Yay, buying a boat!

[Dale_tem]

A 14' dinghy, but I cannot wait.

The Topper Xenon. It hasn't got the best reputation, but I think some of that is brand snobbery. It was a choice between the Laser 2000, RS Vision and the Xenon. I've sailed the Xenon and the Vision and preferred the xenon. The 2000 is supposed to be the best of the bunch, but I prefer the layout and design of the Xenon.

I pick it up in 2 weeks and then me and my girls (wife and 2 girls) can go sailing whenever we want

 

[bindex]

Enjoy it Dale!
Personally I prefer something with an engine, but that's just me We've tried a few boating holidays, always enjoyable, but I'm no expert by any means!

 

[CaveDweller]

A lot of sailing is down to brand snobbery I'm afraid. Hope you have fun in it though they are good boats in my eyes Where about's do you sail?

I learnt to sail in a Topper when I was 5 in 1992, the really old ones though that are made of wobbly plastic. My dad taught me to sail because he couldn't keep up with me windsurfing which he taught me at the age of 3, so at least he could keep up with me in a boat He still has the Topper and an Optimist laying about somewhere but he uses his Dart 16 now. He's getting too old now at 88 to sail it by himself so I take him out in it now and again for a plod about. He made a few boats by hand as well but they got to the point where he was working on them more than they were "sea worthy".

I got a job at a local water sports centre when I was 13 and my boss put me straight through for my RYA instructors certificates for both sailing and windsurfing. He also encouraged me to enter a few freestyle competitions for windsurfing which I'm glad I did. Thanks to my dad I was already a whizz at both before I started working there so my boss was pretty impressed. My classes were not so impressed though with being taught by someone who was young enough to be their kid, so it made it quite a challenge for me. I still teach both today now and again when the centre is stuck for staff because I'm good mates with the owner. I've worked in Turkey and Egypt for a couple of years as well before I settled down to do spray painting to give me a steady income rather than seasonal. The centre did put me through my BASI certificates for teaching skiing and snowboarding, which again my dad taught me, but I fancied a job in the warm don't know why I'm still in Scotland then.

I have two wee boys of my own now, aged 4 and 5. They love going out on the Dart with me and my dad. I plan on teaching them everything I know like my dad did with me. My dad loves it because it was just like when he took me out all the time, lots of good memories I'm sure he'll be at it for a good couple of years yet. He's 88 now and he still goes out skiing and just recently bought a new KTM motorbike lol.

 

[Dale_tem]

I've been sailing since I was 3, started crewing (rather than just being in the boat) around 6 and moved on from there. Mirror with my dad, then optimist, Mirror single handed, Topper, Laser and then 420. Also crewing various other boats. I did up to level 4 (the racing one) on the old RYA level structure.

I sadly stopped dinghy sailing when I was 16 due to other interests and never really picked it up. Been sailing on yachts a few times a year ever since. Raced a few days in Cowes week 2 years ago on a Clipper 68.

I finally persuaded the wife to come sailing with me and the 4 of us went out in a club boat a few times last year. Now we have finally made the big step and purchased a dinghy. My eldest (7) wants to start in the Oppies soon which will be great.

I'm also looking forward to some single handed sailing in the Xenon

 

[andyo]

Looks like it would be great to sail. I came to dingy sailing late (about 15 yrs ago, mid-40s) and have 2 Toppers that I still sail on the sea on the Isle of Wight. That whetted my appetite and I did Day Skipper, and now sail big boats and race whenever I can. Fits in v well with photography, I've found, and have some great pictures from Cowes Weeks and also a holiday in W Scotland.

Enjoy the dinghy!