O'Pen Bic
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=2099
Printed Date: 13 Jul 25 at 1:58am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: O'Pen Bic
Posted By: Philsy
Subject: O'Pen Bic
Date Posted: 11 Aug 06 at 10:19pm
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Anyone had any experience of this?
It looks like a fun alternative to an Optimist for kids - it can even be sailed with an Oppy rig. Take a look:www.openbic.com Phil |
Replies:
Posted By: feva_sailor
Date Posted: 12 Aug 06 at 7:57pm
| why would you want to sail it with an oppie rig?its full mylar race rigs only 4.5 sq ft. |
Posted By: Iain C
Date Posted: 12 Aug 06 at 11:44pm
Sq m perhaps???????????
------------- RS700 GBR922 "Wirespeed" Fireball GBR14474 "Eleven Parsecs" Enterprise GBR21970 Bavaria 32 GBR4755L "Adastra" |
Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 13 Aug 06 at 12:12am
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And here is our intrepid sailor taking a well-earned rest amongst fearsome underwater creatures!
------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC 
|
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 13 Aug 06 at 8:32am
I think the idea is that younger sailors use the Oppie rig and then progress to the race rig. Also, the Oppie rig is easier for small kids to, er, rig. It occurs to me that the O'pen (daft name) would attract kids to sailing who would otherwise find the Optimist not particularly cool. Phil ------------- |
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 13 Aug 06 at 7:31pm
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Is it me, or does it appear to sail bow-down? Looks a bit scary for a beginner (say 8 year old), less safe looking than an oppie.
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: fizzicist
Date Posted: 13 Aug 06 at 8:59pm
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On the 'is it me' side of things, that boat appears to have no kicker either. Although I can't recall whether an Oppie does or not either. ------------- Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer. |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 13 Aug 06 at 9:01pm
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Yep, Oppies have kickers - well, a little piece of rope between the boom and
the base of the mast. ------------- |
Posted By: ifoxwell
Date Posted: 14 Aug 06 at 7:57am
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To me it seems to to be the same as a Tera but inferior in many ways. Heavier, no kicker, easier to damage etc and twice the price.
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Posted By: Blobby
Date Posted: 14 Aug 06 at 8:59am
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Except that the rig is infinitely superior - good review of it in Y&Y - kicker is an optional extra(!). Personally I like the look of it - shame it weighs so much. In Aus loads of kids learn to sail in Sabots which are half the weight and don't seem to suffer too much from the knocks. If a boat is built like a tank then it is heavy and gets dropped so it needs to be built like a tank to withstand it. Build it light enough to carry and then you can carry it without dropping it so it can be built lighter... ------------- One step forwards, 2 steps back... |
Posted By: Blobby
Date Posted: 15 Aug 06 at 10:25am
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Lots of good points as ever TT and let's face it any boat offered as an alternative to the Oppie (or any other established kids starter boat) in an awful lot of countries is going to be a tough sell. However, there are, for example, a lot of Aussies and Kiwis who have become quite good sailors inspite of the lack of the Optimist in their waters so it is by no means the only boat you can learn to sail in...
------------- One step forwards, 2 steps back... |
Posted By: Guest
Date Posted: 15 Aug 06 at 10:34am
True - but the same also applies to adult sailing and we have seen many new classes. It's a free market and new products will always appear - some will stand the test of time others won't. Rick ------------- |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 15 Aug 06 at 12:07pm
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As most club sailors will testify, you don't HAVE to only race other identical boats. Sure it's more fun in one way, but having a personal choice of boat you like and fit is also good. Having learnt double handed in picos, my kids refused point blank to get in anything as nasty as an Oppy - and dropped out of racing as a result. Terras, opens and optis could easily sail together if only the RYA weren't so blinkered. Likewise toppers & picos, and lasers & splash/flashes. If the "don't split the fleets" fans got their way, we'd all be sailing espensive clinker built tubs (competitively of course!) |
rant over..Posted By: tack'ho
Date Posted: 15 Aug 06 at 12:59pm
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Its a good point, If you allow for Jim Cs favourite statistic about the time spread in a nationals fleet you could actually sail quite a few boats off one start, I always start with the lasers/radials when I can, they may be rated quicker on handicap but its all even on the start and is good practice for opens and nationals. Sometimes I even beat some of them, whcih is nice. ------------- I might be sailing it, but it's still sh**e! |
Posted By: Guest
Date Posted: 15 Aug 06 at 3:16pm
The Merlins had quite a good turn out at their nationals this year ... ------------- |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 15 Aug 06 at 9:15pm
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Some interesting points.
I've nothing against Oppies (my daughter has one and has learnt a lot with it) but things do move on. We don't learn to drive in 40 year old designs of cars, so is it right for our kids to sail old-fashioned boats? (that's a question, by the way, not a statement). I like the Oppy as much as the next parent but I do think that some image- conscious kids (of which there are plenty) would be put off by the look of the thing. Phil ------------- |
Posted By: getafix
Date Posted: 22 Aug 06 at 9:14am
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Kids love Oppy sailing, and why not? It's simple, forgiving and 'easy'
to sail but provides miles of scope for the kids who really want to go
racing - you'd be hard pushed to find a class anywhere which offers
bigger fleet experience at such a young age. As for learning to sail and race in old classes being a questionable decision, I think it's good that new classes are being introduced but we shouldn't overlook the great benefits offered by the Oppy, Mirror, Topper and Cadet, namely:
There's a good side to all the tweaky kit as well - check out the keen racers at your club, they love the carbon tiller extensions and custom mast fittings - we love 'em on our boats because you can't be a racer if you don't love the tinkering that goes with - it's a stepping stone to the physce that you develop to be successful - if you think you're going to do well because you're confident in your boat, you most probably will beat the team with their heads in the boat wandering about the water coming in round the leaky bailer! The Open Bic is the latest in a long line of boats to come and challenge these established favorites - most have failed to establish themselves this side of the channel because clubs have organically developed a 'nursery' system based around the established boats - the message should be, join a good club and enjoy yourself. The Oz and NZ boys and girls who grow up on the old classes there seem to do just fine once the few who continue to international level start competing against our young sailors. The new technology boats make a real difference when you hit the teens - I was bored silly by the idea of 420 sailing but if someone had showed me and my mates the 29er we'd have bitten your arm off - instead we got into second hand Nat 12's, Fireballs, Cherubs, IC's and Moths because you could pick them up for around £500 and blat off across the lake in a cloud of spray without needing a small gale to get going! ------------- Feeling sorry for vegans since it became the latest fad to claim you are one |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 22 Aug 06 at 1:04pm
So were the Oppy, Topper, Cadet and Mirror designed at the same time? No. I bet when the Topper came out there was people just as aginst it because it split fleets. And you forgot the Pico, which is as ubiquitous as the Topper in some clubs. New designs aren't bad as long as they bring something new to the table and that new thing could be (to us) very superficial. I, for one, think the Tera looks the business and the O'pen Bic looks pretty exciting too, but it is different. It's a big market and kids are more market aware than I ever was, even though I could tell you all the PYs of all the boats at my club (and probably sail areas and hull weights too) when I was 12. The bigger the choice the bigger range of people you can suit. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 22 Aug 06 at 3:52pm
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Just been doing some Oppy training today and I realised one of its
shortcomings - the lack of a self-draining cockpit. Capsize one and you're buggered until you've bailed all the water out. Phil ------------- |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 22 Aug 06 at 8:59pm
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That's 'cause its a crappy old badly designed boat - that's only sailed at all 'cause the RYA keep supporting it, so lots of kids keep sailing it so the RYA keep supporting it so lots of kids keep sailing it ............... 2nd hand oppy £2000 at our club. More carbon than a cherub! Still rubbish. Probably delete this when I sober up Nope, stone cold sober and they're still rubbish. |
Posted By: Blobby
Date Posted: 23 Aug 06 at 1:19am
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a quote from the Bethwaite's site about their 9er "Learn to sail not to bail..." Face it, in a blow you don't even have to capsize just the slop coming in over the side will fill the boat up. ------------- One step forwards, 2 steps back... |
Posted By: CT249
Date Posted: 23 Aug 06 at 2:50am
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We've moved to Optis from Sabots as our club trainers. I used to think the Opti was a horrible little boat until I saw how easy they were to store, rig and sail, and how much fun the kids have. Until they capsize...... Some of our beginner's prams here have been modified to have self-draining cockpits. It's not always easy but surely the Opti could have a look at shifting to it. You can even retro-fit the false floor in one class. The idea that capsizing should be made more of a hassle so kids learn not to do it is outdated, silly and dangerous. |
