timentide

Thanks Gavin. I think you have clarified very well the confusion I felt about learning on differing classes and will now continue my search for a reasonable secondhand IOM. If the class has such helpful sailors as you I am sure I will enjoy the learning process and racing with you all. .

Thank you Gavin and Brad for your advice, iOS much appreciated. I understand the comments on how you learn the ropes and it takes time and possible damage to your yachting the meantime. I also appreciate that IOM racing is the class racing to have for size of fleets,clubs racing them and top sailors taking part but it was the initial cost of say a good secondhand IOM being equal or exceeding the cost of a new DF95. Whilst learning I thought that to eliminate variations in hull shape would take one less variable away when judging my own progress. Perhaps the way is to learn on a DF95 and when the time is right to move up to Iom. I am sure you are all aware of the growth in DF65/95 racing fleets in the UK and worldwide so finding a club should not pose a problem. Thanks again for the advice and those of BG also. I am off to the world's in France in May so hope to pick a few more brains there!

I am very new to RC yachts and have been trying to research which class of yacht to get. The more I read about the top end helmsmen in this class the more they seem to be using the same hulls and rigs. Is this one design racing under the guise of a development class? Is everyone waiting for a design breakthrough? Instead of getting a secondhand IOM to race against the leading design, why should I not just get a DF95 and go one design racing for the same cost? Am I missing something here for example when the gear guide says Britpop in a trial fact they are all modified by their owners but still call them Britpops? Can someone please enlighten me so a yacht can be bought soon. Thanks in advance.