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Angus, I'm getting the same problem with my son regarding handicap. I started in a Mirror 30 years ago and there were usually several others to race against.
There are a couple of Design 8s in the club.
Regarding the wooden bit - it would be negotiable for the right boat. I saw the advert and thought that it looked like an attractive boat.
The one I saw for sale is 1702 on ebay. There's also 3456 in Glasgow.

Tim,
 yes I am facing a certain amount of confusion. Previously I have raced in one-design classes - Mirror, Topper, British Moth, Firefly, Laser 2 and not experienced the dilemmas of development classes. I have looked quite a lot at this site and been canvassing opinions from friends at my current and previous clubs. The 12 is a new class to me since joining Desborough earlier this year. Currently they don't use a different handicap for a vintage 12.

I'm looking for a third boat now as my wife would like to sail too - she has done some, but just needs practice. We have three young boys who need to be enthused about sailing and it makes child care much easier if we can all go out on the water.

With this in mind we are looking for something that is not too radical,
Farily responsive in light winds which is the general weather.
Not requiring a heavy weight crew - currently son and me combined weight is around 16 stone and less for son and wife.

Son number one thinks that fleet sailing will be easier to get to grips
with but  I don't think that he will be terribly impressed with the
excuse that Dad bought the wrong sort of boat.

I think the question is less about three boats than three _wooden_ boats.
thanks

dan

Hi,
I was talking at my sailing club (Desborough) to one of the 12 owners there. He thought that the price for this one (£550) was a bit high.The advert says that she was recently restored.I also saw an advert there for Crested Grebe which is a more modern design.
The pictures of the vintage 12 show a pretty boat - possibly not the most competetive boat but as long as I can keep up with the rest then it should keep number one son happy - winning on handicap is not so satisfactory.

On the other hand my wife asks whether I need a third wooden boat as well as the Mirror and British Moth.

I suppose I wasn't very clear. My options are either to buy a 12 and sail in the 12 fleet against other 12s i.e. with no correction or buy something else and sail in the handicap fleet.
My real question is how competetive a clinker built vintage 12 is against later designs. Generally flukey light winds (like most river sailing).

I already have my Mirror thank you and the yardstick is locally adjusted (raised).

I've recently joined a club with a fleet of 12s and it may be the way to solve my son's problem. I've explained the handicap system to him but he still doesn't get that I can finish half an hour later in my Mirror and still get a decent place, I suspect that if I get something with a low handicap and finish "first" on elapsed time and then get a low place he will feel cheated.
This leaves joining the fleet racing i.e. a 12. Most of the 12s are fairly recent but I've just spotted a vintage one not too far away. How competetive will it be for inland river sailing? I suppose that a lot will be down to skill and experience.
Is it possible to upgrade rigging on these boats?

thanks