Ross 780, Looking for Ross 780 Owners Options

[thumper]

I have a Ross 780 Mk1 and am looking for other owners to confer with about all aspects of owning this boat, anybody out there?

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[Polio]

I have a Ross 780 Mk1 and am looking for other owners to confer with about all aspects of owning this boat, anybody out there?

Used to race the larger 930 (didn't own it though) -- fun boats. We had a code 3 jib, code 5 main and code 6 spin. The 930s were over powered upwind and way under powered down. 3 of the 4 local boats went to jibs with tracks upwind and oversize or mast head spins. Also, the boats are not pointing machines (don't try it doesn't work).

Lastly get the NZ built ones instead of the carol marine ones -- better keel joint.

[DaveK]

I helped out on a 830 a couple of weeks ago. I think it was it's maiden race for the new owner. The self tacking jib was cheesy and had funky cut off clew. Wouldn't point at all and we ran aground which cost us about a half hour. Other than that, I had a great time. Nice boat that seemed very tough. We run aground on hard things not soft sandy mud.

I think once he gets its tuned in it'll be a fast boat.

[DaveK]

Also, after looking at your boat, it seems really similar....... even the rigging!!

[Hitchhiker]

I have a Ross 780 Mk1 and am looking for other owners to confer with about all aspects of owning this boat, anybody out there?

This is the one at Kaneohe Yacht Club, right?

[kiwi4shore]

Good fun boats that will give you as much as you give them.
We put an overlapper on ours that was a bit larger than the class No1 headsail.This made a huge difference in light winds.
Use the traveller a lot.
If you have the skinny mast(single spreader) use the runners for up wind work in anything above 15knots.More to stop the mast working than sail shape.
One here has gone to double spreaders with twin side stays.One set to the masthead.Running a masthead genny from a Magic25.Gone from a fixed prod to a retractable(surgery involved)also from a magic.
Wings(outboard seats) fitted in forward part of cockpit.
All this is still being played around with but appears to work.Fun factor is high.
Next obvious addition is a bulb as these are fairly tender boats anyway.
Started the additions with the idea tgat all could be easily removed and the boat would be a 780 again.Retractable prod ended that so no restrictions on modernisation now(apart from wallet).

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[phum]

I have a NZ. built mark 1 .
Hasn't seen the water for a while, started doing small patchups but the to list has grown.
It has had a 1.2 metre longer 3 spreader mast with runners fitted.
Fin has been extended by 800mm.
Kiwi4shore , I would be interested in your ideas for the bulb mod.
Peter

[Obsessed]

There are heaps of 780's in Aus ranging from mk I through to the new build mk IVe.

The man in the know seems to be rolls ross who frequents here and sportsboat anarchy. There is also a reasonable amount of info on other websites.

Have been touted as the best true racer/cruising trailerbale. They do win plenty of events so they cant be too bad.

[Flynn]

Hey Thumper.. I have a Ross780 ( class ) what are you after?

What are you looking for?

Flynn

[kiwi4shore]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/B...n-226064196.htm

[kiwi4shore]

I have a NZ. built mark 1 .
Hasn't seen the water for a while, started doing small patchups but the to list has grown.
It has had a 1.2 metre longer 3 spreader mast with runners fitted.
Fin has been extended by 800mm.
Kiwi4shore , I would be interested in your ideas for the bulb mod.
Peter

Not my boat,but semi involved.Thinking torpedo shape bulb taken from the same mold as the one on my boat.

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[Lonelyboy15]

Yep Rolls Ross over in sportsboat A is your man. Knows the exact location and history of every Ross 780 ever launched.
Great boats. Fair winds.

[Great Red Shark]

So, Thump, is she done yet or still in Mapunapuna ? - I spied it in Jimmy's shed last month. Boy, that boat sure sat un-loved for a long time at KYC, glad to hear it'll be active again.

That self-tacking scheme sure makes going forward look a bit like crossing a minefield, though. My bud Tom B was sailing one of those down on Planet Guam a few years back & did extensive re-fitting (probably hurricane related since they get one there every half-hour) - I'll put in a call and see what he knows. Best luck with it.

[thumper]

"KAVA" is a KYC Boat. Shouuld be back this week and hopefully sailing by Sunday. Keel trunk repair, transom cutout, and hull paint above and below the water. She will remain stock to preserve PH rating.

[phum]

I have a NZ. built mark 1 .
Hasn't seen the water for a while, started doing small patchups but the to list has grown.
It has had a 1.2 metre longer 3 spreader mast with runners fitted.
Fin has been extended by 800mm.
Kiwi4shore , I would be interested in your ideas for the bulb mod.
Peter

Not my boat,but semi involved.Thinking torpedo shape bulb taken from the same mold as the one on my boat.

WOW.

any idea of the weight? Is it bolted to the origional fin or a new fin with all the lead in the bulb used?
Have you any photos of the other modded Ross's mentioned?
Peter

[rastus]

Wardik780 sometimes lurks around SBA
He has a modded 1 and helped organise the NZ 780 nationals
I think he has been sailing a modded 930 of late

[doubledark]

 300109_Bill__s_Pics_36.JPG ( 372.17K ) Number of downloads: 140

I have a NZ. built mark 1 .
Hasn't seen the water for a while, started doing small patchups but the to list has grown.
It has had a 1.2 metre longer 3 spreader mast with runners fitted.
Fin has been extended by 800mm.
Kiwi4shore , I would be interested in your ideas for the bulb mod.
Peter

Not my boat,but semi involved.Thinking torpedo shape bulb taken from the same mold as the one on my boat.

