Laser vs Comet
David Eade
Im just about to buy a single handed dinghy and have been advised to go
for a Laser or a Comet.
I am quite new to the sport, have RYA 1 & 2 and primarily want to race
Does anyone have any opinions on the boat to choose?
Also, can anyone advise me on what to look for, where to find it and
what price to pay !
Thanks
David Eade
Surfer!
Look at a Lightning. Similar but superior to a Comet.
http://www.nevis-view.demon.co.uk
In article <3789D04D...@eawoo.demon.co.uk>, David Eade
<Da...@eawoo.demon.co.uk> writes
--
Surfer!
Steve
Laser - 200,000 owners cant be wrong ( if you want a boat that
has strict rules that you cant sort our the quirks - a "Ford
Escort" of a Dinghy)
Comet - Fine for small water and/or sheltered lakes - not for the
in-experienced on big water/big wind
Lightning - Laser Clone, slower but more slightly civilised
Byte - Laser Clone but slower and more popular with the lighter
helms (especially ladies )
The big questions therefore are - type of water, how heavy are
you and how much re-sale value do you want...
If you are over 13.5 Stone, consider a Phantom ( overgrown Laser
)
if under 11.5 Stone and confined water, consider British Moth (
dead class but very refined to sail if you get it right and cheap
- a sort of dinghy "Dutton kit car" !!)
There are others, Finn, OK, RS300, MXRay, Int Moth that all have
their merits
so dont just follow the crowd, talk to classs associations and
respective enthusiasts, have a test sail in each type and make
Ken Wilson
boat. If there are several of you all racing the same class, the racing is
much better than handicapping for different classes.
So what you buy is what everyone else is sailing. Then, either if your
chosen club has two single-handed classes (cant think of one offhand), or if
you have a choice of clubs with different classes, then try them out and
decide which you prefer.
Class enthusiasts at <your> club will help you find a boat and point you in
the right direction on
price - they know the market and their own boats - if they don't, go
somewhere else. Racing is as much about learning from others as trial and
error.
P.S. side bet that you end up with a laser.
David Eade wrote in message <3789D04D...@eawoo.demon.co.uk>...
>Hello all
>
>Im just about to buy a single handed dinghy and have been advised to go
>for a Laser or a Comet.
>I am quite new to the sport, have RYA 1 & 2 and primarily want to race
>
>Does anyone have any opinions on the boat to choose?
>
>
>Thanks
>
>David Eade
>
Roger Wollin
<Da...@eawoo.demon.co.uk> kerfuffled thusly:
>Hello all
>
>Im just about to buy a single handed dinghy and have been advised to go
>for a Laser or a Comet.
>I am quite new to the sport, have RYA 1 & 2 and primarily want to race
>
>Does anyone have any opinions on the boat to choose?
>
>Also, can anyone advise me on what to look for, where to find it and
>what price to pay !
>
>Thanks
>
>David Eade
Standard question with a standard answer. First decide where you want
to sail. Is it the local gravel pit, because it's convenient, or a sea
club you happen to know, or whatever? Find out what they race there
and if it's suitable for your size etc. Don't hesitate to ask, no
proud owner ever loses the opportunity to brag! Beg a test sail and if
you like it try and buy one of them.Try and choose a class which has a
reasonable turn-out, with it's own start, otherwise you will find
yourself sailing in a Handicap Fleet and will never learn anything.
Don't rush off and buy something exotic because it has a clever name
or comes with a pretty sail, you'll be doubly wasting your time.
Having made up your mind what you want, look on the club noticeboards,
find the Class Association and ask them, look in Y&Y for ads, if it's
a good active class there are *always* boats for sale if you only
look.
Good Sailing
Roger
David James
suitable on inland waters, but in wave conditions I found it hard to
stay in position in the boat. I am about six feet tall, but my legs
could not find a secure brace. I have however sailed a succession of
Lasers since 1980. Although at 62 years I am no longer doing anything
more than making up fleet numbers, I still find the Laser the most
satisfying boat I have ever sailed.
Savid James.
Tony Ellison
had just topped force 4 then I can still sail my Comet while all but
the experienced or bigger Laser sailors are in the club house. Best to
check out you club though. Have a look at my web site to see if your
club has a good Comet fleet.
http://www.btinternet.com/~tony.ellison/comet/comet.htm
On Mon, 12 Jul 1999 12:23:57 +0100, David Eade
<Da...@eawoo.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>Hello all
>
>Im just about to buy a single handed dinghy and have been advised to go
>for a Laser or a Comet.