I'm a real lightweight. 11stone and zero. 6feet tall & built like a piece of string :-) ... in fact, a piece of string looks positively obese next to me!

Currently, i'm sailing a Lightning368 & very nice it is too. As i'm fairly new to sailing (9months) i tend to only go out up to 10/11mph, the lightning proving very good in these kind of breezes. However, as i get more confident i'll obviously go out in a little more.
Now, ive tried a few Lasers - over 12/13mph breeze & i'm overpowered - the Lightning starts to become a handful around this level too. Could be to do with lack of skill as well as brute force though.
Anyway, i'm looking ahead about another 12months and considering my 'post learner' stage. I've been looking at the usual suspects - Supernova, Streaker, even a brand new Lightning maybe...something a bit more dynamic but suitable for a stringbean (but brave) bloke like me. Noticed the Blaze as well, looks great fun but too much too soon? Not researched the RS ones yet, any likely candidates? - stable, forgiving but fast(er)?
Any advice/suggestions would be welcome.
Also, i've seen it documented somewhere about problems with hartley supernovas? anyone cast any light on these?

Cheers
Lee

Lee,

some time ago, I spent a happy month or so looking at all the single handers for an article I was working on for the magazine. And what I found was..... well, there are some damn good boats out there. Those that really caught the eye in the small to medium single hander range were (in no particular order)

Solo: a true classic, great active class, open meetings everywhere, hot competition..... and whilst you might be light, the Solo has the advantage that you can set it up for your weight now, then change it as you fill out past the 'piece of string' stage (which you will!!)

Streaker: The new layout on the Streaker is a winner and with a sorted rig, this is a boat that offers a great deal for not a lot. But then you also have to ask yourself the question, "where do I sail now, where do I want to be in 3 years time" - as the answers to this may well count against one of the smaller classes.

Supernova - I must admit that I have not heard anything negative specifically aimed at the Supernova. We've just had a brand new one arrive at the club and the owner seems well pleased with it. I would have to admit to be something of a Supernova fan, I think that they are a 'sweet' boat (that is not a yecky comment - what I mean by that is that in sailing the Supernova I found it well manner and vice free) that sails very well and is no slowboat in the right conditions. Again...you may be 11 stone now but when that changes......

Whatever boat you choose - go for one that you can maximise your learning on over say, the next two or three years. If you're still all skin and bones, well, stay put, if you've filled out, then the choices by then will be really exciting. I forecast back in August 2006 that the next crop of new boats would be skiff style single handers. There are two new kids on the block already, with more to come.

But if in the next two to three years you have really mastered single handers (which is no easy feat in itself) then you can sail what you like - from foiling Moths to the latest generation of lightweight singlehanders. Just don'ttry and go too far too soon. Sailing forums are full of people who will tell you that it is okay - you can sail x,y or z class at 11 stone and win. Well, maybe you can BUT.... better is to sail something that suits you and your local conditions, sharpen up on that, then look to the next step up.

Watch out for more on single handers in coming issues of DSM

D

Cheers david ... one thing that i didn't include - and some may hate me for this bit - but in addition to the 11st bit - i'm also 42yrs of age! - ive been 11st since i was about 16...not budged since! So, wish as i might (and my eating habits show that it's not for lack of trying!) i doubt that i'm ever going to fill out so to speak.

My current club is an ex-gravel pit. 3 conjoined lakes that we can use for separate cruising or racing. Not overly large, but not small either. Well suited to the likes of the laser &, indeed, my Lightning. Must admit, i loved the Supernova at the Dinghy show & the epoxy Streaker was quite funky too.
Anyway, i'm off for pie,chips, mushy peas and a couple of pints of guinness ;-) thanks for the advice...eyes peeled in the mag in future issues.

Lee

ah.... good idea to include that. Lucky you!
Oh dear though...you're making me feel rather old now, for many a long year ago, when the Lightning was being launched, I did some of the sail trials on a cold and damp day on the Hamble River. There was a tie up between the builder and Banks sails...so yes, I've sailed the boat. Since then, I was Race Officer when their Nationals were held at Netley.

Rather than just being a bit of a rambling reply, there is method in my line of thinking. There is nothing wrong in the Lighting in the conditions you describe, equally you could sail a Laser and when overpowered opt for a smaller rig.

But set against these, I still feel the Supernova is a better 'all round' boat. To me, it is more of a 'small big boat' than a 'big small boat'. Sorry if you find this confusing but I think you should be able to follow the drift.

Best solution is to try to borrow a boat that you can sail at your home club, that way you can get a real feel for how you think you will enjoy the longer term ownership experience.

Whatever boat you choose, let us know how you've got on, a picture too, you will be suprised at how many readers have similar questions to the one you have just asked.

ah.... good idea to include that. Lucky you!
Oh dear though...you're making me feel rather old now, for many a long year ago, when the Lightning was being launched, I did some of the sail trials on a cold and damp day on the Hamble River. There was a tie up between the builder and Banks sails...so yes, I've sailed the boat. Since then, I was Race Officer when their Nationals were held at Netley.

Rather than just being a bit of a rambling reply, there is method in my line of thinking. There is nothing wrong in the Lighting in the conditions you describe, equally you could sail a Laser and when overpowered opt for a smaller rig.

But set against these, I still feel the Supernova is a better 'all round' boat. To me, it is more of a 'small big boat' than a 'big small boat'. Sorry if you find this confusing but I think you should be able to follow the drift.

Best solution is to try to borrow a boat that you can sail at your home club, that way you can get a real feel for how you think you will enjoy the longer term ownership experience.

Whatever boat you choose, let us know how you've got on, a picture too, you will be suprised at how many readers have similar questions to the one you have just asked.

Excellent, many thanks. I have to admit, i do rather like my Lightning. I'm a fairly new sailor so it serves it's purpose well as being an easily sailed, well-mannered little boat that, i suspect, i'll keep for at least another 12months whilst i learn & develop further. Doesn't matter whether i have an international canoe or a bosun at this stage (mind you...an international canoe? hmnnnn now there's a thought hahahaha!) - i'm not skilled enough to get the best out of anything right now so the gently gently approach is most logical.
It's the Supernova that i'm erring towards actually. Recommended by a few at my club so, once ive progressed a bit - and stopped coming last in races :-) - i'll start looking seriously at this one.

Cheers.

Lee

if your looking at supernovas. be very careful about splits in the cockpit.

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