Boats 'sailable' over biggest wind range

Doesn't whether a skiff is "fun" over the widest range depend on your definition of "fun"? Some of the veterans reckon the GP 18s were horrendously difficult in big breeze because they only had two sticks and 16'(?) wingspan, whereas the unrestricted 18s of the 1980s had 22-30 foot wingspan and four rigs including a "piddly little" #4 rig of a mere 27' or so. Other veterans reckon the modern 18s, with their "tiny" 33' tall # rigs, just don't have the light-air grunt of the 1980s boats with their 45' tall sticks.

So what's "fun" in each extreme is all relative I suppose!

12s look really, really good in drifters, to me.

Out of the small sailing craft generally, a long Raceboard windsurfer like a Mistral takes the cake in  some ways; in drifters they go fast because you can (and do) pump, and they can handle the hairy stuff well. I also have to say a Laser seems to have a massive range; it's tough, simple and cheap when it breaks.

Apparently.

Originally posted by Matt Jackson Actually it's a fair point... I was just pulling the Skiff brigades collective leg really. I thought I'd get a better response though.

Please enlighten me with your thinking. All these classes are multi rig
classes. Please explain how they are different boats when they legally
change rigs?

Yeah I know Rich well - I was baiting   Although Ed isn't sailing this year - Chris Etchells is crewing now and doing a rather good job too.

Quicksilver is a rather lovely machine...Although I only ever see the fecking transom as it disappears over the horizon.

Whilst the Contender is awesome in a big wind, it has to be said the Javelin is rather better in the light and marginal trapezing weather. Both are nice looking boats. When I work out a way of keeping the 300, buying a new house and hiding the acquisition of another toy from the wife, I'll have meself a Jav.

Edited by fizzicist