Recommend me a single hander sailing dinghy please

[Alfachats]

Hello all,

I'm a returning sailer, I did a bit of dinghy sailing when I was younger and also when I was in the Royal Navy but I last sailed over 15 years ago, now in my fifties and living in Falmouth Ive decided to get back on the water so me and the wife joined a local sailing club and have enjoyed spending the season smoking around in the clubs Wayfarers.

However I work shifts and often have weird time off during the week so would like a single hander to have some fun in and maybe take part in the clubs racing program (all handicap, no fleet racing) if I get good enough, I'm currently booked in at a local sailing school to redo my level 2 hopefully bring my skills back up to date and will hopefully be looking to buy a boat before the start of next season.

So, which boat to buy, I'm 51 years old, 5' 7", 90kgs and average fitness level, budget is 1k - 1.5k, and I'd like something I can pull up a slip by myself, possibly light and small enough to go on a roof rack. In a perfect world I'd love a RS Aero as I think it ticks all my boxes but they are a fair bit out of my budget. I guess the obvious choice would be a Laser, Ive seen a few for sale that are in budget and some come with a few rig options, TBH thats probably what I'll end up with but it would be nice to get a few other people opinions.

Many thanks,

Roger

 

[Teko]

For that sort of money you can't go wrong with a laser, doesn't matter where you go there's always another laser to race against, which is better having some one to compare against on the water rather then wanting for the results to be published

 

[jwilson]

When I was your age and owning a heavy cruising long-keeler I bought a (full rig) Laser. Within a few months my teenage son had more or less taken it over, so I bought another. His ended up with new sail and thin strings for racing, and the bottom polished. Mine stayed a simple "beach boat", just minutes from arriving at the boat to sailing. You will capsize though, unless you are exceptionally good or never go out in a bit of wind.

For some years I had an Enterprise, but it came with a "cruising rig" as well as the full rig. I would use the full rig singlehanded in up to about F4, feathering the main to windward but planing beautifully offwind. Over that I'd use the smaller sails. For singlehanding any dinghy benefits from a smaller sail option for windy days.

I've sailed lots of dinghies over the years, and if it didn't plane, I didn't want one. From my window in Falmouth I often see reefed-down Wayfarers pottering about in quite light winds: I'd hate that, but each to their own.

 

[Daydream believer]

Whilst a laser is a good SH boat perhaps a solo may fit the bill. A couple of people I know sail & like them.
At our club we have a growing Sprint fleet but a cat will not go on the roof of the car. Good single hander though & quite exciting
One changed hands within your budget recently, but then needed tidying up a bit.
I found a buyer for my Phantom earlier this year, within 1 hour of placing on the website . Now I regret it.

 

[ashtead]

If you want something cheaper but not so much fun a secondhand topper -my concern with a laser would be the bit about a roof rack but clearly you might not fancy an optimist . I would just settle for a laser secondhand to start with as also easily tradable and a variety of rigs to suit different wind strengths etc . I would just have a look at what’s in your yacht clubs in Falmouth and stick with mainstream -in days of old Cadet dinghies seemed popular . Always loved sailing Lasers when on med holidays but slightly warmer waters and various rig sizes is a useful option

 

[Caraway]

If you haven't a tow bar, get one. Roof-racking a decent dinghy is not an easy prospect. Useful for launching single handed as well.
I can't image putting a Solo on a roof rack.

 

[Skylark]

Welcome to the forum, Roger,

I recommend a Solo as a gentleman's single handed dinghy. It looks like a real boat, is comfortable and is easily launched and recovered. Quite rewarding to sail as it has lots of pieces of string to pull to control sail shape etc but still sails ok with a bad trimmer at the helm (like me)

Available with wood or grp hull and a range of mast stiffnesses to suit helm weight.

For me, the Laser was designed by the Devil. At my age, I can't easily get under the boom and get frustrated by it's cynical act of catching the main sheet under the quarter.

 

[Robin]

My SH dinghy was an OK no roof racker though. Have friends with delightful 'scows' very pretty, different ones but around here Lymington scows predominate but not for single handed roof racking. Laser seems a no brainer option really.

 

[dunedin]

A cheap old Laser if you like to keep it simple, quick to rig, able to go on a roof rack (probably with a helper) and don’t want to worry about it lying in dinghy parks unused when otherwise busy. A Solo if you prefer a more complex boat with more controls, and a mast/boom up cover, but it will not thrive on neglect.
In either case sail when other boats around (eg in the club sailing) as might be a bit rusty and could capsize, when you might discover that (at least initially) you are less nimble when righting than 20 years ago. Enjoy.
PS. Weight wise forget the Topper option, but a Phantom could be worth considering.