Boats 'sailable' over biggest wind range
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1993
Printed Date: 16 Aug 25 at 1:47am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Boats 'sailable' over biggest wind range
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Subject: Boats 'sailable' over biggest wind range
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 1:11pm
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Some boats have a fairly narrow wind range that they are enjoyable to sail in. Trapeze boats are generally not much fun until on the wire, and the Contender is a complete dog below 8kts, but what boats are enjoyable to sail over the biggest wind range? Does a 'one size fit's all' boat deliver a rather dull ride? ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Replies:
Posted By: Calum_Reid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 1:23pm
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400 was good in ALL conditions! ------------- 
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Posted By: feva_sailor
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 1:25pm
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exept under 5 knots ------------- |
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 2:04pm
Ive been quite enjoying the 600 in sub-wiring conditions... mainly bacause it stays upright almost my itself and allows me to actualy think about sailing instead of the constant battle you have with the boat in similar conditions in the moth. Im sure the novelty will wear off soon though and il be back praying for more wind ------------- |
Posted By: Scooby_simon
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 2:15pm
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I'd guess an A class !
Never sailied one, but power up early (Flat wiring in about 5 kts wind and (the website says) OK up to 25 kts ! ------------- Wanna learn to Ski - PM me.. |
Posted By: James Bell
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 2:22pm
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Laser 2 is sailable in anything. Not brilliant in the really light
stuff, but it will still go. Excellent in the really strong stuff F6
and above!
------------- IOS Sailing Community - http://www.iossc.org.uk/" rel="nofollow - www.iossc.org.uk |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 2:30pm
Never really considered Cats for this thread because I thought they never really get uncomfortable to sail in light wind and are reasonable stable in strong wind. I'm also guessing that the differences between breeds of Cats are less than between dinghies. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 2:31pm
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Possibly (very boring I know) we need to look at the Older classes? Assuming we aren't ruling boats out because they don't do 15 knots top speed, the Wayfarer seems to cope pretty well in all conditions. The Firefly is great in the light stuff, but well before 30 knots of wind I'd be in the bar, and I assume we are talking of mere mortals sailing the boats rather than the superheros. I'm guessing we will here from the 12' skiffs soon, though they must be a little too much fun if you get caught with the big rig up in a blow? ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: Offshoretiger
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 2:53pm
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FD. A boat full of string has its advantages when it comes to depowering in 25+kts In general though I would of thought the more rig controls you have, the bigger wind range life is going to be fun in. But Ive never found anything that is fun to sail in very light winds and a sloppy sea ------------- ...yesterday I couldnt spell enginner...now I are one!...... |
Posted By: Calum_Reid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 3:33pm
Nope because you can swing the pole and run really really really deap you can kick ass downwind in that sorta wind. -------------
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Posted By: feva_sailor
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 3:41pm
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ye upwind is rubbash when racing in the light on a 400.we went upwins with the kite up when not racing that was ok. ------------- |
Posted By: Calum_Reid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 3:53pm
Anyway the question was it sailable and yes it was! I seriously think the 400 would be a strong contender for this as we could sail it in anything from a few knots of breeze up to a f6 and enjoy it! Admitidly we did sail atleast twice a week all year and practice before and after racing. There was many a day where due to the wind being at either end of the scale.Once a race was abondoned due to the wind and everyone had hit the shore but we did an extra lap of the course because we were loving it so much! To emphasise the other end of the scale the 400 is quicker arround the course in really light stuff than a 29er (this 29er was in extreemel fast hands)! -------------
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Posted By: Guest
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 3:58pm
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To answer the question - Boats ’sailable’ over biggest wind range ? Anything underpowered - probably the winner would be the 420. But I am more interested in what gives to most pleasure over the range of conditions that I usually experience during a british summer - can you all guess the answer? Rick ------------- |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 4:14pm
RS700 Rick??  ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: tgruitt
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 4:22pm
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Swift solo?
