High Performance Boats

You can still put a smaller kite on the 505, you don't need to go for the largest size to be the quickest. From my memory, and I'm sure Lozza will correct me if I'm wrong but we went quite quick in one reggatta using more of a reaching kite and sailing angles instead of straight downwind. Also there was another boat with as small, if not smaller kite battling with us for positions at the front of the fleet.

The 4000 could be put on a diet like the 3000 although reckon it would kill the class as there would be a split between the old and new boats, and why buy a light 4000 which is probably going to be 890 on PY if its lucky when there is a perfectly good, faster and cheaper alternative in the form of the RS800? The 800 is a fairly forgiving boat and on a par difficulty wise to the 4000, so why design a boat to do what the 800 does already?  

Indeed, according to my calcs, if you bring the 505 down to 100kg all-up - not unreasonable with a re-deck - the PY wil be somewhere around 850-860, and the boat will still be easy to sail (appreciably nicer than a 4k). Stick an asymmetric on it and I'd probably buy one.

As for 'too big for restricted waters', when I bought a 505 years ago, a Nat 12 sailor described it as a 'big boy's 12'. It roll tacks nicely and is much more tractable than most boats of that overall speed. I'd like another if it weren't for that kite, esp. the new 'downhill-only' one.

everyone sems to get really hung-up on PY rating, and I don't understand why. I've sailed boats with PY's of 950+ which are much quicker and more fun than other boats with PY's of sub 850.

The PY system isn't a real way to judge a boat's performance. It's like judging how quick and fun a car is by the BHP (I guarantee that a Lotus Elise is quicker and more fun than a lardy Bentley with twice the BHP!).

Typically to increase a boat's PY, you need to increase it's length to make it quicker upwind and when displacement sailing, hence making it less dynamic. You have to ask yourself whether you want a lardy bentley to "waft" around the course in at high speed but in confort, or whether you want to tear-ass round in a go-cart with your hair on fire.

If you want the former, buy based on PY, if you want the latter, buy based on "less is more" (i.e. shorter and lighter is always quicker and more fun).

For my money a 97-rules single-wire Cherub is the Chaterham 7 of dinghy's (and the 12ft skiff is a bit more like the konniggseggg!).

If you've never tried a short, light boat, do it. there's never been a better time...