The R class skiff

Originally posted by Jack Sparrow Originally posted by Guest#260 I wasn't thinking the Cherubs would align as they are quite different but the R's and 12's seem quite similar. Perhaps the Cherub could work towards it ... Is this not similar to the unification of the I14 over the years? Rick The UK Cherub's are actually quite similar to 'R's and '12's' in fact we have more upwind sail area than 'R's. We are twin string but have limited our kites to 21 sqm. Where as the 'R's are unlimited kites but they must fit within a maximum circumference circle. The '12's are unlimited, but there small rigs - ( when it gets to 15 -20 knots ) are around the same as UK Cherubs, but a little more in the kite. The AUS Cherub's are quite different to 'R's and '12's' and UK Cherubs. One string and smaller white sails and kites. I'm not sure if that has cleared things up or made things more confusing!?

Crystal ...

In an odd way, these classes are in a similar position to the local one designs that used to flourish around the british coast, but which have faded with the advent firstly of National classes after the war, and then with big manufacturers selling on a national scale. The best of them (X boats and St Mawes one designs spring to mind) are still doing well, but many of them are almost gone.

I would think that the bigger distances involved in competing on an open circuit down under have encouraged local classes (of a rather more exciting nature!) to remain.

I wasn't thinking the Cherubs would align as they are quite different but the R's and 12's seem quite similar. Perhaps the Cherub could work towards it ...

Is this not similar to the unification of the I14 over the years?

Rick

In NZ back in the 50s there were three classes of performance boats about 12ft: Cherub, Q and R.
The Cherub was around 110 sq ft sails, 1 string,
The R was I think around 200 sq ft sails
The Q was unlimited sail multiple rigs.

Cherubs tended to be teenagers and a bit older (although older sailors had them too, notably a couple called Frank and Nel Bethwaite who must have been late twenties or early 30s)

Rs and Qs were much more adults boats. I think there may have been a tendency for Q in Auckland and R in (windy) Wellington, but I could be wrong.

The Cherubs migrated to Aus, with Frank Bethwaite being one of the factors, and the Qs sort of merged with the Australian 12 foot skiffs. The Rs remained unique to NZ.

Nowadays the Cherubs are more or less extinct in NZ, but are very strong in AUS, more or less to their orginal rules other than a sprit kite and a tad more white sail.

So the difference between the multiple rig unlimited rag 12 footer and the R is really quite distinct and logical. Its just that 12s with the small rig happen to measure as Rs.

The NZ 12's grew out of the Q class.

 As for minium weight R class rules dont have one. I think there down to 30kgs and 12's are 45kgs. Alot of the 12's, Stagecoach included, race as 12's and R's.

R's are 12'9" long

Acer is a Sydney based 12. the way to pick the R class is the sail nos.12's don't have them or have a look at the profiles part on the 12 footer web site.

www.skiff.org.au

As for the UK churbs racing agains the twelves COME ON DOWN!!! I think you will have a good time