Recommended Classes

This summary of classes is to help you choose a boat to sail at Staunton Harold . It does NOT cover all the classes that are available, but instead concentrates on the ones that are particularly suitable for racing at SHSC. Choosing a class that has a regular following at the club is very important:

• You immediately "join the community" of that class.
• You can get advice and guidance, help and support from existing class members.
• There is a range of second-hand boats, bits and a good source of second-hand sails if yours need replacing!
• When the time comes to upgrade or replace the boat, you should still find a good second-hand market.

• 

  Comet

  A great blend of performance, versatility and ease of handling make sure that Comet sailing is always enjoyable. Deceptively fast in light winds and plenty of sail area that is easy to reef in breezier conditions, means no excuses for not being out on the water under any conditions! Quick to rig and with a roomy cockpit what more could you want?

• 

  Enterprise

  The Enterprise is a two-person, non-trapeze, non-spinnaker boat with a crew weight of 120-140Kg (18 to 22 stone. It was designed in 1956 and raced through-out the UK. Second hand boats can be found anywhere from £100 to £7500 - although the boats below about £750 may need quite a bit of tender love and care to keep them going! Wood or fibreglass.

• 

  Fireball

  The Fireball is a two-person boat with trapeze and symmetric spinnaker. Crew weight of 127-158Kg (20-25 stone). A high performance two person symmetric spinnaker racing dinghy. Fast and exhilarating yet forgiving enough for beginners. Designed in 1962, very popular worldwide with numbers over 15000. Wooden or fibreglass. Available for any price from £500 to £10,000. The Fireball is suitable for all wind conditions, on any style of race course making it an excellent choice for sailing at Staunton Harold reservoir. This is the second largest fleet at the Club.

• 

  GP14

  The GP14 fleet at Staunton Harold comprises around 8 boats. Three or more can be seen racing competitively each weekend and during the week or cruising our pleasant waters. The fleet members are a mixture of gender and age. GP14 members at Staunton Harold can be found travelling to Open meetings, Area Championships, and Regattas held on inland waters or on the coast.

• 

  Laser

  The Laser may become known as the Kirby Torch....
  Bruce Kirby, the designer of the Laser, has recently been involved in a legal dispute about unpaid royalties. As a result he has withdrawn building rights from one of the current manufacturers, Laser Performance, which supplies boats in the UK and North America.
  
  Kirby has set up a new company to produce a boat called the Kirby Torch which will be identical to the existing Laser. The Kirby Torch builders have said that all ISAF-plaqued Lasers (basically all existing boats) will be regarded as class legal in the Kirby Torch fleet.
  
  These changes are unlikely to have any impact on club sailing, other than possibly a change of Fleet name at some time in the future.
  
  At the time of writing there is also no indication from the international Laser Class Association and UK Laser Association websites that racing at a national or international level will be affected.
  
  The overall message is that whether it's a Laser or a Kirby Torch don't have any hesitation about buying and enjoying sailing it !
  
  At SHSC we are fortunate to have a very active racing membership across the spectrum of abilities. Competitive sailors can enjoy racing alongside (or slightly behind) accomplished and renowned champions, whilst newcomers to the fleet find plenty of accompaniment throughout the race. Due to the high number of competitors, final positions can vary greatly from race to race which keeps the fleet vibrant and exciting.

• 

  Menagerie

  Any boat with a Portsmouth Yardstick number no lower than 900, and which does not have a fixed keel, may sail on the Clubs water and take part in racing. Sailboards are also welcome.

• 

  Optimist

  An optimist is a perfect boat to learn to sail and have fun in yet can extend to being in a big competitive event with 300+ boats. It is a boat that you can start sailing as a beginner, or compete as an experienced sailor. Optimists are made of wood, plastic or glass fibre and anyone can sail one up to about 50kg body weight. It is a RYA recognised junior class, up to age 15 and can be very competitive and great fun.

• 

  Phantom

  Crew issues? Single handed sailing? Out Grown your laser? Slowing down your Solo? Then look No Further The Phantom could just be the answer.... with variable rigs to accomadate a vast range of weights, shapes and sizes, The Phantom offers competitive sailing,that is rewarding, though occasionally challenging, The Phantom, comes with a built in grin factor ... Please contact Steve G for the test drive of your next boat."
  The Phantom was designed by Paul Wright and Brian Taylor in 1971. A Phantom sailor shouldn't weigh less than 10 stone, and is most suitable for those in the weight range of 12 -18 stone(76 -115 Kg). Latterly the design has been modified to incorporate self draining cockpits and carbon spars.

• 

  RS200

  The RS200 is ideally suited to sailing the shifty winds at Staunton Harold Sailing Club. She is a fantastic two person non-trapeze high performance asymmetric racing dinghy, aimed at crew weights 17 to 23 stone. The RS200 provides fun and excitement for helm and crew of all ages.

• 

  Scorpion

  The Scorpion is a modern boat. Since its design and first launch in 1960, the Scorpion has adopted developments over the years to become the present modern competitive sailing dinghy.

• 

  Solo

  The National Solo is a classic, one-design, single handed dinghy. Designed by Jack Holt in 1956,the Solo remains a popular dinghy, sailed at many clubs in the UK, Holland and Australia.
  
  Originally designed in wood, competitive boats are now widely available in Foam Reinforced Plastic (FRP) or composite construction (FRP hull and wood deck) as well as wood.
  

• 

  Topper

  The Topper requires little maintenance, is easily rigged in a matter of minutes, is rugged and safe for beginners and is an exciting race boat too as your skills develop and like the Mirror and Optimist is car-toppable so transporting a Topper is a simple task. The aluminum mast comes in two sections allowing the spars to be stored within the length of the boat (and easily transported by car), combined with a swivelling mast gate enables you to erect the mast single-handed. The standard 5.2sq m sail can be reefed around the mast to reduce sail area or you can use the new 4.2sq m sail.

• 

  RS Feva

  The RS Feva is a two person youth class, though it is also sailed and raced by parents plus child or by an adult single handed.
  
  It was designed in 2002 and over 2000 have now been built. Crew weight 80-115Kg (12 to 18 stone). The asymmetric kite provides great training practise for many of the other modern classes, while the polypropelene construction makes it very tough.
  

• 

  420

  The 420 is an established performance two person trapeze and spinnaker youth racing dinghy. There are 56,000 worldwide. This popular dinghy is sailed at school, club, open, national and international levels.
  Ideal crew weight range 100kg-130kg

• Windsurfing

  Windsurfing is often recognised as an extreme sport that provides limitless thrills and excitement in a range of disciplines. However, it is also a great way for the whole family to enjoy a beach holiday or have an active day out on the water at a more laid back pace. Whether your aspirations are to ride big waves, to compete in slalom or course racing, to sail freestyle, or just to sail for fun whilst on holiday with the family, there will be something for you.