if your light and nimble, try out a cherub! Its a two man boat, development class so you can do what ever you like to it. The latest ones are full on carbon twin wire big rigged asmy boats weighing in at 50kg!!! Or if you really do wana stay solo - try an A class catamaran (none of this pansying about with a dart 15), the A class is a 70kg single handed trapeze cat with a big carbon wing mast. Or a more 'older' version (one design) is that of the Unicorn which I also once sailed. Both utterly fantastic - but as im slightly mad im very much into cherubing and never looked back! ------------- -12ft skiff, Team 'CST Composites' -Many thanks goes out to all of my sponsors. Ignore my user name, my views are of a 12ft skiff |
Posted By: redback
Date Posted: 29 Mar 06 at 9:22am
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Cedric, visit your local clubs and join one where you like the people, then sail/buy a dinghy which fits in with what they are doing. If the dinghy is not optimum for your weight - what the hell, you're with good people and every now and then there'll be conditions which suit you and not the others. Dinghies are not running shoes they don't have to fit perfectly, and don't buy a high tech, boat speed, type of boat - there's a hell of a lot to learn about the basics, weather, tactics and rules before you also have to wrestle with fancy hardware. Let's face it all the boats mentioned are going to seem quite lively after years of absence and memories of a GP14. |
Posted By: Hector
Date Posted: 29 Mar 06 at 1:30pm
Oh come on! Are you honestly trying to persuade this guy - who crewed a GP14 years ago and is 'doing a couple of RYA courses' that a Cherub is the right choice for him? Are you sure you're just slightly mad? Recommending the Cherub for everyone and anything does nothing for the credibility of your class. |
Posted By: tickel
Date Posted: 29 Mar 06 at 9:28pm
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I wish I could recomend a Lightning but even though they are super little boats and can thrash lasers in light winds they have the same canvas as a full rig. Why not a Splash? Incidentaly, do I detect a little ageisim creeping in here. As a 10 1/2 stone 60 year old I'm up for almost anything. ------------- tickel |
Posted By: redback
Date Posted: 29 Mar 06 at 11:55pm
| Yes well said Hector. I was kind of saying the same sort of thing but diplomatically. Let's face it a Laser seems an awfully tippy and powerful thing compared with the memory of a GP14. I've seen people get into a hell of a mess in a Laser2000. I've seen people put off sailing by being put into the wrong boat. |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 08 Apr 06 at 2:23pm
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Bytes would be a good idea They have a traveller which maybe makes them easier to depower. Other wise if you are taking the wife or , er, niece out reverend, why not a laser2000? |
Posted By: laser47
Date Posted: 09 Apr 06 at 7:17pm
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at my club we have a nice fleet of comets (the single handed variety) with older helms they seem to do pretty well, perhaps you should consider a comet ------------- |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 10 Apr 06 at 2:59pm
laser tippy? short of goign full gung ho with big roll manoerves I think they are quite submissive! How does one get a laser 2000 into such a compromising position? |
Posted By: getafix
Date Posted: 11 Apr 06 at 12:45pm
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Solo with a wavelength rig might be a good idea - they have an official B plan rig too so you can de-canvas in a blow Streaker - good Jack Holt stuff, Rooster variant seems good value Europe - good deal if you get one that some Olympic aspriant spend £xxxx's of sponsors money on so you get loads of kit for small £xxx ------------- Feeling sorry for vegans since it became the latest fad to claim you are one |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 11 Apr 06 at 1:27pm
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Lasers do the death roll...and with the old controls are difficult to depower if the wind picks up. A 2000 when a gust hits and you are too near the shore to bear away...admittedly it has to be windier than it would be to get into the same trouble with racier asymmetrics. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: vscott
Date Posted: 12 Apr 06 at 5:48pm
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What about a Supanova? Very kind to sail, more room than a Laser, bigger and more power than a Comet, worth a look! |
Posted By: Sprint Bob
Date Posted: 04 Jul 06 at 10:25am
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Hi Cedric, So what did you decide? How did the course go? Let me know if you want a demo ride near you on a Sprint 15 Regards Bob |
Posted By: cedric
Date Posted: 04 Jul 06 at 11:20am
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Hi Bob I went for a Byte C2 which was delivered just over a week ago. Rigging was a bit of a challenge from the manual, particularly as some bits missing though Topper forwarded these, but I did spend Sunday taking part in three races at PBSC. It was great to sail though winds were very light, F2, and in these conditions was more than a match for the full rig lasers which have a much lower PY, at least in the middle race whan I managed to start OK. This is probably down to the fully battened sail as they don't hang limp like the lasers. I understand that it won't have quite this advantage in more wind. It also seemed to cause quite a bit of interest from other club members, probably because of it's looks with the clear fully battened sail standing out among the smaller boats. As the racing was mixed I did find that being lapped by the Cats the only down side, so I think it quite possible that I could be persuaded to look in that direction some time in the future and I will then take up your offer of a test sail in a Sprint15. Regards Cedric |
Posted By: Sprint Bob
Date Posted: 04 Jul 06 at 3:13pm
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Fair enough Best wishes for the future Regards Bob |
Posted By: cedric
Date Posted: 29 May 07 at 2:12pm
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Bob You might be interested to hear that I picked up a Dart 15, no 1201, over the weekend, now I just need to learn how to sail it Regards |
Posted By: tack'ho
Date Posted: 29 May 07 at 2:52pm
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Hi what are you doing with the CII? I know of at least one person looking for a boat.
------------- I might be sailing it, but it's still sh**e! |
Posted By: cedric
Date Posted: 29 May 07 at 2:59pm
| Currently keeping the CII but will see how it goes |
Posted By: tack'ho
Date Posted: 29 May 07 at 4:15pm
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edited due to stupid post!!
------------- I might be sailing it, but it's still sh**e! |
Posted By: English Dave
Date Posted: 30 May 07 at 1:08pm
What about the other 555? ------------- English Dave http://www.ballyholme.com - Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700 |
Posted By: tack'ho
Date Posted: 31 May 07 at 8:46pm
arhhh the legendary English Dave wit...well at least half of it ------------- I might be sailing it, but it's still sh**e! |
Posted By: cedric
Date Posted: 16 Jul 07 at 3:15pm
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Hi tack'ho Byte now for sale! It will be on http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk - www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk and http://www.sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk - www.sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk once approved by the web admin.
In case you were interested it will be: Byte C2 No 2945 Sail number 2945. New June 2006. New CII rig, all in good condition. Complete with combi trailer, over cover, and foil bag. Hull top half dark blue bottom half white. £3,250
|
Posted By: Sprint Bob
Date Posted: 21 Jul 07 at 3:25pm
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Hi Cedric Does that mean you are happy with your Sprint 15? you seemed to be enjoying it at Seasalter last weekend. Cheers Bob |
Posted By: cedric
Date Posted: 21 Jul 07 at 6:14pm
| Brilliant - just come in from sailing it this afternoon, yet again the wind was quite strong and I had only two dinghies for company. |