Posted By: Blobby
Date Posted: 23 Aug 06 at 6:23am
 ------------- One step forwards, 2 steps back... |
Posted By: Contender 541
Date Posted: 23 Aug 06 at 6:26am
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We had one kid who capsised an Opti on one of our sailing courses, put him back about 3 days training as he was convinced that they would sink and take him with it. Try convincing a 7 year old otherwise!! ------------- When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss Crew on 505 8780 |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 23 Aug 06 at 9:40am
| Put the kid in a pico with a friend and they'll capsize it on purpose - for kicks (if they can get it over at all). |
Posted By: BBSCFaithfull
Date Posted: 23 Aug 06 at 11:20am
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Our training principal at bbsc has stated many a time he would be MORE than happy to destroy all the oppis at club as they are crap for training lol He despises them and i hate having to empty them at the end of the day  ------------- Greatfully Sponsored By www.allgoodfun.com Int 14 GBR 1503!! |
Posted By: Contender 541
Date Posted: 23 Aug 06 at 1:36pm
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Great minds and all that ------------- When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss Crew on 505 8780 |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 08 Jul 07 at 8:58pm
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Sorry to drag up this old thread.
My daughter's Oppy is old and dated so it's time to replace it. However, I have a nagging feeling that something like the Open Bic would be more fun to sail and own, not to mention cheaper. There is something about Oppies that I find naff. I wouldn't sail an adult boat with the same characteristics. No self-draining, a gaff rig, and you have to sit right on the transom when going downwind to stop them swamping - once the kids move onto another boat, they then have to learn NOT to sit behind the tiller... So, has anyone had any experience with Opens or Teras? Thanks Phil ------------- |
Posted By: laser4000
Date Posted: 08 Jul 07 at 9:27pm
| does she like to race it? If she does then stick with the oppy!! |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 08 Jul 07 at 9:40pm
She's not that fussed on racing at the moment - prefers to have fun. That said, I guess an Open could race in a handicap fleet? ------------- |
Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 08 Jul 07 at 10:19pm
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i've sailed one but to be honest it's not really the boat for me at 5"10 and 10 st ------------- RS600 988 |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 10:33am
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when the demo open bics came round to our club last summer they fell apart. broken mast on one, blocks on boom pulled out of another, you get the idea... and if a carbon mast snaps, carbon splinters and 7 year olds, doesnt sound healthy. however they were a piec of cake to rig and derig. club now has 2 teras and they seem fine, a certain 10 year old who nicks his brothers laser 4.7 on really light days (and is still hiking) is gettting good, and he always comes in grinning. ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 11:18am
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Open bics dont have carbon masts, they're glass and epoxy ------------- RS600 988 |
Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 11:19am
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You can buy them from andy at all good fun. He's been talking to bic and now his boats have kickers which make them go much better in the heavy stuff ------------- RS600 988 |
Posted By: laser4000
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 12:22pm
But in the future?? not many o'pen meetings around... my nieces have recently turned 13 and are getting so much fun out of the oppy it's not true..ok so they're going and doing ALL the events, but it's really helped them grow and develop as kids/teenagers that I wouldn't have thought possible before.. 300+ boats at the nationals for the last few years... if you go down the bic route then you're cutting off the option of getting into this (and for what benefit?) |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 1:06pm
