Europe or Radial?

Roadie

Member
So I'm around 5 foot and 65kg and pretty stocky. I currently sail a Splash but I have sort of grown out of it a bit. I was wondering if you guys think I would suit a Radial or a Europe better? I sail on a small, very gusty lake. I don't really like lasers that much (hence the reason I choose the splash not a 4.7 but I could live with a laser) but I have also heard Europe's are better on big waters with big wind and waves. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Roadie
 
Hardly anybody sails a Europe anymore.Therefore, if you want competition, the Torch (formerly Laser) is the way to go. If you just want to mess around, it's up to you.
I have read that the Europe is a really nice boat but considerably more expensive than the Kirby Torch, and not exactly one-design either.
 
I've owned both, and tbe Europe is a fun boat for a small-to-medium sized person. It was more technical boat than a Radial in terms of controls. Ditto on no boats to race against.

Had you orignally bought a 4.7, you would now need only to buy a Radial rig. Same will apply for a full rig in a couple of years.
 
It is untrue that the Europe dinghy isn't sailed anymore. About 20.000 sailors race or sail recreational the Europe today. I know the Europe well, a really nice boat to sail, but personally I don't sail her, as I am to long and to fat for her (otherwise, I would have had already changed out of Laser back to Europe, already some years ago):D. The costs of a new Europe with full racing equipment is definitely 2000-3000 Euro more, than for a brand new Laser Radial Version XD. "Roadie" your length and your weight is perfect to sail both. Try to find someone, that let you sail his/her Europe for an afternoon and you find out what's better for you. In the Moment, I wouldn't give any trustful advise to buy a brand new Laser or Kirby Torch. There is a trademark lawsuit going on, at an US Court. Nobody (beside of the judge, of course) actually is trustful able to foresee the result of this lawsuit. So, if actually you decide to buy a Laser Radial, take a used boat with sailnumber lower than ~ 201.500 (built earlier than January 2011) and you will definitely be permitted to switch to the class name Kirby Torch, if Laser loses the right to exsist on earth, sentenced by this US Court.

Additional infos for Europe dinghies you find here:

http://www.europeclass.org/introduction.html

And here a the GER Europe class Webside (use an online translation tool):
http://europe-class.de/index.php/die-europe-ein-portrait
http://europe-class.de/index.php/die-europe

Ciao
LooserLu
 
Hardly anybody sails a Europe anymore.Therefore, if you want competition, the Torch (formerly Laser) is the way to go. If you just want to mess around, it's up to you..
I agree with LooserLu that this statement is an oversimplification and that the Europe is still alive in (you guessed it) Europe; I was just thinking about the Northern American market.
 
Agree with LooserLu... though would add that if all you want to do is race at your local club, then turn up there - and see what they race - no point turning up with a Laser when they all race something else like a Splash or a Byte etc... When I was a teenager I sailed a national only class called a Starling, and had some excellent racing. Had a try in the Europe years back then, but decided to sail what was more popular locally (on a small, gusty lake). If you have aspirations to sail at an international level, then I think the Laser offers more choice outside of Europe - but don't limit yourself - the Splash seems to be growing here and seems to have a strong youth following. The Europe class grew in popularity outside of Europe when it was chosen as the women's Olympic class then declined. There are still fleets here and there... What Wavedancer said about North America is the same for here in New Zealand, I can't recall the last time I saw one in the water or heard about an event... though on the Europe association website says the class is sailed here in New Zealand... (maybe they are and I'm not aware of it...) My advice is to sail what the locals sail... unless you are going to race internationally level...
 

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