New Boats 2005

2005's big class will be the Fireball, having their Nationals/Euros, then Worlds in the UK in August. It's pretty much too late to buy a new one for the event now, apparently. Should be a good couple of weeks.

I know a whole host of classes which SHOULD be 6 foot under this time next year, but they probably won't be. That's another story though.

In general terms Redback is probably right.

However new FRP Ospreys are being built this year (hoorah!) and carbon spars are being trialled; 505's seem to be creeping back up the ladder...a very fast boat; Fireballs are having their Worlds etc in the UK this year.  If you order a new Fireball now, you wont get it in time for the Worlds because the order books are full.  FD's are big all over Europe, and are very fast.  Hornets.... hmmm they seem to keep themselves to themselves but there are a surprising number around and racing.

All of these classes will be at the Symmetric Grand Prix at Rutland in October for loads of laughs and racing.  Many of them are doing combined events around the country before that. 5o5 Worlds are in Europe (Travemunde)  this year at the same time as the Javelin Europeans.

There is a lot of cross fertilisation between all these classes, so they kind of support each other.  Check out www.fastsail.org

People sail them because they like the boats for what they are, (plus they are all pretty damn quick).

yeah, people will only buy the RS800 while it is the cutting edge, when newer and faster boats come out then it will be forgotten

Long live the cheap boats! (except the topper!)

I guess so long as the 470 remains an Olympic class then it must have a future of sorts, but in general club terms I really don't know.  It's not a bad boat as such and I do know that people seek out ones to buy on the second hand market.  Maybe the the last Olympics will give it a revival this year? I know the people who sail them seem to be pretty damn good, just not a lot of them, and the class doesn't get pushed alot outside of the Olympic squad type of activity.

I have to admit I nearly bought a 4000 last year (in addition to the Osprey), but was headed off at the pass by my dear wife, who doesn't understand boat greed at all.

At my club, alot of people are buying L2000's.  Mainly families who want to race. I think its only downfall is that although you can fit a trapeze, it's not "in class" for racing.  Seems a bit of a shame really.

I think as in every sport there is a kind of levelling going on at the moment. My guess is that we'll get more people coming into the sport but they'll just be spread across all the classes.  I think you have to think of dinghy ownership a bit like classic cars.  There'll always be someone there to keep a few afloat no matter what.  Not saying that's a good or bad thing, just my feeling.