Today I saw a Ross 780 at Sandringham for sale.
They look like a fast cruising boat. This one looked
like it needed some TLC running rigging etc. but priced
accordingly. Not sure as it was an older one but have
seen some newer models raced and they seem tender
without lots of crew.
hope this sorta helps.
I raced on a ross 780 for several years and found it to be a very fast conventional trailer sailer with a great internal lay out. side by side the assametric powered elliott 780 is faster around the race track but less head room and cruising abillity. A compromise in the middle may be a young 780 rocket.
Have fun sailing what ever you end up with.
I have a Elliot 780 but mine is a special version which is more fit out to cruise (this is a relative statement). E780's are a fair bit faster than a R780 and weigh a lot less. They have a BIG asymmetrical kite while a R780 (as far as I know) have a large symmetrical kite.
A typical E780 has nothing downstairs other than an esky while a R780 has all of your cruising comforts. My E780 and about 2 others that i know of that were made by the same guy have a larger cabin, pop top, sink, 2 quarter berths and a v berth and a toilet but still very bare bones compared to a R780.
Work out what you want to do ie: cruise or race. If you want to do both then work out how fast you want to go versus how little comfort you can live with while cruising. Also think about other similar boats that are at your club/nearby that you can race against. There is no point being the fastest boat by a mile because you just sail around by yourself.