------------- Needs to sail more... |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 4:22pm
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"sailable" vs "fun to sail" - good point rick. Guess it has to have a huge rig and somewhere in-board to sit for low winds and huge wings, highly controllable sail power, and various available rig sizes for strong winds... ..... its probably an 18ft skiff. "Sailable" in 1 - 35 knots. Sadly the local lake's a bit small. |
Posted By: Guest
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 4:40pm
Ho Ho ... ------------- |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 4:50pm
A 12ft skiff has got to be the most sailable. When it's light you put a HUGE rig on. And when it's blowing dogs off chains you put a smaller rig on.  ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: jpbuzz591
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 4:51pm
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what happens if it starts off light then suddenly it starts blowing old boots and you have your huge rig on? ------------- Jp Indoe Contender 518 Buzz591 Chew Valley Sailing club Bristol |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 4:56pm
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Take a deep breath, hang on tight, bear off and repeat after me: "Our father who art in heavan...." ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Calum_Reid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:05pm
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That sounds like my kinda sailing! -------------
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Posted By: Iain C
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:17pm
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Fireball is a goodie across the wind range. Fine when it's light due to waterline length (rubbish in short chop though!) Narrow so you can wire early, symmetrical kite so lots of tactical opportunities downwind. Great in the medium stuff, and simply awesome when it is stupidly windy (F6,7, 8 +) Hugely adjustable rig means you can really depower (less rig tension, strut right forward, loads of cunn/outhaul, loads of jib cunn, jib cars out and up etc etc) and of course kick the board right up too. You really have to be trying hard to pitchpole a wide bow boat, the kite is small so is not unmanageable, and being so narrow it can go impossibly far over and still come back up again. Plus it's easy to tack/gybe, just spin round on your feet and sit down again...no runnong across the boat! I have sailed in wind gusting 47mph (on the clubhouse, so probably more on the water) with a 9st crew and survived! Knackered after 20 mins though! ------------- RS700 GBR922 "Wirespeed" Fireball GBR14474 "Eleven Parsecs" Enterprise GBR21970 Bavaria 32 GBR4755L "Adastra" |
Posted By: m_liddell
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:21pm
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It's probably going to be one of the older classes for the sole reason that new(er) skiff type designs are horribly uncomfortable when not out on the wire. |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:21pm
Sorry. I wasn't too clear but by 'sailable' I meant that you would want to sail it (and it makes at least some attempt to sail to handicap) rather than it's possible to sail it. Otherwise that include just about everything! ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:21pm
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Isn't there some video footage somewhere to prove that point? ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:23pm
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I think the Furball has it personally. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:24pm
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staw you need the rest of the prayer, "oh father who art in heaven, for what we are about to recieve, make us truly grateful" ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: gonzo
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:25pm
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i think most boats can be fun in light iwn ds if you have a fleet. Lasers can be gret fun in any ocnditions aslong as there are loads of them but then not racing its boring. Id say a 600 or maybe a 12ft skiff just for giggles ------------- Go Big or Go home or sail a 49er!!! |
Posted By: Guest
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:28pm
Well type what you mean then Fireball is my vote ------------- |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:30pm
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I don't think a fireball is any fun for the crew in the light stuff. Have you seen the space they have to contort their body into!!! ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Offshoretiger
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:33pm
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yeah furball crewing is just painful in no wind ------------- ...yesterday I couldnt spell enginner...now I are one!...... |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:36pm
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But crews are a lower form of life anyway aren't they. Should be grateful for being taken out for a little ride... I'll get me coat. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: Offshoretiger
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:41pm
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if i said anything like that to my crew he would pick me up and throw me out the boat. and if anyine i was crewing for said that i would probaly try and fail to do the same ------------- ...yesterday I couldnt spell enginner...now I are one!...... |
Posted By: foaminatthedeck
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:45pm
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My vote would be a Wayfairer move in the light stuff a keeps going in the lulls, I been out in some quite strong winds gusting F7 and still had a great sail. They realy don't disserve the old slow reputation they seem to have. Not that im saying that there that fast! ------------- Lark 2170 |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:49pm
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the thin ply ones are reasonably quich for such a big boat. ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 5:50pm
Haven't sailed a 2-hander for quite a while.... primarily because of me tendancy to say thing like that ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 8:55pm
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Only from personal experience- i hired a "splash" at trafford water park with an enthusiastic resue boat dirver informing me there was 47knt gusts. managed not to break it whereas their Picos in only 20-25knts came in with no tiller extensions and booms that stayed bent when the kicker was finally let off. As for the 400 in light winds, joined a start up at dalgety bay driving a tasar and waisted the whole fleet at the pin end, in more tide I will admit to the cunning plan. Unfortunetly I was supposed to be in class 2. John Rischmiller says he was beating 505s on the water at QMSC in his tasar in 25knts breeze. i always found it to be a great all rounder, planing up wind with not a lot of bother in 12 knts puff and easy to depower thereafter. |
Posted By: tickel
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 10:44pm
------------- tickel |
Posted By: tickel
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 10:59pm
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Its old, its heavy, its boring but.......a GP 14 goes well in light winds and stays up in heavy. It will sail to its py right accross the wind range. Even now I'm old I will never buy one. Our Tasar is not bad as long as there is enough wind to both hike a bit. ------------- tickel |
Posted By: James Bell
Date Posted: 11 Jul 06 at 11:00pm
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I used to sail my Laser 2 against Lasers, 505s, Ospreys and Fireballs.
