Classic boat

Originally posted by Rupert Hmmm...just sold the British Moth, and I do race Fireflies singlehanded most weekends, but both good suggestions, thanks! Of the list, the only unusual one on it of the sort of singlehander we are talking about is the Bonito, which was well and truly killed by the Laser. I have never worked out how it comes to have such a slow yardstick for such a big boat. Anyone here ever sailed one?

We had 7 or 8 Bonitos at my club in the mid 70s, nice offwind but they just didn't want to go upwind. They had a pathetic little daggerboard too from what I recall. They all leaked big time, the fastest Bonito of the day was usually the boat that took least water. Well and truly killed by the mighty Laser!

I'd not seen that! Amazing what is on the web. Looking at the description, I'm not sure it is even worth what he is giving it away for, mind...
As for beauty, I'm sure its mother loved it...

Another Bonito:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300 241658576&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

The rig gives one clue why it was relatively slow. The facts that it is too narrow to provide a righting moment adequate for a decent size rig and that it has a massive wetted area give further clues.

But although slow in light airs, they were winners on handicap in a blow, at least in the hands of a certain 'Chuck Shepherd'.

I remember that boat when it came out as a ToY update. Good idea in its way, as there are no high performance scows for singlehanders in the UK, and the Furball seems to do pretty well for 2 handers. Trouble is, it would have still been slower than a Contender, and harder to sail, and blown away by the 600.

I'd been hoping to get a sail in an OK at the Netley CVRDA Nats, but with a force 5 gusting 6 blowing, it 1) didn't seem like a good idea to borrow a boat and 2) was far too tired from getting the Firefly round the course without swimming. Ah, well, no hurry!