The 200 is a new 12, same designer as my 1970's 12 and everything! Look at the class websites, decide what sort of sailing (assy blasting,or really close tactcal stuff) and what sort of crew you have/want, and what is sailed near you, or would suit your ability to travel, and then decide what you can afford: a 200 can cost a lot more, but may cost less in terms of depreciation as it is a desirable after one design. The 420 is a great youth boat, but this is partly because it is undercanvassed, and hence not good in light winds ( i.e. typical small pond conditions). An older 12 could be superb on restricted waters, but you really need other 12's to tune against, because they are hard to get the best out of.

It isn't an easy question to answer without knowing where you sail and what you sail against; If I could give one piece of advice to aspiring sailors, it would be: sail in a one design fleet!!! You can't beat sailing against other similar boats- the Solo I sail is very simple, yet 1/4 inch on the shrouds can be the difference between competing or not, and even when you've got the boat speed right, you still have to get the start right, and then the first beat, and then all your mark roundings, and then not get stuffed by the flying fifteens ( not that this has ever been an issue for me) and then you only win with a bit of luck if the fleet is very good enough!

Any help?

From what I remember from my uni days at the Harp you have to fit in with the classes already present, as they wont let you on the water otherwise. A problem I had with my N12 when i was there. There are two calsses they do allow that have fantastic circuits, with lots of younger sailors around. The first is the much vaunted RS200, as described ably above, and if you have the green stuff to get one, then why not, they are fun, require good skills to make them go fast.

The other boat the Harp allows that has one of the best circuits in the country is the Firefly. And is an option for the budget sailor. Not as exciting to sail, granted, unless you get in a big fleet, where even the rockstars dont go any faster, so its all down to taticks, and there are lots of rockstars who just keep their freddies for team racing and the odd champs. Also if you are thinking of going to uni, most of the sailing wil be in freddies, as you will have noticed from the club nearest the gate, so why not get a jump on the competition. Exp price 200-2500GBP

I love all the boats mentioned for different reasons, Hope to get back into 12's (diet) or RS200's (if enough numbers) soon, but would depend on what takes off at local club, but as soon as i have a big enough garage there will always be room for a freddy in it. Even if only used once or twice a year.

Hope this helps

Andy

I haven't sailed at Wembley for a couple of years but it is as Andymck says they do only permit certain classes. Wembley SC has a good RS200 fleet, some good sailors and pretty good turnouts. If you're a member of one of the other Welsh Harp clubs I think they do a sort of associate member sheme so you can sail with the Wembley fleet on Sunday mornings.

They're a friendly bunch, turn up on a Sunday morning and introduce yourself, I'm sure they'd be happy to help.

I can't believe that nobody seems to have recommended a Lark to Hannah.

A grown up Firefly with a symmetric spinnaker. One of the nicest boats I've sailed to windward - lots of feel. Good in light airs and on ponds.

Lots of mixed crews - the Hoo Freezer just had Larks with a mixed crew finish in 2nd place and an all-girl crew in 6th place out of 71 starters, so they're good on handicap too. Should be a good social scene for you at opens, Hannah.

Relatively cheap boats as well - certainly compared to 200's or top 12's.

Check their web site: http://www.larkclass.org/ - http://www.larkclass.org/  , which includes a 'classifieds' page.

The Lark is a great boat as is the GP14. It depends which type of Spinnaker you would like?

What about a Miracle? We have had a resurgence of Miracles at our club and they are very competative!

But as has been said - what else is sailed at your club? Try them all out and go for what suits you best.

How about you put "Lark, Miracle, National 12 and RS200" (in alphabetical order, note, omitting the Pico, obviously, unless you wanted to add Feva as well ) on a list and go and visit those stands at the Dinghy Show first weekend of March (which is located almost next door to where you sail).

Talk to the people on the stands and note which ones are the size, shape and age that appeals to you most?

" I can't believe no-ones mentioned" a tasar to Hannah

Ok, yet another "favourite boat" option , but here is why-

You could no doubt get a very reasonable boat, in wales, for under a grand to see if you like it. Parts and VGC second hand dacron sails are very reasonable too

It is very light to manoevre off the water and down the slip, and can be car-topped on a largeish car.

you will learn a lot about higher performance sailing especially to plane upwind, which is a joy- burning off RS200s like they are going backwards! Your crew can learn the finer points of white sail control and concentrate on helping the team tactics rather than spinnaker fankles.

If one of your dreams is to sail 420s or 29ers competitively later on, then the tasar will prepare you very well as helm.

Why didn't we mention a Tasar?

Because Hannah wants a spinnaker?

Because Bethwaite himself says that the Tasar needs a minimum racing crew weight of 130kg and we tend to assume that a young Mirror sailor and crew is probably appreciably under that?

Because Hannah sails inland on a relatively small pond and Tasars are not really very good on PY in light airs - at least I've only seen one come near winning sailed by two men on a windy fetch.

Is there much of a Tasar youth scene? Or even a scene at all near to London where Hannah sails?

On their site, the Larks claim: "The class is suited to a wide range of crew weights, typically from 18 stone up to 25 stone."

We have a couple of very light girls (certainly sub-18 stone all-up) locally who go pretty fast.

But come on you Larks, defend yourselves - I've never even owned one!

The tasar takes a range of wieghts and with 170kg we were mixing it with RS400s in the light airs...the lark being at 1073, tasar 1023, RS200 in between.  Without the hassle and cost of a spinnaker you get a boat which is faster than the RS200 and the 420.

Also if it is a bit of a puddle you sail on, then the simple jib pole (which is pretty long!) will help you concentrate on tactics and wind rather than hoists and drops.

Lugging around a lark at 95kg will be tough compared to a tasar at 66kg??, with the rs200 at about 82kg for comparison.

The tasar is simple to sail but take some time to master planing upwind and getting the best out of the sail shape from both sails- the crew has nine controls while the helm has three! So there is plenty to learn at the ffront as well.

The light, plane all directions design will prepare you well for moving to the 420 or 29er which of course have a wide youth scene for later.  You will learn to keep the boat under the rig and steer for balance in a light , super responsive boat, definetly needed for later higher performance boats like the 29er and whatever the next womens olympic boat actually will be.

I think the jump from a mirror to the 29er is pretty far, with a faster hiking boat being needed in between. Maybe a 19er with trap option! (you could look at the topper topaz hull/rig options I suppose!)

Tasars in racing condition can be had at less than a grand and your folks can pop on the roof to take one home if they have an estate car.

.

True bloody true I'll have to see if Dave and Chris will put me on commission...lol

ps. although I'm sadly missing from the show you might spot something that belongs to me.........