I mostly sail my Laser 4000 these days, which is another boat I would
say is good in a wider range of wind strengths than most modern boats (I was out in my 4000 on Sunday when it was gusting F7+).
With the 4000 and Laser 2 there is a special way of sailing them in
light airs. The hulls are designed so that you have to get your weight well forwards, and you have to lean them over a fair degree, so that the hull takes up a more traditional 'river' boat shape like the Firefly. Unless you do that, both boats will stick in very light airs. ------------- IOS Sailing Community - http://www.iossc.org.uk/" rel="nofollow - www.iossc.org.uk |
Posted By: Ellie
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 1:24am
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merlins are cracking things to sail in most cond, and
we have seemed to do alreet on handi at tigger t and what not so... but on the 'would want to sail...' bit i would take a merlin out in pretty much anything. they keep going in the light stuff and i have been out and raced in a F6/7 comfortably (u have got to LOVE that rig!!!) so my vote goes merlin rocket...not that im biased or owt 
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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 8:45am
| At the windiest and most variable event I ever did the dinghy classes that were racing in all the extremes were Ospreys and Cherubs. I suspect, however, the ability to sail in strong winds is a lot more to do with the ability, foolhardiness and quality of boatprep of the crews than it is to do with design. |
Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 9:03am
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Yep, like a Topper in a F7, a few weeks ago in Lancing:
It does put a bit of a strain on the boat... ------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC 
|
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 12:09pm
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More to do with beer in the case of those classes, I'd have thought. |
Posted By: Pierre
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 3:36pm
Cheeky sod !  |
Posted By: Offshoretiger
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 3:40pm
If beer was tha main factor, Phantoms would have to be up there ------------- ...yesterday I couldnt spell enginner...now I are one!...... |
Posted By: rich96
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 3:52pm
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If the Tasar is better than a 400 in the light and faster than a 505 in a strong breeze it must have an amzingly low handicap ! Whilst I loved my Tasar it should be accepted that it is only marginally quicker than a Laser 2 - nowhere near a 400 or 505. In light breezes it struggled to beat Larks and Scorpions on the water and got pasted by 470s, Contenders etc in a breeze. A 505 would be streets ahead in any conditions. I'm sure that a well sailed Tasar may now and again have seen of faster but less well sailed boats but please lets not pretend that its something it's not. |
Posted By: Hobbo
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 9:55pm
i've heard tails of Ospreys's going out in force 8's to race, however i have yet to test anything above a 5 as Dad conveniently disppears when a strong wind blows up  . There are also much worse boats in light winds (Contender ) so i guess it has to be up there.
