Conference unifix::sailing

    Bob,
    
    Years back I used to sail a Hobie cat (16) and an 18' Prindle on
    Barnegat Bay by Surf City/Ship Bottom.  Best winds were in March.
    Just a bit on the chilly side, but, we didn't seem to notice it
    too much.
    
    Best of luck.
    
    Al

    
    
    	Those things they were racing in the movies looked pretty
    Australian-ish; pole out the bow with big fat reacher-looking jib.
    There's a production boat made by the J folks called something like
    JY-15 which looks considerably tougher than the spindly racing craft in
    the movie.
    
    	470s are also sailed with trapezes, tho no big monster jib.
    
    	Fun Stuff!
    
    	Scott.

    I thought they were International 14s.

    If you look closely in some of the supposed 12M racing
    footage, you can see lifelines on the boat. Artistic
    license I think they call it.
    
    -Tom

    RE: the 16ft boats
    
    I haven't seen the film, but here in Sydney we have a class of boat
    called skiffs, which race round the harbour like you wouldn't believe.
    
    These are 18ft long, which includes three or four feet of bowsprit,
    have a fairly flat hull, trapezes out each side, and normally have
    three crew.  It is a major sight to see one of these flying to
    windward, with all three crew standing on edge of the trapeze to keep
    the boat trimmed (the helmsman uses a five foot extension on the
    tiller, so he can get his weight up).
    
    The feeling when one of these passes you is similar to driving your
    station wagon down the freeway, and a motorcycle roars past.
    
    There is a very competitive series run on the skiffs, with plenty of
    corporate sponserships.
    
    cheers
    
    ..klaas..

    	I'm pretty sure the dinghys in the movie are "International 14"s 
    though I haven't seen the movie, but seem to remember hearing reviews
    and comments of the 14 footage. The description also sounds like a 14,
    dual trapeze, open cockpit and asymetric chute off a bow pole. I think
    it's pretty easy to get into one, for about 12 - 14 K bucks. I'd love 
    to sail one some day, but I don't need to spend that sort of money to
    own one. 
    	470s, there are some to be had out there for reasonable prices. 
    I got mine 7 years ago for, I think, $650. I sailed it hard for 3 +
    seasons, but after damage and buying a bigger boat I haven't used it
    much for a while. This boat was an absoloute blast! best 650 I ever
    spent! What a hot little machine. These only have one trapeze and the 
    spinnakers are symmetric on a regular everyday, on the mast, type pole. 
    Still, when you get two people hiking, one on the trapeze and you have 
    it ballanced on a plane, wow, this baby sreams (and I hoot and holler)
    and it is a very wet ride. 
    	 A boat which I think would be a great small boat that can could be
    both casual with a few people on board or high strung with two
    agressive sailors on board is a laser II. The laser 2 strikes me as a 
    very useable boat, sort of family oriented, but still capable of
    getting up on a plane cooking. 
    	Of course if you're looking at probably single handing all the time
    you might consider a Laser. I think Lasers are pretty nice boats and 
    with three different size rigs a very effective sailer in a variety 
    of wind conditions. They've got all kinds of neat trimming go fasts 
    and have been elected to replace the Flying DUtchman in the Olympics. 
    Now this boat is nothing like a Flying Dutchman and how it ever got 
    ellected to replace an FD is beyond me, but it's an Olympic boat now. 
    
    I commented to someone the other day that Flying Scots appear to be a
    well maintained and active class that can be both sailed fast and
    daysailed easy. I've never sailed one, but sailing next to one in my
    470 I thought it looked big and heavy, but was passing me in the dead
    air that day I had heavy crew on board. Brand new they're priced around
    8K, but it is an old, established class and there are used ones out
    there. 
    
    	Maybe more will come to mind later, but right now I have to turn
    off an oven.
    
    Geoff

    I recently bought a Laser II for the reasons that are described in that
    last reply.  Mostly, I wanted a boat that I could launch and sail
    single handed and then again, have a crew member with me.  The Laser II
    has a lot of sail area (including a spinnaker) and a trapeze.  I
    enjoyed owning a catamaran the most but a Laser II is a good compromise
    between thrilling sailing and the simplicity that I described above.
    
    Bob

    
    Hmmm, I know this is straying from the base note a bit, but I seem to
    be on a bent to buy a new boat soon.  (If the answer to the following
    is in here, somewhere, would someone please provide a pointer.)
    
    ?? What are the fundamental differences between a Laser II and a
       Laser-classic ??
    
    I'd probably opt for the "simplicity" factor, as I may have to sail it
    single-handed at any given time, but my SO and I might well spend a lot
    of time on it together.  Note: It must be trailable.  
    
    ?? Is there any small-class boat that offers dual traps, but is also
    feasible for single-handed sailing ??
    
    /bob/
     

    Laser I (Classic) is single sail, about 7 square metres, the mast fits 
    in a sheaf along the sail.  It is a superb single hander, but no trapeze 
    as with the Contender for example. 
    As of Force 4 winds it is extremly fast for it's size, (surfs like
    crazy) but the single sail and no trapeze make for a boat with a lot of 
    weather helm.
    
    Laser II, as far as I know is more traditionally rigged, stays n'all,
    with a trapeze available as an option on the "regatta" model. I have
    never sailed a Laser II, but would guess it to be a more balanced boat
    - less weather helm... The molded deck is different too, allowing for
    two people to sit fairly comfortably on board. 
    
    Paul

    re: .8
    
    Bob,
    
    Hobie 14's and 16's fit your requirement. I've trailered and sailed
    both for years. On a 16, it took approx 40 minutes to step the mast,
    put on the rudders, sails, etc and launch. This was a leasurly pace and
    done single-handed. It's not a monohaul, but is dual trapped with room
    for two and sailable/launchable by one.
    
    Robert

    re .10  Used to do a 16 in 15 minutes in a non leasurely pace ;>)
    
    A Hobie 17 or Sport 17 (17 with a jib) can be put together by 1
    person easily, points like a monohull, has wings to keep one dry and
    increase room.
    
    Now that they have been out for 4-5 years, the price of used ones is
    quite reasonable.
    
    john

J boats attempted to set up a one-design International 14 a couple of years ago.
I don't know what became of it. 14's are really big in the UK, as the class
rules are very evolutionary, allowing whacky things like twin wires, asymmetric
kites and fully battened mylar mainsails.

The class has been around a very long time ( 50+ years ?? ) and one, belonging
to the Cowes based designer Uffa Fox, claims to be the first planing dinghy.
I believe trapezes first appeared on 14's.

Chris