17 replies to this topic

[Amati]

Anybody know?

[tikipete]

I'd never heard of a vortex. Weta does pretty well when the wind comes up. The few pictures I saw vortex drives the bow in pretty easily. I've never actually sailed a Weta but I have been on the same course with them and thought they did very well. NOTHING packs up as neatly as a Weta, they deserve some sort of award for that.

[RedTuna]

Weta 2012 PY is 930. The Vortex is/was 937 with the kite.

[Amati]

Tiki- you might mean this video? In case anyone doesnt know what a vortex turbo might be...


Check out this video on YouTube:




Sent from my iPad

[tikipete]

The video I saw of the vortex had no kite, that's when it was driving the bow under so badly. Having watched the video above I'd say the numbers are accurate.

The Weta uses more of a reacher than true spinnaker, I've often wondered why. I'm not a designer but it seems they'd get much better vmg if they sailed deeper. If I had to guess it's ease of use with a furler.

Single handing a spin boat is a lot of work!

[RedTuna]

Cool little boat. I'd never heard of a Vortex before. Are you sailing one, Amati?

[Major Tom]

1331993246[/url]' post='3630857']
Cool little boat. I'd never heard of a Vortex before. Are you sailing one, Amati?

AFAIK the Vortex was built by PSE (Laser UK) a number of years ago as an attempt to allow a multihull to be allowed to sail at traditional 'gravel pit' clubs. Like most Laser built classes it sold a couple in a short period then was discontinued. It looks like it might be a slightly better performer with a small self tacking jib.

[narecet]

Tiki- you might mean this video? In case anyone doesnt know what a vortex turbo might be...


Check out this video on YouTube:

At 1:10 we can see the hull shape Bob wrote about in his review (boat is flipped.)

Thank you for the video!

[andyxs]

I had one, was very very fun in wind, light winds you had to sail it from infornt of the mast as it had ALOT of drag. the asym kit was awesome and lit the boat up,

[Amati]

Cool little boat. I'd never heard of a Vortex before. Are you sailing one, Amati?

Nope. Getting one into the US was, um, not easy, and I lost interest.

But the tunnel hull approach is interesting....

[EarthBM]

The difference is that with a Weta you at least have a chance of having more than yourself to sail with/against

[eric e]

fun looking little boat with the spin up

pity the video doesn't show the deploy or recovery of that deep-cut spin from the bag? on the tramp

as noted that's where a solo-spin boat often gets tricky

[Amati]

Jo Richards must lead an interesting inner life.

[Simon Raglione-Hall]

pity the video doesn't show the deploy or recovery of that deep-cut spin from the bag? on the tramp

It's important to note it isn't built like a cat, it doesn't have a tramp, just a single GRP tunnel hull. Dimensionally it is the same size, give or take, as a laser. It's just rectangular when viewed from above.

Spinnaker launch and retrieval is dead easy and works like most single handed dinghies now. Chute up the front leading into a sock and a self launching / retracting pole.

Bear way off wind, arm over arm on the halyard, set the main to about a "fetching" position, set the kite, head up and go. Recovery is the opposite. Boat is a much more stable platform than a conventionally shaped monohull for getting kite up and down (15m2)

Without the kite they can stick their nose down at times in a blow but the class are in the middle of developing a T-foil for the rudder.

I had one and loved it, used to be parked next to a Weta. Weta was a nice looking bit of kit but never looked that involving to sail and the furling kite thing didn't seem to go very deep down wind?

[bhyde]

couple of pictures showing the unique hull design.

with kite
 vortex.jpg   132.83K   78 downloads

and without
 vortex2.jpg   91.7K   81 downloads

[unShirley]

and without
 vortex2.jpg   91.7K   81 downloads

another MAMIN boat

[RedTuna]

Another

bleeding edge high speed racer

for the discriminating MAMIN?

[unShirley]

Laser Vortex (turbo) vs. Weta How do they compare sailing side by side?

I have never seen a Vortex but the pictures look pretty cool. The video of it sailing look like it is similar to WETA although more prone to pitchpoling.

sitting side by side two things I notice: The WETA looks more comfortable to sail, but the Vortex looks like it will go from trailer to sailing quicker.