Modern concepts and materials have turned the dinghy market on its head in recent years: favourable offers thanks to rotomoulded technology, super-simple gennaker single-line systems that even beginners can quickly get to grips with, slimmed-down but functional technology. The innovations in this direction come mainly from England: RS, Laser and Topper are the names of the companies that have recently caused a furore with new models. RS's latest addition is the very spacious and stable Venture, which is primarily aimed at family crews of several people and sailing schools. At Laser, it is the Bahia, and at Topper, a manufacturer that is still unjustly underestimated in Germany, it is the Omega. The three compete against another extremely easy to sail but rocket-fast dinghy from the British Isles, the X-0.
All boats can be sailed without a harness, do not require any artistic agility and can also be manoeuvred by a family crew for an afternoon outing. Comfortable benches, transport boxes, oarlocks, motor mounts - the manufacturers have clearly endeavoured to make them suitable for everyday use and touring. Nevertheless, they have sporty reserves: gennaker or spinnaker are included or can be ordered as an extra, the harness can be retrofitted. These are boats that grow with the skills of their owners, so to speak.
YACHT tested the four candidates for three days on the Flensburg Fjord. You can read all about which boat is suitable for which crew and which has which weaknesses in detail in the new YACHT.
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