------------- Contender GBR 362 Osprey 1318 - IVplay SSC |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 10:03pm
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Describing how nice a Tasar is in 20kn to anyone who has not done it is almost impossible. It's like saying that a Merlin is simple fantastic (which it is of course) but having to agree its not as fast as say an 'XXX'. Some boats are fantastic regardless of realtive speed - and some are faster and great as well .... and sadly there are some cxxp fast boats out there that have no claim to be refined or nice to sail at all. The Tasar is a great boat, a bit underpowered but uncannily fast as well in good winds and with good technique - 2 sails, no more than 11m something of area and its still slippery as hell - could it be faster with more area - of course but that's not its style or design intent. It can humble many faster boats sometimes as well but equally it can be sticky in very light winds. It's not helped by those who exagerate it's general capability of course but be careful if you suggest it cannot take on some signicantly 'faster' boats on level racing on occasion ! Blaze 720 |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 10:12pm
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I'd say probably an open 60
------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: timnoyce
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 10:35pm
My heaviest drinking weekend to date was a B14 open at Whitstable last year... very messy. Those boys are pro's... ------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Posted By: redback
Date Posted: 12 Jul 06 at 11:31pm
| The older classes are able to sail nearer their handicap in a wide wind range but are they as much fun? |
Posted By: CT249
Date Posted: 13 Jul 06 at 12:56am
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The Tornado is powerful and fast in light (in my limited experience) and stunning in a breeze. The A Class is one of the first cats (perhaps the first) to stop club racing in my limited experience (and our club has a strong fleet including recent world champ). The Laser is never fast, but it's fun to sail in light winds and you can take it out and bang the hell out of it in strong stuff. The Tasar probably isn't that great in light winds or confined waters compared to N12s and MRs etc, but it's wonderful in a big breeze. In trapezing conditions we used to be able to be shockingly fast against gold medal 470s upwind in chop, but not beat them around the course. Some of the Osprey guys claim they are faster in the light than 505s, and handle better in chop and a breeze, and I've seen others agree. |
Posted By: southcoast
Date Posted: 13 Jul 06 at 9:46am
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400s are known for there speed in light conditions, they are like rockets in these winds. Probably due to such large sail area and no trapese. They go well in strong aswell though |
Posted By: Skiffe
Date Posted: 14 Jul 06 at 3:41pm
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12 footer, yeap I did see some coment about that we would be here soon, well... 4 rigs from Extra Large to as small as a pre twin trap cherub and up to 200kg (420lbs) swinging it down must be very close to the biggest wind range boat. What happens when you get caught out with the wrong rig, pull a bit of cunno, sheet the jib wide and loose and think of beer and pies ------------- 12footers. The Only Way to FLY Remember Professionals built the titanic, Amateurs built the ark. |
. If the boat is well sorted it will sail alright out of 'range', but its better to be a good short term forecaster.Posted By: Pierre
Date Posted: 14 Jul 06 at 7:04pm
They have their moments you know.... |
Posted By: BBSCFaithfull
Date Posted: 14 Jul 06 at 7:11pm
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The 14 seems to sail well in most conditions! Twas uber fun at the weekend tho Was really honking! Nearly kebabed a 2000 and a windsurfer but meh shouldnt get im my way lol
------------- Greatfully Sponsored By www.allgoodfun.com Int 14 GBR 1503!! |
Posted By: fizzicist
Date Posted: 14 Jul 06 at 8:07pm
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The Javelin is probably one of the best boats I've seen in all conditions. They have epic boatspeed and look to be a bit like sailing an armchair! Quite fancy one meself actually... ------------- Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer. |
Posted By: tickel
Date Posted: 14 Jul 06 at 10:29pm
I have one for sale on ebay! be quick. You are right about Javs but you do need a fat bugger on the wire and a big pond/sea. ------------- tickel |
Posted By: tickel
Date Posted: 14 Jul 06 at 10:35pm
------------- tickel |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 14 Jul 06 at 10:45pm
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yes, he did write that................... ?? ------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 15 Jul 06 at 3:52pm
We were p!ssing all over them on the spinni reaches In a F5 at Filey though. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 17 Jul 06 at 2:23pm
