Laurent Giles 'Jolly Boat' Exeter |
J24 (Sail No. 4239) Dartmouth |
29er GBR 074 Tynemouth |
List classes of boat for sale |
20 years later |
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Dangerousday
Groupie Joined: 20 Jun 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 79 |
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Topic: 20 years later Posted: 24 Nov 18 at 10:41am |
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In 1998 I bought an MX-Ray. Perhaps not greatest decision I've ever made, but still enjoyed it for several years.
As I'm looking for a singlehander at the moment a few of the options, for the budget ,appearing are boats that were launched at around the same time. There seems to be have been a lot of innovation around the time, late 90's. Some have stuck, some haven't. Perhaps it was RS pushing things (think it was still LDC at the time?) or maybe the sailing community was ready for something new and different. MX-Ray RS300 Laser EPS Laser Vortex Blaze RS 600 RS Vareo If it had been launched a bit sooner than the 'ray think I would have had the 300 instead, just based on that press photo of the black hulled boat sliding along.
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getafix
Really should get out more Joined: 28 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2143 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Nov 18 at 8:56am | |
my 3p worth of your choices
RS300 if you're looking for a challenging but rewarding ride and don't mind plenty of swimming when the wind tops F5 Blaze if you're a larger chap and want blasting upwind and down in F5 or more RS600 if you're after a challenge and don't want to hike Also consider RS100, D-One, D-Zero.
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Dangerousday
Groupie Joined: 20 Jun 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 79 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Nov 18 at 10:56am | |
Wasn't really looking at any in particular, thanks.
More that as I've been looking at used boats, a few come from around that time period and it just seemed that there was a glut of 'different' designs - performance singlehanders being put to market around then. I can't think of much choice in singlehanders before then - but thats probably as I wasn't sailing anything much then. Is it comparable to the 60's growth in number of classes? I don't have any figures so just guessing really over a cuppa. I suspect the quantity of boats being built will be greater back then though.
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Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Nov 18 at 11:37am | |
Singlehanders around in the late '60s?
OK Finn Solo Contender Int Canoe A Class Cat Moth Optimist Europe There were others like the Sabot and Sunfish and I think the Toy came along around then but the ones above are the boats that I was aware of at the time (as well as I can recall anyway).
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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
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Dangerousday
Groupie Joined: 20 Jun 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 79 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Nov 18 at 11:56am | |
They were around in late 90's too, and still are.. Moth has changed since then.
Had the Laser made such an impact in the meantime that there wasn't anything much else in the intervening 20 years? Phantom maybe? Or anything to do with a change from wood to plastic? 'Laser' inevitably gets mentioned...
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Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Nov 18 at 12:59pm | |
They were indeed and, as you say, still are. The Int Moth has changed significantly since then while the British Moth has not but both are still active classes (for a given definition of active, neither are 'dead/lost' classes by any measure).
Laser came along in 1971 and was a game changer but the Phantom, designed that same year doesn't seem to have suffered too much from the competition (unlike several others I'd hazard). Laser also spawned many copycat designs (Splash, Comet, Byte etc.), some of which went on to become established and others have disappeared into the mists of time.
Edited by Sam.Spoons - 26 Nov 18 at 1:00pm |
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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
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423zero
Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3406 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Nov 18 at 1:50pm | |
Sam,
You haven't mentioned the Minisail |
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getafix
Really should get out more Joined: 28 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2143 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Nov 18 at 2:04pm | |
Topper was what, late late 70's or early 80's?
Think the Streaker and possibly Supernova go quite a way back as well. Unicorn? |
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Cirrus
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Oct 15 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 590 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Nov 18 at 2:25pm | |
Blaze if you're a larger chap and want blasting upwind and down in F5 or more Partially true and sortof in the right direction ... but you don't have to be that large (Champions have been as light at 70kg and as heavy as 97kg) .. or sail in a true F5 for that matter. Once the wings come into play upwind, and that is well before a full F5 and without depowering, you can sail to 'par' with practice.... and when you get to fully hike offwind it really flies. Not for everyone of course ... but well worth everyone at least trying once.
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Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 26 Nov 18 at 2:46pm | |
I was thinking pre Laser/1971 I guess (in answer to Dangerousday's implied query), those were off the top of my head, boats that were around in the clubs I sailed at back then. I'm sure there are others I've missed, keep em coming.
FWIW Streaker was introduced in '76, the Unicorn was an A Class designed in '66 (I seriously lusted after one of those). Topper was designed in 1977 and Supernova a veritable newcomer from 1996. And, yes 423zero, apologies for missing out the Minisail (1959/60). Interesting discussion. edit :- I love my Blaze (even on a little lake) it's definitely one to try especially if you sail on open water. It is, as Cirrus says, a flyer offwind in a decent breeze but is still remarkably forgiving and the rig is controllable up to winds I would not take a Laser out in.
Edited by Sam.Spoons - 26 Nov 18 at 3:17pm |
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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
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