Recent content by arfa

I would add a Bristol pilot cutter to the list

a word of caution I have been a happy user of dahons. Until i hit a pothole and heard a crunch on the bike. I stopped checked it over and could identify no problem. Unfortunately i had damaged the folding lock, which being right in the middle of the bike, had borne the brunt of the pothole...

I sail a first 211 and it is basically a big dinghy with a heavyish keel for a light weight boat. 211's point fine up wind but you will have to reduce sail significantly in a force 5 otherwise you'll be flat on your side. Force 5 tends to be my limit but others are happy to sail in heavier...

london clubs I am not a member but if you are centrally based this lot do "tasters" dinghies and yachts www.lcsc.org.uk another one to consider is www.littleshipclub.co.uk Personally i am not a member of either and never have been, but they strike me as good starting points

Sparkes do still offer drysailing - not the cheapest but they're pretty efficient +just need to give them 1 hours notice). It does get a bit busy on the visitors pontoon during the peak times over the summer. Their fees do include storage on the hard over winter if i recall correctly.

http://etapyachting.1a-8568.antagusserver.de/etapyachting/node/200 Bizzare !

OK, I haven't been to this year's show but one of my colleagues went and told me that he was fairly disappointed with the lack of sailing boats at the show. He reported back that he felt it was aimed more at city mobo types and given times in the city, there are probably fewer of the flash harry...

My profile should show that I currently sail a bene 211 - lots of fun but my question is related to the fact it is time for a change. I learnt in a dinghy and I would like to be able to share that with my daughter. The 211 is a great boat for Chichester and should I make the change, I will miss...

Daughter is 9 (going on 19).... Wayfarers I have found to be quite heavy to handle and can be tricky to right at times. I also don't really want to start out with a full kite. Nothing wrong with a wayfarer but I think a 2k would suit our needs better. The next step is to get on the water in one...

In light of all the responses (which have all been interesting) the 2k is probably the right boat for the following reasons: no need for trapeezing no full on spinnaker 2k is lighter and easier to handle for less strong crews. Don't get me wrong, with a properly trained crew, the osprey wins...

Much to be gained by all trying cruising and racing and working out the chancers from those who really know what's what. I am more of a cruiser but knowing racing rules enables you to ask the transgressor "whether they would like you to protest sail number GBRXXXX to the race officer" tends to...

The OP returns.....! What I am looking for is something where the ballast(Dad) and daughter can have a cracking time on the water with a bit of responsiveness without the old boy (me) getting arthritis by having to crouch in the center of the boat to maintain stability. The chances are I will be...

Me on a wire conjures up images of a lost footing and swinging towards the mast like a human wrecking ball - i'll leave that to others !

I get the impression the trapeze is an add on for the 2k and a necessity for the osprey

Cheers folks, lots of good pointers. The shortlist is likely to be the laser 2000 and the osprey with the 2000 marginally ahead as trapezing and full spinnaker might be a bit much at this stage.