- Price: from 6,000 euros
- 300 units built since 2001
The objective of this sportboat has always been to remain accessible - in navigation, but also financially. This is why the 5.70 is made of polyester. The hull is reinforced by a longitudinal structure that connects the bottoms to the deck. The latter is made of a 15 mm thick PVC/foam sandwich. The rigging is made of aluminium. The Open is still offered new for ?23,000. The advantage of a second-hand model - especially one of the first units built - is that it costs a quarter of the price..
A downwind sled
The hull is wide, the freeboard is reduced to a minimum and the rigging is slender. The use of this machine is mainly oriented towards regattas or initiation. Upwind, the Open rises to 40° from the wind and quickly stops, from the medium, at a speed of 6 knots. The sailboat turns easily and immediately relaunches. In the breeze, he stays stiff to the canvas. Slightly heeled, the 5.70 passes well in short waves, but expect a permanent shower of spray as soon as the wind exceeds 15 knots. Dinghy atmosphere! The boat is equipped with two rudders that guarantee excellent trajectory control. The bar of 5.70 is very low and angled. We steer the boat with the stick. When unbridled, you gain one to two knots and the hull flattens from 13 knots of real wind thanks to the imposing asymmetrical spinnaker.
Everything for the cockpit
The cockpit of the 5.70, with only one deck, is reminiscent of a light dinghy. We sit down at the abseil, with our feet in the straps, resting on one of the two footrests. The muffled jib sheets and a deck fittings very close to that of a light dinghy make it possible to get the most out of the boat. The jib is mounted on a furler. The mast, on the other hand, is pivoting in order to offer an optimal profile. Don't rely on balconies, spinners, anchor lockers or cleats; these attributes of a pure cruiser have no place here! For hawsers and fenders, we manage as best we can. Rigging, sheeting bar, blockers... fortunately the boat is light!
A more than rustic cabin...
In the early 2000s, the manufacturer would also have liked to promote fleet raids. Despite its impressive potential, the boat remains easy to manage, even in pairs. But the comfort offered is minimal. Nothing to do with the one offered by a Micro (Microsail, First 18...). Access through the round bridge panel is not easy - it is installed vertically. Once inside, you will quickly notice the absence of ventilation, berths and the height under bars limited to 1.05 m. As you can see, the Open 5.70 cabin is more like a storage volume. But the most motivated can inflate a mattress there.
The diagnosis of Bateaux.com
If the Open 5.70 can be used for raid and fast ballad, it is above all a small regatta keelboat. Which has undergone some changes since 2001: new mast, mainsail with horn, larger spinnaker, Harken fittings and above all new rudder mechanism. For a second-hand purchase, it is therefore preferable to opt for a racing unit, if only to take advantage of the (convincing) evolutions of this small car. The big advantage of the 5.70 is that it can be easily transported behind a medium-displacement car. A strong... argument!
The advantages of lithium technology
- Exceptional performance, especially downwind
- Ergonomics of the cockpit
- Ease of operation
The disadvantages
But what is it missing?
A simpler and faster implementation - the Open 500, the little brother of 5.70, scores points in this respect.
The equivalent today?
The new First 18, of course - it's a carbon copy of the Seascape. But also the Django SF 18 - which is none other than the Speed Feet.
