A little bird told me...

Originally posted by NeilP I've certainly never seen a boat get a bad review in Y&Y. They even gushed over the "new" Kestrel a few years back. Not that the Kestrel is an awful boat, just a bit ordinary, the Vauxhall Vectra of the sailing world. Y&Y absolutely loved it though. Nothing to do with the advertising revenue? No, I thought not...

Not sure that is really fair. Back when the Kestrel was reviewed I bet their monthly revenue from Richard C Hartley Boatbuilders (as it was then) was a pittence.

Originally posted by Doug.H G.R.F I hate to put a wee pin prick in your mighty bubble but flick through any old copies of Y&Y you might have lying around and find a negative boat review. Go on, I dare you! Doug H

Y&Y seem to find the best in all boats; I have never seen one given a Clarkson style panning...

You may argue that is because all boats meet their design brief ...

Originally posted by Medway Maniac [ it all depends on your base-line.

And their lies the problem.

I could read a test of a 49er written as it only could be by folk capable of
believing they can sail a 49er (which as we all know they can't)in the
conditions pertinent to me and it would be wrong.

What's more, I doubt the regular Y&Y Team would even wish to comment
on a boat like that for fear of higher echelon ridicule which again would
be wrong, the folk that need to read tests could never sail to the same
standard as Pro guys which in a way is why reviews and chitter chatter on
forums like this, populated by middle of the road enthusiasts are actually
more relevant.

My base line has been transparent all along, a mediochre boat handler,
but a good tactical 'sailor' albeit from another branch of competition
sailing. My experience limited to Single wire Assys but with the
requirement of Sea Handling and often extreme at that.

So in a way any test they carry out in Chichester Harbour or on Datchet or
QM will not necessarily be relevant, but I would read with interest a
comparison say of Iso's, L4000's V3000's 50's RS500 & The Alto with
maybe a comedy addition of the Vago to illustrate a potentially good boat
ruined by 'modern' manufacturing convenience.

I think a few of us have been saying this for a long time but it seems to fall upon deaf ears, either that or there is a fear that manufacturers will not provide a boat for test if they suspect it is going to be criticised. That said there are probably enough owners out there who would be willing to turn up, should they be invited, to perform a comparitive boat test with their own boat, meaning that the manufacturer needn't be involved. I guess class associations could help although to an extent they are probably just as cagey as the manufacturers.

its only one company but:

http://www.ovingtonboats.com/news_detail.aspx?news_id=31