29er xx

Originally posted by m_liddell it looks like the boat the 29er should have been.

the 29er is exactly the boat it should be - the best new class of the last thirty years in my opinion. Whether it would have been better to use a purpose designed hull for the two string version is an interesting question - you could certainly argue that a shape that's a bit more tolerant to heel could be good in a two string boat. You could also argue that if the 29er construction is right for the 29er it might be a bit underspecced for the bigger rigged boat. Personally I would at least use different layups. But on the marketing side Bethwaite has been seen to be very enthused by the Laser/Radial/4.7 marketing advantages and that might have been a factor.

I think that the XX is much more designed as a women's olympic boat as opposed to just another class to steal Cherub sailors and any other twin-wire skiff.  The men have got the laser, 470, and 49er whereas the women have only got the europe and 470 so i think they want a more high performance olympic boat. Also, why isn't there a women's catamaran??  And also...m_liddel i don't think the XX is anything like the lame topper twin-wire funboat and having seen one racing at my club last week it seems a lot faster!  And, mike ellis you can't go far on this forum without the Cherub Crew descending on you like a ton of bricks the moment you mention anything against cherubs.

Edited by Prince Buster

i want 1 (wen i get enough money).

I have sailed the 29er XX but when it still had the 59er main and the flatter kite when I was at the 29er Euros in Denmark. The 29er Hull does not have a problem taking the bigger rig because 29ers could be much lighter but they made them heavier to make them more durable and so they were racable for much longer.

I sailed one without the rakes, but it was really really nice to sail. It felt a little odd since i have been sailing 29ers for 2 years. Upwind it feels really smooth but slightly underpowered but we were sailing it with the flatter main and we were 142kg. Once your both flat lining then the boat goes very quick we were only comparing it to 49ers but it wasnt far off there pace at all. Downwind the kite was a little to flat but the boat certainly when quick, we were match 49er speeds but just not going as low as them.

Quite a few of us sailed it and we all thought that the optimum weight must be around 125-135kg but as soon as people of different weights start sailing it we will not know.

I think it will take off as the are alot of girls that want to sail 49ers in the Olympics but arnt big enough, and even if its not an Olympic boat it will still take off as an easy progression from 29ers. It will be interesting to see what its like compared with the RS800.

I would sail one but then whats the point when I could get a 49er lol

Originally posted by Prince Buster    The men have got the laser, 470, and 49er whereas the women have only got the europe and 470 so i think they want a more high performance olympic boat.

Have you been in a Coma since the athens olympics?! The Radial is the womens singlehander now.