Swift Solo

Originally posted by Chris 249

Bram, I didn't intend to get antagonistic. You have created a very fine boat and made many people very happy. Congratulations.

I suppose I merely believe that if you put up detailed comparisons with
other boats and say other designers are wrong, surely it would be also
OK for us to express some opposing views. 

I cannot find any place where  I quoted you as saying "I
have raced a number of IC's over time and have found them to be
faster". The only SS v Canoe info I have is from your post about
Huntington 2004 which did NOT specify a wind range in which the Canoe
was faster upwind.

I apologise for writing that the results at Huntington were
"conclusive, canoes faster". I should have said that at the 
Huntington regatta 2004, the most of the Canoes (all but one non-spin)
beat the two SSs and the MPS, but it was only one regatta and not
conclusive. Mea culpa.

When I referred to a "confrontation" between you and Pau Bieker, I was referring to the fact that (as you say) 
Paul (like most skiff designers) believes that adding beam generally increases
speed, whereas you do not believe it does (in this situation). You have opposing views. That's
all. 

All I have been trying to do is to
illustrate the fact that there ARE opposing views, and we are NOT
arrogant if we choose not to simply assume that you are right when
there is good evidence for another view. I reckon easing the jib as in
your system works wonders BUT there are some very smart guys (ie Steve
Clark) who reckon linked sheets are not all that great and surely their
views should be given equal time?

"As
for suggesting that Julian believes that the single handed skiff battle
will ultimately be won by a skiff with a wide beam, you're just going
to have to show me where he said that or some evidence that he believes
it."

I never said that Julian said wide beam is the answer  - in fact
what Julian said  was that he did NOT believe that
wings, kites and traps are the answer to a fast singlehanded mono. 

"As
pointed out in other forums Chris, you have no trouble with the Musto
claim of being "The only true single handed skiff available" 

I DO think the Musto claim is a bit silly, and if the MPS guys were
here and were making unfavourable direct comparisons with
competitors,  I'd almost certainly
give them a ragging about their claim.  Just like their comment
that all true
skiffs have clean decks, 'taint true. 

"but have
trouble with "ultimate" even though the definition has been quoted to
you several times."

But the definition you've given (IIRC "the ultimate easy to sail
singlehanded skiff" is not the bit I'm quoting - which is on the top of
the first page of your website.

http://www.single-handedskiffs.com/pages/453349/index.htm

The heading doesn't contain any "explanation" or watering-down of the
claim - it merely says "the ultimate single-handed skiff". 

The website also DOES still claim that the SS is "simply the fastest
and easiest-handling singlehanded skiff available". No ifs, no buts, no
qualifiers - just "the fastest". That's the claim. 

Anyway, sorry to get into an argument about it. The SS is a great looking boat. It will probably be a screamer.

Yes, many of the claims made for the SS may merely be marketing. I just
don't know we why cannot express our doubts about such claims. 

 Maybe I expressed myself poorly and appeared overly negative. If so I apologise, but please remember
that you have said some fairly blunt and negative things about other singlehanders!

PS 

By the way, on page 4 of this thread "Furtive" wrote;
"Quote from their website: "The Swift is
different from most other boats because of the effect of the fully
battened main and the light hull weight."

Light hull weight?? 89kg doesn't sound very light to me. And come to
think of it, a fully-battened main is hardly unique either."

You replied;

"Regarding the alleged quote:

“Quote
from their website: "The Swift is different from most other boats
because of the effect of the fully battened main and the light hull
weight."

Light
hull weight?? 89kg doesn't sound very light to me. And come to think of
it, a fully-battened main is hardly unique either.”

I have no idea where this alleged quote from “their website” came from.  Our website has no such information.  Any suggestion that there is something special about fully battened mains would be ridiculous."

On http://www.single-handedskiffs.com/pages/453352/index.htm
you'll
find that exact quote, under "Handling" and "Leaving the beach". OK
"Furtive" may have quoted out of context, but the website DOES have
such information.

Edited by Chris 249