2 Man Boat for Fatties

12 knots uphill is called a misreading GPS, not actual speed.  Thats A-Class Cat territory.  And 14 knots downwind is not that fast, I clocked that in my Vareo with a bit of pushing.  B14's reach 18-20 knots downwind in breeze.

The comment on the hull shape, whilst I will agree that it was designed in 1984 (as old as me), it is very fair and planes easily.  It is impossible to say that the 59er has such a better design to the point that it can make up for less sail area, less righting moment and extra weight.  I will concede that the B14 is slow in the light, but I haven't ever seen a 59er sailing so I can't comment if it is better. 

I still think it is difficult to question the sails - your comment that North haven't been making laminated sails as long as Pryde's is rediculous.  Even if they haven't, they have a load more experience of it, and this is unquestionable.  They make the sails for all the fast yachts and win everything. You say reasonably priced, but we aren't talking about prices. 

From my experiance of the 59er be it only one day. It was windy ut very shifty i felt that there was more than enough power there to carry s fair amount of weight. we sailed it with two 11 and 1/2 stone sailors and we were working very hard all day.

I saw it sail in very light breeze the next week admitaly with only 20 stone on board and it seemed to be in a different leauge to most boats speed wise.

Ok it may say that on the ovi site but it does not say that is the optimum weight! and it says 180kg  in the same line!! 

 I just gave you my point that we were 165kg and would have liked to havee been fatter up wind.

I don't think the question here is which is best - they are both superb boats but as previously stated on this thread targetted at different sailors.  I don't think that there is any question over the fact that ther 59er will carry more weight than a B14 - the original topic of this thread.  I am way too heavy to helm a B14 and usually sail with a novice crew on a small lake.  The B14 needs a little more experience and larger stretches of water to stretch its long legs. 

Tell you what though, crossing a 100 acre pond at 20 knts doesn't half improve your boat handling!

Originally posted by 49erGBR735HSC That's what I was trying to get at russel, don't think theres any point in trying to make a direct comparision between the two boats, but both are really good boats

yeah, but it is progress with the rocker and dead rise being designed  to eliminate more of the drag in the curve to planing than the 49er, let alone the older B14 which as you rightly say is aimed at lighter sailors with a higher expectation of effort for performace- I'vee sailed them a fw times and they are hard work but nice.

My comment vombat was IN a breeze of 12 knts, not at  a speed of 12 or 14. As I said in windier conditions the  B14 is faster. But do you do 6.9 knts uphill in 7 of breeze and 9 off wind in the same?

59er is a light airs rocket designed to  put the fun back into what are average inshore summer conditions for many heavy sailors otherwise overlooked for a modern hike out boat ( or signle trap now)