Depends if they end up in a N12 or a Cherub! For sailing confidence and basic sailing skill and racing there isn't anything to touch an Oppy. The large size of the racing fleets and the system that has been developed for the kids to learn to sail and race is unbeatable. Sure enough the boat is a tub ( I kind of like the classic sprit rig ) but who's ego are you looking to change the boat for? Going to any other boat will undoubtedly slow down the learning process. Your kid will be in a minority, not be benefiting from a well sorted training system and have less opportunity to make friends which helps keep up the enthusiasum for sailing. Obviously this all depends on what you have at your club for junior training and at what stage your child is at. But as long as you don't get sucked into the Oppy ' I must have the most modern whatever to make me go fast' culture ( that to comes from the parients ) it's a fantastic class. We've had a lot of up's and downs with my son learning to sail ( bad experiences with other boats that knocked his confidence ) and without the confidence the Oppy provides, the Oppy system at our club and the support of the class system and other partent's I could almost guarantee he wouldn't be sailing anymore. So for me I'd swallow the pride and let the kid decide. ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 2:48pm
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Hi, not my pride but more that I'm worried she's going to get disillusioned
with sailing. She was out yesterday and was struggling to bail out water. She's a girl who loves extreme sports (madly so) and always wants speed and excitement. AS you say, though, she will decide in the end. ------------- |
Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 3:00pm
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What I dont understand is this desire to force kids into youth squad boats, just because the parents never became GBR representatives they want their kids to live out their dreams for them.
If your daughter doesnt like the oppie, has been sailing it for a while but would rather give up the sport than carry on in a tub, then look at the alternatives. It would be crazy to lose another keen youngster from the sport just because they dont want to sail a certain boat. The Open BIC is a challenge for smaller kids and is only worth bothering with if you purchase the optional kicker. The RS Tera looks to be developing well and with the launch of the RS acadamies could help build the class. It may also enable your daughter to progress into the Feva. Alternatively try the Topper 4.2, a young lad at our club tried his ne 4.2 rig the other week and slaughtered the standard toppers. With this option you have the ability of fitting the full rig later as she grows. Paul |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 3:05pm
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Thanks Paul, some good points. It does seem odd to me that kids are all
expected to sail the same class, it's a bit like forcing adults to all sail Lasers because there are lots out there. What's the Open Bic like with an Oppie rig? I assume that would make it better for little kids - I also have a 6yr old who is keen to try sailing. I'll investigate the Topper 4.2 route - we have an old Topper hanging around. ------------- |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 3:50pm
The parents at my club have agreed not to get Oppies because even the slightest risk of becoming Oppie parents worries them so much... |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 4:11pm
Ummm... my boy is 10. A freestyle skier, big jumps and tricks etc, Skateboarder - he drops in on half pipes, kick flips, pop shuv it's etc, National champion Judo etc, he climbs with me.... So he's similar ie loves extreme sports, but in my experience put kids in the wrong boat and all that extreme sport confidence can drain away quite quickly if they haven't got the basics sorted. Now if your daughter is struggerling to bail out an Oppy, is this because she has capsized because she hasn't got the skills sorted quite yet? Or filled it up going downwind because of bad boat trim? Is she struggerling from lack of strength? Is a faster less numerous boat going to help? It is a lot less upsetting to struggle to bail out an Oppy than lack the strength to right a boat that you have capsized several times and can't get back into. I speed read the post above this one and the poster said something about a 4.7.so appologies if I have missed what was said. If you are looking at that route I would be temped to look at a Splash. The boat is designed to kids rather than adults so it's got the right dimensions for their legs etc. Righting is easy ( floats low ) which for a kid in a Laser is hard. Slightly more stable but no less exciting, with loads of feel and it's responsive. It's ligther and you can get the sail down without removing the mast. Cheap too. Edit: Sorry you were talking about a Topper 4.2. The comment still stands. I'd look at a Splash. A far superior boat. ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 4:20pm
What class are they plumping for? We have a regular turn out of 70 Oppies at our club with very few, 1 / 2 % Oppy parent syndrome. ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 5:33pm
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How about a double-hander? Can sail with a friend then.
