| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ndx |
Posted - 07 Jul 2014 : 22:20:19
Hello guys !
I just registered on the Forum and wanted to say hello. I'm a French guy living in Croydon (Surrey). I'm looking for a dinghy to sail with my family (my wife and 2 girls aged 5 and 9), it looks like the Stratos is perfect for that. I'm also considering a Laser 4000 but I feel there's less room for the child and I'm afraid it might be difficult to sail.
I sailed was I was younger, roughly 15 years ago, on Optimist, Laser, Topper, 320, Hobby cat, 420, 470 and a couple of others I I forgot names... So I'm a re-beginner as I have to re-learn how to sail.
Any advice is welcome !
Nicolas. |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| m80 |
Posted - 24 Jul 2014 : 16:34:40
I'll agree about the sail foam float, in fact if water is getting in there it might well help it turtle.
I've found the windage on the hull makes a big difference in a good breeze. W/o a good sized float the wind on the hull just causes it to go all the way. I'm only 70kg and if it wants to turtle it will and bringing it back is near impossible as the wind gets onto the rising uncleated sales, and down she goes again.
I practiced many capsizes a couple of weeks ago trying different techniques. 'If' I could cause the sail to turn up wind I believe the righting with the wind now helping would be much easier, with the ballast tanks preventing the secondary capsize.
For now I'll sail with a 40 litre+ float.
Martin. |
| Mike Rowe |
Posted - 23 Jul 2014 : 20:05:10
Hi,
I've found the float sewn into the sail a complete waste of time. The Stratos seems quite keen to turtle. I've a broken mast to prove it!
These days I use the keel sail (without the sewn in float).
If it's blowing hard I use the 40 litre float. It doesn't look pretty but I never turtled when capsized.
(I seem to recall a post somewhere else on this forum about mast floats where someone said they could walk along the mast when capsized with the 40 litre float and it won't turtle).
Hope this helps,
Mike |
| ndx |
Posted - 22 Jul 2014 : 22:12:32
I tried a 2000 last week-end, it's a nice boat but a little small for a family. I also like the idea of the automatic reefing on the Stratos, reefing a 2000 afloat is just good for instructors !
So I have a Stratos now ! A blue hull with a centerboard, unusual.
I did not searched too far away, it's the Sail# 139 on sale on this Forum ;)
I did a big cleanup this evening, the deck was brown. The karcher made it almost white :D Next step is to change most of the ropes, change the cover and add a kite (it's missing). I ordered both the cover and the kite from sailregister.co.uk, they sounded serious and their prices are correct.
I'll sail it at Weir Wood (thanks NickM for the tip), I went there last week for a training and found the club super friendly. I also plan to bring it to France for one week at the end of August (Les Sables d'Olonne), hoping the weather will be nice enough for a few tacks on the ocean.
About the mast head float, I feel the crewsaver 40 L is a overkill: I capsized a 2000 last week-end and the bag was hardly in the water. I know the stratos is a little bigger, but wouldn't 10 L be enough ? There is also a little buoyancy from the top of the main sail.
Nicolas. |
| sboot |
Posted - 11 Jul 2014 : 13:25:13
The stratos is an excellent family boat. We have 4 Kids and it will take all 6 of us. It is stable to learn on and very forgiving, but also it is a fast and exciting boat which still sails remarkably well on inland lakes with light and changeable winds. As the children have got older they love to play with the trapeze which adds more excitemnt to the mix. The only down side I have is the weight for pulling up the slipway, as for 2 adults it is hard work. May be worth considering the Laser 2000 which is similar but a little smaller. All in All i would thoroughly recommend the Stratos. |
| ndx |
Posted - 08 Jul 2014 : 21:20:55
I visited a couple of reservoirs in West London, Island Barn seems to have a friendly club.
I also went to Mercers Lake, my daughter had a training last week-end there (level 1), though I wanted to rent a dinghy with my wife and the other girl but they had nothing available on Saturday nor on Sunday. I concluded buying a boat was the way to go to sail freely. They had some Stratos and it looks like a stable large boat, ideal for a family.
I also plan to train on the Thames, I work close to Westminster and there is a club there sailing in week-days evening.
I'll have a look at Weir Wood Sailing Club, it's a bit far but not that far. Thanks. |
| NickM |
Posted - 07 Jul 2014 : 23:12:50
Hi Nicolas,
The Stratos is certainly the sort of boat you should consider for your family, though there are probably other options too. We have so many different classes in the UK it is quite confusing.
It sounds as though your first step will be to find somewhere convenient to sail and then to do some refresher lessons. Many, but not all clubs, offer adult sailing coaching. They are usually accredited to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA.) I suggest you also check also their facilities for teaching children. Children usually enjoy learning to sail more if there are other children to learn with and have a bit of fun. Check out this link on the Yachts and Yachting website for the location of clubs near you. http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/club/ I don't know much about them all but certainly Weir Wood Sailing Club near East Grinstead, has a good reputation. Whatever club you go to, people can advise you on what other boats might suit, but don't forget to check back on this website for a good Laser Stratos for sale! Bonne Chance!
Nick
NickM |
|
|
