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A 2-man advanced trainer... on a budget |
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Harry44981!
Really should get out more Joined: 26 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 736 |
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Topic: A 2-man advanced trainer... on a budget Posted: 08 Feb 05 at 5:49pm |
its ok . i think many people get the misconception that some boats are just for racing and some are just for cruising- i'd say all boats are for sailing, but some have a racing possibility as well. Your right you can learn as you go, and you'll never grow out of the 400, there will always be another challenge eg: perfect hoists and drops, more speed, racing etc. Its a great boat, and if I had the cash i'd buy its little sister the 200. |
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 08 Feb 05 at 9:45pm |
I wouldn't regard a 400 as an especially difficult boat to sail. Not a beginners boat sure, but provided there's at least one person on board with a reasonable amount of experience or else you're sailing it with good rescue cover and are sensible about what breeze you go out in. As for not using it for racing, I would think it would be quite a reasonable boat for exploring Chichester harbour or cruising round the Norfolk broads: my only reservation would be the baler thing underneath: I don't know how well that would survive putting it down on a sandy beach. Actually that's one advantage of using a Cherub for cruising, which I do occasionally - you can just pick it up and carry it out of reach of the waves and put it down on a convenient patch of grass, no need to worry about trailers if you want to stop for lunch somewhere! Edited by JimC |
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ChrisJ
Far too distracted from work Joined: 07 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 337 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Feb 05 at 9:17am |
The 400 is a great boat for learning to improve on. After 30 years of racing, mainly in Enterprise & Fireball but also various other classes, I still find that after 3 years in the RS400 I am still discovering new things to improve on.
You can sail the 400 fairly easily. Up wind you can de-power while on the water by reducing the jib halyard tension and pulling the kicker on hard. Down wind once the kite is up the boat is very well balanced - and if you get a gust you can just bear away to keep her upright. Where it gets tricky is when you start to race! Then you don't want to de-power too much up wind as you need the power for speed; and you may not always be able to bear away down wind as other boats or directions to the next mark might prevent it. If you like the look of the 400, get one! I know people who bought a 400 just from the looks at the first boat show it appeared at (1994?), before ever seeing one sail. They are still sailing 400's 11 years later. |
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El Thermidor
Newbie Joined: 02 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Feb 05 at 12:17pm |
Hmmm. This doesn't change the fact that I can't afford one... So come on old-timers: what did 400 sailors sail before the 400 existed? "Improver" boats must have existed: I can't believe people went straight from Mirrors to the lairiest things available. All the better if it has a wire for 'er indoors... I've had a quick look at the int. 14: it's twin trapeze, which I think rules it out as too skiffish. But the symmetric classes are single trapeze, making them... more stable and sane...? |
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Pierre
Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1532 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Feb 05 at 2:13pm |
So finally we come to it. ....sense prevails , and you go to the Osprey web site and check out with the guys there what's available. www.ospreysailing.org.uk. or if you like, bounce over to www.fastsail.org We'll sort you out Edited by Pierre |
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moomin
Groupie Joined: 19 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 60 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Feb 05 at 2:16pm |
This is where I get slated for being far to stick in the mud and old fashioned, but hear me out. Have you considered the Wayfarer world, basically a wayfarer with an assymetric: Advantages: Loads of space for picnic dogs, small car etc, stable suitable for coastal cruising. Stick the fairly big Assy up and they will shift with a suitable breeze, can easily be fitted with a trapeze, fibreglass constuction for minimal maintenance, double skinned floor gives better bouyancy during/after capsize than traditional wayfarer design. Can be adapted to standard kite if you want ot race it, active class association. Before you ask I don't sail one, I have a 400, just thought I'd add another boat to the discussion. |
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Moomin
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ChrisJ
Far too distracted from work Joined: 07 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 337 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Feb 05 at 4:27pm |
RE: >>what did 400 sailors sail before the 400 existed?? Lots of them could be found in boats that gave good exciting close racing like Enterprises (but the crew complained of boredom) and Fireballs (but you needed a light-weight helm and a heavier crew). Others were in "fast" boats like the Laser 2 (but you sit continuously in the spray from the bow wave), or in weight carrying single-handers like the Phantom (but we didn't want to admit we were over-weight!). |
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Feb 05 at 6:03pm |
At my club I think the popularity prize for two handers went:- 80s - Fireball/Scorpion early/mid 90s ISO late 90s RS400. However in many ways the 400 could be regarded as a mass production version of the Merlin Rocket. |
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Wave Rider
Really should get out more Joined: 27 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 909 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 09 Feb 05 at 9:42pm |
I would of thought that a Fireball would suit you !
Very nice boats to sail! |
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-[Franko]-
Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club RS600 933 |
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stuarthop
Really should get out more Joined: 22 Dec 04 Location: Nottingham Online Status: Offline Posts: 1040 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 10 Feb 05 at 10:37pm |
a fireball or if you could live without a trapeze a scorpion would be a nice boat
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