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 5:40pm
Your son sounds like my daughter's perfect man!
The bailing at the weekend was due to nose-diving in a choppy sea. Yes, she should have been sitting further back. Good point about capsizing - she does like to capsize but may get fed up if it kept on happening uncontrollably. I don't know the Splash - I'll take a look. ------------- |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 5:41pm
Gosh, she'd never stop chatting 
Too small for a Feva, so a Pico, perhaps? ------------- |
Posted By: k_kirk
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 5:42pm
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Good point. Take a look at Tera, Pico etc. My elder daughter is turning 11 in November, weighs 35 kgs. She solo'es a Pico with confidence and loves the fact that she can take her mom or granny for a spin occasionally. Furling main provides additional adaptability. And yes, she does like Pink on yellow... Gave up training in the Opti squads long time ago. Still does the occasional regatta for fun but generally prefers sailing with me or herself on the Pico with me close by on something else. Hope your daughter continues enjoying her sailing in whatever you end up choosing. Good luck. |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 5:43pm
Isn't Tera single-handed only? ------------- |
Posted By: k_kirk
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 5:45pm
| My bad. Wanted to say Feva. |
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 5:59pm
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Mirror? Depending on how big she is she may have to find an older/bigger friend in heavy winds, but they're quite manageable for kids and great fun (yes, I'm biased).
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 6:00pm
OK, thanks. I guess a Feva is one stage beyond a Pico. Would you agree? ------------- |
Posted By: k_kirk
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 6:10pm
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I've never sailed one but it does look like a better investment. Hulls look and size fairly similar. Feva S (non-batten main) allows reefing so first season she could sail the Feva S version which would be similar to sailing a Pico alone. When ready or when you're with her she could add the jib and gennaker. You could get her the battened main at some point as well and turn the rig into the XL version. I see it as a long living investment + good racing in the UK from what I read. I think its a good boat to grow out of Opti with. |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 6:29pm
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i've said it before and i will say it again, the feva does not go upwind with the small mainsail! i would say a feva is no harder than a pico to sail, you just need a bit bigger sailors or at least a bigger helm. but small crews in fevas are good, there is very little space in the pointy end. a feva or a topper 4.2 would be a good option i think. there isnt much of a racing circuit for the pico but RS have built up a good circuit for the feva and the topper has massive opens. ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 6:51pm
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Having sailed all of the above I agree with Mike and the other comments. The Pico is good for cruising and the occasional racing with a few Opens. Cheaper than the Feva and popular for Sailing Schools The Topper, available as the cheapest boat, good for racing and crusing, the circuits are similar to the Oppi. Feva good doublehander, best with the XL rig with genneker. Only sailed one twice but more enjoyable but not the cheapest. The Open Bic looks ok but with a "windsurf" sail looks more of a racing boat than a cruising. If you are able to test sail (check out the Topper/Laser/RS Websites) then you will get more of an understanding of what would be suitable. ------------- |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 9:14pm
The Pico is the boat I wouldn't go for, and the reason my son really lost his confidence. To cut a long story short, they have to much buoyancy so the board is really high when you capsize. For a small kid - 30 kg it is hard to get on the board after a capsize. After a lot of trying his strength gave up, and because of really bad rescue cover ended up getting rescued by another sailor. His sailing confidence really suffered after that. Apart from the buoyancy issues the sail shape is rubbish and there is a massive lack of feel from the boat. About the only thing going for them is they are indestructible. I'd lump the Topaz in as another boat I'd never recommend. I can't comment on the Feva, but the kids at my club enjoy them. For a crewed boat I'd be going for a Mirror. ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: m_liddell
Date Posted: 09 Jul 07 at 9:46pm
