What type of dinghy is right for me?

A selection of boats designed to help sailors get on the water for the first time, or build their confidence by learning the core skills of Can This Boat Sail Better – Course made good, Trim, Balance, Sail setting, (Centre/Dagger) Board. 

Bahia: A double-hander that’s quite happy with a crew of up to five, the Bahia is what you’ll likely step into on our Start Sailing course. These boats are large, comfortable, and stable, so they’re great for getting accustomed to the roles of helm and crew.  

Pico: A charming little boat to step into for your first time sailing solo, the Pico is a great boat for kids. Being 3.50m long, with a hull weight of 70kg, smaller sailors can handle the Pico with ease. Get the feel of hiking out and racing before moving on to something a bit more challenging. 

Hartley 10: A great entry-level single-hander for kids and small adults, with a wide, stable hull, and a high boom that makes tacks and gybes forgiving! It can be sailed by two people, and can also be reefed in a bigger breeze.

RS Feva: A great one for kids, this double-hander is perfect for beginners as it’s tame on the water, but gives little ones great racing once they’re comfortable with the boat. The Feva also has a spinnaker, giving an added element of interest to more comfortable sailors

For those that have sailed before and are comfortable tacking and gybing and are ready to try a race or two. 

Topper Argo: 14 foot of fun! Great for intermediate sailors, this boat - with its spinnaker - sails more like a performance dinghy, offering great racing for both young sailors and adults. 

Laser 1: You’ll see a lot of Lasers at our beachclubs, and that’s because they’re great for progressing skills. First designed in 1969, they’ve remained a stalwart in the single-hander market. Versatility comes from several rig sizes – the standard, the radial and the 4.7. The rig you go out with depends on your size, your sailing capability, and the conditions. The standard sail is 7m², while the radial is 5.8m², and the 4.7 is – yep, you guessed it – 4.7m². Your Neilson beachie will be able to help you get rigged accordingly on the day. 

Hobie 15: This cat can be crewed by two or three, but the boat will take up to five if you’re just looking to potter about on the water. Very forgiving, and fantastic fun, Hobies are pretty tricky to capsize, meaning you can whizz about on the water without worrying about having to right it. 

Dart 16: Another cat that’s great for both older kids and adults. This boat has purposely been kept simple, allowing helm to focus on steering and crew to concentrate on trapezing and kite trimming. 

For sailors who are very comfortable on the water, regularly race, and are ready to take the next step up (or just have a laugh) in our glorious waters.

RS 200: Universally popular, the RS 200 is a fantastic stepping stone for sailors with a bit more experience on the water. A hiking boat with three sails totalling 20m², the 200 is undeniably fun. This boat offers plenty of space for helm and crew while getting up on the side to hike out is one easy hop. With the kite properly trimmed, the 200 seems to take off. Universally popular, and for good reason.

Laser 2000: Similar to the RS 200 in setup, the Laser 2000 is notably more stable and suitable for slightly larger crew weight. An all-round well-behaved boat, the 2000 makes racing as easy as it can, with elastic righting lines and a spinnaker that’s easy to hoist and drop, even when capsized.

Wayfarer: Known for a high-quality design and build, the Wayfarer has been popular - especially for coastal sailing - for a long time. This boat is comfortable sailing two-up, but with such a roomy cockpit, the whole family can pile in with ease. A big, comfortable boat that’s stable and fun for the whole family.

Supernova: Designed as a more performance-based boat than the Laser, the Supernova is great for crews between 60-90kg. The kicker, outhaul, and Cunningham are all easily adjusted while sailing, allowing the helm to cope with shifting conditions while racing. To summarise the Supernova? Easy to sail, but difficult to sail well.

RS CAT16: A great cat for single-handers with more experience, the CAT16 offers a trapeze for exhilarating racing. With great stability comes the option to sail two-up, leaving the trapeze for either crew or helm. Wave-piercing bows make this a forgiving boat to sail, even in chop.

Topper Topaz 14CX: A single-handed asymmetric spinnaker cat, this boat gets really exciting. Despite being a performance boat, the 14CX is designed to be manageable by young and lightweight crews. Continuous lines keep things tidy and easy to grab from one hull.

Laser Vago: To be sailed single or double-handed, the Vago offers an asymmetric spinnaker as well as a single trapeze. A furling jib makes launch and recovery a breeze, as does single line spinnaker hoist and drop. A great boat for those looking to build skills trapezing on a mono-hull boat.