Comet launch their new Racer

Does the dinghy world want or need another two-man 14 foot asymmetric dinghy?

The London Boat Show is the prime UK showcase for the release of new and upgraded products. Among all the glitz and glitter of the yachts and powerboats the dinghy manufacturers retain a slender hold. In a market that has seen a considerable consolidation over recent years the major players seem to have decided to concentrate on their existing ranges, building on recently introduced classes.

LDC have fleshed out their range with the mini sportsboat K6, the asymmetric singlehander RS700 and the multi-role Vario, all introduced last year. Laser are showing their established range plus the mini keelboat, the SB3, introduced at the Southampton Show and now shown in production mode. Topper are showing something new, the Taz, a kind of 'Oppi on steroids', rounding out the bottom end of their range.

It has been left to the smaller manufacturers to launch new products. Comet Dinghies are showing their new Phil Morrison-designed Comet Race and first reaction has to be - another 14 foot racing dinghy?



Comet feel that they have something that will provide a real alternative for someone looking for a modern asymmetric dinghy, maybe not an out and out racer with the Open circuit in mind, but suitable for club racing and having all the latest features.

The hull certainly looks the part, not fully self-draining, allowing a comfortable sit-in attitude but with a hull that looks like it would recover well in a capsize.

The rig is a standard aluminium set up with single-spreader shrouds and lowers and a soft Mylar mainsail with full-length top batten is teamed with a Dacron jib and an asymmetric spinnaker fitted in a simple clip-in bag pack.

A fairly high boom location aids movement about the boat and the open hull style layout makes for plenty of room.

Controls are led to the centre thwart and the mainsheet is an aft bridle leading to a centre mainsheet swivel jammer on the centre spine.

The pole for the asymmetric is adjustable, improving downwind performance and a centreboard is used rather than a daggerboard, making launching and retrieving easier.

Projected Portsmouth number for the Comet Racer is quoted as 1050. This puts it in RS200, Laser 2000, Scorpion territory and considerably quicker than an Enterprise or GP14.

The 13-14 foot size range is full of old and new designs and the problems of further diluting existing classes will not be something that will prevent a manufacturer from launching a new product in order to expand or fill a gap in their existing range, whatever the class associations may think. Comet feel they have something to offer and the market will decide.