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How much space

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:45 pm
by DangerBoy
I am currently 600 sailing and am looking to move across to the Skiff, but before I take the plunge;

At the moment I sail on a reasonable sized gravel pit (Burghfield) albeit it with a few obstructions for improving boat handling determination. While I can get the 600 round happily now would I be driving myself insane trying to sail the skiff there? I have already joined for the year as I like the club so don't want to be paying two lots of fees and would think about Datchet next season (if you don't need training wheels to sail there after the drought).

I will come along to events and trainings as I do now in my 600 so the lack of local boats this years doesn't overly concern me. Appreciate anyone's thoughts.

Re: How much space

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:02 pm
by DanV193
I applaud you for sailing a 600 on Burghfield, I would have thought you must take a few windward capsizes in the lulls, gusts and shifts.

In my view, if I were moving to Burghfield I would look to change classes - a Musto with the kite up moves quickly, visibility isn't great and sometimes you are not in total control of where you are heading once a gust hits. While this is manageable in a large area like Datchet, Stokes Bay or Rutland, but it could be dangerous in a smaller, island strewn lake like Burghfield especially when there are other boats out.

My recommendation would be to enjoy your 600 for a season and then look to move up to Datchet and get a skiff when you have the space to enjoy it.

Re: How much space

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:46 pm
by DangerBoy
Damn, it was hoping you were going to say "sure, why not!" And give a little encouragement :(

Burghfield is more of a home base as fees are paid for this year already, so upping sticks now is just extra that I can spend on a boat and I will look to move come the end of summer.

Re: How much space

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:50 pm
by paul manning
OK, no you'll be fine. Get a skiff and be done with it :wink:

Re: How much space

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:05 pm
by DangerBoy
But now i'm circumspect Paul :shock:

I've had my 600 for a 3 seasons and am sailing at the front of the fleet once its trapezing weather - so back of the musto fleet standard then - and while i like the boat a lot i am slowely getting frustrated at going to events with miserly turnouts.

Having not ever sailed one, but thinking its better built than a 700 is there such a think as a demo boat? Perhaps even on somewhere like Datchet (before it dries out) - who knows i might decide to take the full jump in one go to new boat and club.

Re: How much space

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:04 pm
by skiffboy
I don't know the specifics of your gravel pit, but looking on Google maps it's about the same size as the pond I sail on most of the time.
In less than 14kn it's no problem. Over that becomes irritating because I spend all my energy keeping upright with the gusts and shifts and so find I don't learn anything.
Also, over that it takes around 40seconds to get from one side to the other with the kite up. Thats not long and is a real challenge when the opties are out or there's other traffic about.
So, it is of course possible but just judge your abilities and the conditions.

Re: How much space

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:49 pm
by DangerBoy
Thanks skiffboy....I used to sail on the Kralingse plas, but only lasers.

Re: How much space

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:41 am
by Rick
DangerBoy wrote:But now i'm circumspect Paul :shock:



I think he's joking with you telling you what you want to hear based on your previous comment ...
DangerBoy wrote:Damn, it was hoping you were going to say "sure, why not!" And give a little encouragement :(


I think DanV has given a fair answer; there is no doubts faster boats generally need more room but that dosn't mean you cant sail on restricted water.

IMHO i'd get yourself to Datchet, not just because it will be loads more fun on a bigger water but mainly because there is a great bunch of guys all sailing together and you'd learn at twice the rate and be good fun ...

Re: How much space

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:09 am
by DangerBoy
The plan is to move later in the year - or earlier if we have lasts summers Day of the triffids repeated again. While Burghfield is a great club I realise it has it restrictions for faster boats.

I am looking at Datchet as its not far away, especially as they reportedly have a decent fleet regularly racing/ training together. I was trying to get a gauge as to the more immediate future and the initial comments deflated my balloon a little, but hey ho.

Is there a Demo boat - or would I need to buy myself a skiff to find out about it. I realise its difficult to demo, but still i'd like to get a feel as to how its suits me.

Re: How much space

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 5:43 pm
by DanV193
DangerBoy,

I didn't mean to put you off altogether, and perhaps I should have paid more attention to your login name, but I think I would standby by my recommendation, not to sail an MPS on Burghfield.

Datchet and Stokes Bay both do day membership and there is a vibrant Open Meeting cicruit as you have already identified. So maybe you could have your cake and eat it.

Ovingtons normally have a demo boat, but I am not sure where it is currently based.

An alternative would be to come down to Stokes Bay either before or after racing on a Sunday, you would be welcome to have a sail in my boat (first 2 up) and then once you are confident you could fly solo.

You can pm me via this forum to arrange suitable dates (conditions depending).

Re: How much space

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 6:59 pm
by paul manning
Yes, I've got the demo boat.

It'll be at Rutland this weekend and then at Stokes Bay until either the Stokes Bay open or UK nationals.

After that, early May, it is going for a stint at Datchet...

Re: How much space

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:45 pm
by DangerBoy
Thanks guys...I am going to talk to one of the guys at Oxford to see if there is a possibilty of trying his as i'm hoping he will be sailing his second/ other boat at a 600 event there this weekend, if not i will ask Splashbury at Grafham.

Have already spotted teh day memberships available at Stokes Bay for £5 which seems a bargain - is there anything closer to the bottom of the M3 further up into Southampton water (Weston Netley?) I suspect that Datchet will become home or perhaps Oxford - not really a fan of Queen Mary launching.

Re: How much space

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:35 pm
by Besty
Dangerboy,
I too live in Reading but no chance I'd be sailing even a 600 at Burghfield.
I'm at Datchet, and while it's not yet got a wave machine, it does the job and gives around 10 of us a great venue for regular constructive training.
more than welcome to come along and try.

jamie - 376

Re: How much space

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:31 pm
by DangerBoy
DanV193 and Besty I have pm'd you.

Cheers
Mark

Re: How much space

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:59 am
by bristollad
can i pretty please get in on this ?