WOW.

any idea of the weight? Is it bolted to the origional fin or a new fin with all the lead in the bulb used?
Have you any photos of the other modded Ross's mentioned?
Peter

there is a ross 780 in nelson nz that has put a bulb on the existing board with the correction weights out of the bottom of the boat , a squire head main and genoa. but dose not seem to go any faster ?
it sailed in the invitation race at the nationals this year and did not make much of a impression on the rest of the 780s
last i heard that he was going to take the bulb off .boat sail number 3387 in photo

[huwp]

Sailed on a Mk1 with 8 ft added to the rig, 2 foot prod and 300 kilos bolted to the bottom of the board. The thing went downhill great but they still dont like going uphill in any breeze

[TwoHeadsAreBette...]

I owned a Mk 1 for several years, great boat, what do you want to know? We had standard racing mast, but added jumpers and Masthead kite (Etchells kite with 1 metre of cloth added to the middle).

Rolls Ross very much an authority. There used to be a Ross 780 owners group at NineMSN, but the user group facility has been closed. Rolls may be able to point you in the direction of any new group. Otherwise, there are a number of 780 owners at http://www.trailersailerplace.com.au

cheers

Two Heads

[Bill E Goat]

The boats are great, but the owners I know are bad bad bad and dangerous to be around

[Edake]

I helped out on a 830 a couple of weeks ago. I think it was it's maiden race for the new owner. The self tacking jib was cheesy and had funky cut off clew. Wouldn't point at all and we ran aground which cost us about a half hour. Other than that, I had a great time. Nice boat that seemed very tough. We run aground on hard things not soft sandy mud.

I think once he gets its tuned in it'll be a fast boat.

The 830 we had was a National champ in JOG Div 2. We did do a lot of mods to it to make it go upwind. Downwind with 7/8ths kite and strong conditions we would go as fast as the Mount Gay 30's. They are an absolute buzz at above 16 kns!. I reckon they plane like a Mumm 30 in such conditions. The 780 looks a bit less sail area to displacement though so may not be as much fun downhill.

[Heaven can wait]

Here's a Pic of Rolls Ross the 780 and "The other Woman" and an 830 that have sailed in and won the HCW 24-hour in their respective Divisions.

For more Pic's and there are many goto www.heavencanwait.com.au and goto the Gallery. There are many 780 and 830 Pic's there.

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[rastus]

 300109_Bill__s_Pics_36.JPG ( 372.17K ) Number of downloads: 140

I have a NZ. built mark 1 .
Hasn't seen the water for a while, started doing small patchups but the to list has grown.
It has had a 1.2 metre longer 3 spreader mast with runners fitted.
Fin has been extended by 800mm.
Kiwi4shore , I would be interested in your ideas for the bulb mod.
Peter

Not my boat,but semi involved.Thinking torpedo shape bulb taken from the same mold as the one on my boat.

WOW.

any idea of the weight? Is it bolted to the origional fin or a new fin with all the lead in the bulb used?
Have you any photos of the other modded Ross's mentioned?
Peter

there is a ross 780 in nelson nz that has put a bulb on the existing board with the correction weights out of the bottom of the boat , a squire head main and genoa. but dose not seem to go any faster ?
it sailed in the invitation race at the nationals this year and did not make much of a impression on the rest of the 780s
last i heard that he was going to take the bulb off .boat sail number 3387 in photo

Double dark
I remember that scene well I ran that race
there are however two boats with the same sail number and one of those won that race

[phum]

Correction on post #7,
Should read extended by 200mm., got my metrics and proper measurements confused.
Hello Peter from TAS.
Peter

[5 kt Shitbox]

Raced against one regularly in Alaska. Crewed on it one day in about 25 knot gusts. Word, on them not going upwind well in a lot of breeze. In the gusts you have this great dynamic where the boat quickly heels and you travel down until you run out and she keeps going so you dump the main out but the boom is so long it hits the water before the pressure is off. Meanwhile you've lost your bite and are sitting on those flat topsides basically going sideways until the wind eases or you dump the vang. Can't steer, all foils are stalled or out of the water. Happened once just as we came off the rail to tack away from the rocky shore. Really held our attention for a few moments... Another day it was blowing over 30 probably gusting near 40. He and I were the only ones to go out. (I'm crazy, he was out of throw outs). He was over 100 feet ahead at the start, we put a quarter mile on him on a one-mile beat. We were sailing a 1978 Spirit 28 (PHRF 195) with the #4 and a single reef. Luffing most of the main and occasionally putting the turnbuckles in the water. We went through his lee pointing about 20 degrees higher and going at least a knot and a half faster. I screamed "How are my shaft zincs?!" as we went by! We both chickened out on the spinnakers and just sailed JaM back to the finish. He was a good 250 yards ahead of me at the finish. Next race I shook the reef for the downwind run and poled the jib. We were close to halfway down the run to the finish when he turned the windward mark and he still edged me by half a boat length at the finish. Of course we killed him on corrected time since he was getting 156 for a rating.

Reaching is where that boat really shines. Crack off onto a reach of any kind and it'll leave surprisingly large boats in the dust.

Just so nobody yells pics or it never happened:

(IMG:http://www.ketchikanyachtclub.org/photos/images/1.jpg)

Us pre-start for second race.

(IMG:http://www.ketchikanyachtclub.org/photos/images/2.jpg)

Him rounding the weather mark. Both shot from shore with telephoto lenses by Carl Thompson (check out the sailboats link down on the left side)

Somewhere in my crap I have the shots of the first start and a good one of us at the finish.