best skiff

Right - I used to race cherubs, but now have a 49er. I am selling the 49er coz it just doesnt compare to a 12footer! You have to try it! The 9er has awesum power, but all you do is sit on the wire and push it - its stupidly forgiving and as tim said, no sence of speed - so unless your sailing against other 9ers, you dont know if youve maxed out or not! where as a cherub is so light and nimble you know when you are going fast or slow, you actually feel what the boat is doing. Speed wise, in say F5 with kites - cherubs can pull away from Int 14's, 49ers (which only need 85% of an 18footers power to match speed) so really, in these conditions cherubs are the 'best' - but then upwind they generally get peeved on!

My bro has a B14 - Its a nice sit on boat, good upwind and for pointing ability - but no good in handicap racing as shes too over powered and has to spill in a F3 + - this is when I used to skip by in my cherub! Dont even get me started on a vortex - not even a boat! Its a pants cat, and a pants monohull- it has its uses, but it cant be classed as a skiff! Thats like sayin the laser funboat is a skiff?!?!?!?

Why is it that the UK 9er and RS sailors dont seem to have any perspective on the outside world of sailing? Think it was Jim before who mentioned the 16footer - this is anoter mental craft! Or there is the Libera C class..................

All im getting at is that you cant nok it til youve tried it! Ive been around a bit in the sailing world - and im still coming back to cherubs, what can that say!

Check out the Scottish skiff racing results from Helensburgh SC at the weekend.

http://www.scottishskiffracing.com/HelensburghResultsApril05 .htm

So in Scotland they include the Vortex as a skiff - interesting concept as nobody can decide if it is a cat or a dinghy. (That is not an invitation to start that discussion again!!!!)

Why is it included in skiff racing in Scotland?

right so you start the topic saying.... " i think 18 foot 49er or b14"

and now you "still think 14 49er 29er 800 and 700 al the boats you need"

Seems to be a slight difference in what you're saying here as the 18footer and b14 now don't even feature in your top skiffs.

Which do you ACTUALLY think, or shall we just list them all?

excellent photo's as well. whoever took them must be some kind of pro! 

seems that this is going to turn out to be quite an opinionated discussion once again! The fact that the topic title is "best skiff" seems to keep the topic wide open... best at what?!

If it's speed then it's got to be the 18 or more accessible the 49er, but then again if it's pure thrills then its got to be the 12 or cherub. I've sailed both the 49er and the cherub in the last few weeks and they are completely different beasts. The 49er has awesome power but is relatively stable so you don't really get any feeling of speed (until you go past some lesser craft!) The cherub is ridiculously fast off the wind and very lively so you definitely feel it! But due to its upwind performance in sub planing conditions it couldn't be considered as the best.



Check the cherub pics from the blast at the weekend in the photos section.