depends on the sailors- early reports with Ian Bruce sailing it was faster than 470s in v.light, in a little more wind -slower- then after upwind planing, faster. I don't reckon John R was beating world champ 505s on the water BTW But in v.light I would expect to beat 400s up wind and mix it off wind- they are a very heavy boat, which I actually have sailed almost as much as in tasars. In 5 knots upward to about 10 knots the tasar suffers a big drag bump as the 400s are nicely powering up to waterline speed. Tasars beat 200s in all conditions if sailed well. Infact I've lapped a pair of 200s as crew in force 5 gusting 6- they looked like they were going backwards once we were up wind of them  The best tasar sailors at QMSC would beat the 400s to the weather mark when planing up wind, but not hold them downwind ...need a kite for that ....hence the 59er but that's another jackanory......... Tasar is an all round very comfortable boat , design wind of 9 knts and easy to depower and play on the travellor. I found the 400 to be not as comfy, disappointing in sub planing conditions and needing stacks of depowering in over 18 knts breeze- not as enjoyable an all round conditions boat but a very good fleet it must be said |
Posted By: fizzicist
Date Posted: 17 Jul 06 at 5:50pm
All of them?! Filey was really good on the second day - shame we couldn't run two races. Don't they usually run results for the whole of the regatta as well? ------------- Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer. |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 18 Jul 06 at 8:13am
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Well, the leaders so I think I can assume that's all of them. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: fizzicist
Date Posted: 18 Jul 06 at 8:35am
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The white & Grey one with the pink kite is the guy to beat. ------------- Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer. |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 18 Jul 06 at 9:58pm
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don't know if anybody has said this already... but hasn't the boat that is
most sailable over the widest wind range got to be one that is allowed to change rig sizes...i.e 12ft, 16ft,18ft skiff e.t.c ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 18 Jul 06 at 10:27pm
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Laser 4.7, Radial, full rig??? OK OK stop shooting now, but you've got to admit there's a point here, no? ------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC
|
Posted By: tickel
Date Posted: 18 Jul 06 at 10:47pm
That will be Richard Smith and Ed Dyson. From Glossop. You could buy two Rs 300's for the price of that lovely boat. Worth every penny. ------------- tickel |
Posted By: fizzicist
Date Posted: 18 Jul 06 at 11:48pm
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Yeah I know Rich well - I was baiting Quicksilver is a rather lovely machine...Although I only ever see the fecking transom as it disappears over the horizon. Whilst the Contender is awesome in a big wind, it has to be said the Javelin is rather better in the light and marginal trapezing weather. Both are nice looking boats. When I work out a way of keeping the 300, buying a new house and hiding the acquisition of another toy from the wife, I'll have meself a Jav. ------------- Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer. |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 19 Jul 06 at 9:03am
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No. They're different boats if you put a different rig on them. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 19 Jul 06 at 10:04pm
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Please enlighten me with your thinking. All these classes are multi rig
classes. Please explain how they are different boats when they legally change rigs? ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 20 Jul 06 at 12:55pm
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Actually it's a fair point... I was just pulling the Skiff brigades collective leg really. I thought I'd get a better response though. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: timnoyce
Date Posted: 20 Jul 06 at 1:03pm
------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 20 Jul 06 at 1:05pm
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Are you really that sad? ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Matt Jackson
Date Posted: 20 Jul 06 at 4:37pm
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Apparently. ------------- Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36 |
Posted By: fizzicist
Date Posted: 20 Jul 06 at 6:50pm
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Not that the skiff crowd ever do anything sad... ------------- Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer. |
Posted By: CT249
Date Posted: 21 Jul 06 at 12:27am
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Doesn't whether a skiff is "fun" over the widest range depend on your definition of "fun"? Some of the veterans reckon the GP 18s were horrendously difficult in big breeze because they only had two sticks and 16'(?) wingspan, whereas the unrestricted 18s of the 1980s had 22-30 foot wingspan and four rigs including a "piddly little" #4 rig of a mere 27' or so. Other veterans reckon the modern 18s, with their "tiny" 33' tall # rigs, just don't have the light-air grunt of the 1980s boats with their 45' tall sticks. So what's "fun" in each extreme is all relative I suppose! 12s look really, really good in drifters, to me. Out of the small sailing craft generally, a long Raceboard windsurfer like a Mistral takes the cake in some ways; in drifters they go fast because you can (and do) pump, and they can handle the hairy stuff well. I also have to say a Laser seems to have a massive range; it's tough, simple and cheap when it breaks. |