Anyone Sailed a Xenon?
Discussion
Mrs M is learning to sail (passed RYA stage 1 & 2) and is now out on the water unsupervised (but with an experienced crew 
).... currently she's only been ont he water in a Wayfarer but we can use a Xenon as well.
I'm thinking that the Wayfarer is a bit too much of a lump and want to get her feeling the movement more.
Does anyone have any experience in one that they can pass on and will it be a suitable next boat for her.
).... currently she's only been ont he water in a Wayfarer but we can use a Xenon as well.I'm thinking that the Wayfarer is a bit too much of a lump and want to get her feeling the movement more.
Does anyone have any experience in one that they can pass on and will it be a suitable next boat for her.
Get something comfortable I'm a PH stereotype circa 6' and 16+stone and used to sail a Topper, it was horrid the boom too low, the boat to shallow basically it meant sailing was damned uncomfortable. I would say try some boats, if you are in a club see if you or your wife can crew on some boats to get the feel, but also get something that you can use.
Our club has boats you can borrow and they started in the wayfarer the next one up is the Xenon so was wondering if that would be a step too far for my wife yet or not.
She really needs to "feel the movement" and the wayfarer is just way too secure and tub lie so I want to move her on.
I too sailed Toppers when I was a lot younger and agree about the boom too low for an adult.
She really needs to "feel the movement" and the wayfarer is just way too secure and tub lie so I want to move her on.
I too sailed Toppers when I was a lot younger and agree about the boom too low for an adult.
yup I've taught in a Xenon a few times. They are ok boats, a bit tippy compared to a wayfarer, but then almost anything is going to be! Its worth getting her out in it though, just for the experience, and they are fairly forgivable boats to sail. If shes after stability with a small bit of performance the Laser 2000 is a good and popular choice - plenty of space in them, fairly stable but with an asymetric spinny and a managable rig.
Cheers Shrimper.. my problem is that I used to sail Fireballs very seriously so anything else is positively stable when compared to them!!
I know I've got to take it gently and not scare the crap out of her too early in her learning.. but sitting in the Wayfarer I feel as though I may as well take a pillow, blanket and thermos flask.
It's like learning to drive, the lessons and test teach you the basics and then you really learn how to drive.... anyway, how hum... we're out again tomorrow and the jury is still out on Wayfarer versus Xenon!
I know I've got to take it gently and not scare the crap out of her too early in her learning.. but sitting in the Wayfarer I feel as though I may as well take a pillow, blanket and thermos flask.
It's like learning to drive, the lessons and test teach you the basics and then you really learn how to drive.... anyway, how hum... we're out again tomorrow and the jury is still out on Wayfarer versus Xenon!
Well we took the Xenon out yesterday for a few hours... after about an hour Mrs M calmed down at how "Bloody unstable" it was and then admitted that she has a fear of capsizing... she knows it's irrational and that we need to work on it.
She's getting better at trimming the sails and holding a course but still oversteering when we go about... we practiced figure of 8s on quite a short course and by the end of she was getting better.
Then we swapped helms and she finally appreciated how fast the boat could go, what a straight course felt and looked like and how not to oversteer when going about..... even if she did accuse me of trying to kill us both...... mind you then she discovered that toe straps don't snap and that you can lean out quite safely and not suddenly end up swimming..... she did admit that it was "a lot more fun than the tub (Wayfarer)" her words not mine!!
So all in all a good 2nd boat to move upto imo......
She's getting better at trimming the sails and holding a course but still oversteering when we go about... we practiced figure of 8s on quite a short course and by the end of she was getting better.
Then we swapped helms and she finally appreciated how fast the boat could go, what a straight course felt and looked like and how not to oversteer when going about..... even if she did accuse me of trying to kill us both...... mind you then she discovered that toe straps don't snap and that you can lean out quite safely and not suddenly end up swimming..... she did admit that it was "a lot more fun than the tub (Wayfarer)" her words not mine!!
So all in all a good 2nd boat to move upto imo......
Ayahuasca said:
Fear of capsizing? Get her to do a few practice capsizes, that should cure it!
has been suggested............ but I'm not brave enough, she's actually talking about having a 121 session with an instructor with the objective of practicing capsize drill for most of the lesson... she accepts that the fear is irrational and also that because of it if the boat starts to heel then she lets go of the mainsheet to dump the wind...... quite hairy for the crew if they're already hanging out!!Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff