If I can sail a Dart 18 and a Laser can I sail an RS600
Discussion
Used RS600s seem excellent value for money but when experienced and successful very fast dingy sailors bought them to our club, 10 years ago or so, there was much consternation. I am not as experienced or successful but perfectly competent and have owned / raced several boats, including a couple of Dart 18 solo seasons. I think I'd be ok. And you can have a smaller sail.
Thanks
Thanks
Thanks for all the replies, clearly carefully and considerately thought through. This would be an occasional fun boat and used a lot than once a week. My interest was fired by the price - I could have a serious adrenaline shot in the garage just waiting for the odd blast. Plus I'm not very fit. So it's a no to the 600.
Contenders are a bit slow these days, aren't they? I used to beat on on the water
Contenders are a bit slow these days, aren't they? I used to beat on on the water
raywillden said:
I'd say a good decision on the 600. I had one for a year or so, and never really got to grips with it despite coming from a Boss. It was great for the few times when the wind was right and I got round the corners without swimming, but this was not very often, and I got frustrated with it. I have ended up with an RS Cat16, as I can sail it with the kids and also go single handed, so kind of best of both really.
Surely single handing your Dart would be a bigger blast anyway, and you can still class race it if that's your thing.
Dart's biggest issue was moving on my own on the beach and in the waves at launch. Plus only good in a small wind window, though I guess that was case for a lot of modern dinghies. I do miss it though. Surely single handing your Dart would be a bigger blast anyway, and you can still class race it if that's your thing.
Hard-Drive said:
chrisga said:
Hello from another the other fellow previous Boss owner....
Fixed that for you...My 2p worth...get confident on a trapeze first. From what I can glean from the thread you've not trapezed before, so trying to learn that and learn to sail a tippy boat at the same time will be tricky. You will do all the classic mistakes as have been pointed out plus the classic "big bear away as you go out" one.
It only needs a few goes, but try crewing on an 800/Fireball or similar first until you get really confident with that and can go in/out without thinking about it and then try the 600. A Contender is a more stable introduction to driving from the wire but they are bloody heavy to drag around and there's very little room under the boom compared to a 600.
MBBlat said:
Norfolkandchance said:
HI, Think I have alluded to experience on the wire a number of times. Not least on the Dart in the title. Trapeze experience not the issue. Thanks for the reply though.
How is your monohull trapezing though? Not trying to put you off, but cats are different beasts, with a lot more stability than any mono. Get a big wheel trolley for the Dart, or a Jib & crew to hold it in the waves.
I cut my trapeze teeth crewing Fireballs then a couple of seasons on a Laser 2 and another couple on a B14E where we won the club championship. Various Hornet, 470 and 505 races too. This was all over 20 years ago though.
The original question was focused on the RS600 because better sailors than me who place at nationals and Europeans in boats of similar or higher performance than the RS600 seemed to find the 600 tricky. I have no fear of a contender and little of an RS700, expect that I would be far from getting the best out of it, but the RS600, as this thread seems to have confirmed, is tippy and hard work. So not for me as an occasional sailor, these days.
Thanks for all the adivce, people.
Edited by Norfolkandchance on Saturday 25th February 19:49
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