The pico is a good boat in my opinion AS LONG AS THE SAILOR IS BIG ENOUGH. It is not a good choice for kids still at opi size hence choices like the tera etc. I've lost count how many times I've seen pushy parents send kids out in these when they have no where near the weight/strength to handle it. The pico has 5.1 sqm main and the laser radial 5.7sqm (yeah I know the sail is cut differently) which is something to consider. With kids the number one goal is never do anything that could out them off sailing! |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 10 Jul 07 at 9:48am
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I don't suppose there are any figures which tell us what % of juniors who have been on the Oppi circuit stay in sailing once they have to make their own way in life compared to those who have sailed within a club atmosphere to a "lower" standard, whether it be in Oppies, Optibats or whatever happens to be handy? My gut feeling is that more are lost from the "circuit" brigade, but I could be wrong. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: laser4000
Date Posted: 10 Jul 07 at 10:37am
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I doubt anyone will keep such figures..as 'fall-off' is almost impossible to track. With kids becoming adults they'll always be some fall-off as other sports, alcohol, sex and drugs become alternativa attractions. However if your experience of 'sailingf' is crappy club level handicap racing then I can't see much enthusiasm for keeping up with it when you are 16/17/18, and want to play football, go out with your mates etc. OTOH if you experience of 'sailing' is going away for a weekend and having good fun racing competitively against other kids, and having fun in the evenings catching up with (dare i say it 'real' friends rather than school friends), add on top of that loads of really good quality coaching to help you improve, then in my view you're less likely to drop out than the club handicrap racer. One of the unique things about our sport is that it's not just a 90 minute game that you drive home afterwards. This makes it a lot more social than playing football/rugby etc and you find at many levels (from optis upto to keelboats), it's the socialising after racing thats at least as much fun as the racing itself. Most clubs that I've sailed at just don't generate this kind of 'evening fun', as even with a 2 day event most people would go home rathen than 'go out' on their home patch. Yet when you go to an open or a champs the socials are usually great fun whether you're 13, 33, 53 or 73. I''m convinced my nieces are 'hooked for life' - despite competing attractions of horses and drama classes, which I think it great - and largely down to making friends with the other kids they've been racing against. . |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 10 Jul 07 at 1:45pm
IS BIG ENOUGH. It is not a good choice for kids still at opi size hence choices like the tera etc. I've lost count how many times I've seen pushy parents send kids out in these when they have no where near the weight/ strength to handle it. The pico has 5.1 sqm main and the laser radial 5.7sqm (yeah I know the sail is cut differently) which is something to consider.With kids the number one goal is never do anything that could out them off sailing![/QUOTE] Yes, that's the point I was trying to make. Although I'm not the pushy one in the relationship. My son is the pushy one! In respect to wanting to sail a faster more exciting boat, like the topic starters daughter. He is a good little sailor, and a strong little kid. The weather was light. He capsized, it happens, and some bad rescue cover ends up with a lack of confidence. But your are right I shouldn't of let him push me into letting him use a Pico as he was a little to small. I think this is a good illustration of what can happen if you get a little over enthusiastic with boat choice. The skill might be there and the desire but the physic's might not be. I still think there is more to be gained from staying with an Oppy than an going to a boat with much smaller fleets at this stage in a kids sailing. But it really depends on the club, I might be biased as our club seems to run things very well with the Oppy. ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 10 Jul 07 at 6:11pm
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Lots of useful comments - thanks.
I think maybe we'll stick with an Oppy, but need to get a better one. Gosh, they're expensive for what they are, though!  ------------- |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 11 Jul 07 at 9:49am
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You could always make one. http://www.burcotboats.co.uk/ - clicky ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: Philsy
Date Posted: 11 Jul 07 at 12:11pm
Yes, that's a thought.  ------------- |