Aaaarrrgghhh no, not the monofuture again!

Originally posted by Chris 249 Originally posted by pondlife1736 Originally posted by turnturtle The marketing message is outdated- it's still using the Generic He FFS! It comes from down under - casual sexism included as standard!  Since when is the Mississippi, where the guy who wrote the quote comes from, "downunder"???

Originally posted by turnturtle The marketing message is outdated- it's still using the Generic He FFS!

Originally posted by turnturtle Agreed- but There was no framework for the Weta - SCHRS weren't interested, it most certainly doesn't fit into F16 / F18 classes. It wouldn't be allowed at a lot of dinghy clubs - either too fast or just too many damn hulls. so what option was there for marketing as a race boat when there's little to no racing for them?

The point has been made in previous posts that the Weta is not all that fast (about the same handicap rating as the Fireball) so I don't see speed as being an issue.

Too many hulls may be an issue for some clubs (although it doesn't require any more space than a Laser to store) - I used to race on a gravel pit at Chipstead near Sevenoaks and if you blinked you were in the bank opposite!

But here's a good review which explains the merits of the boat

"Who will want to consider a Weta?

• Any sailor who wants to sail fast but also share that fun with family and friends.
• Any dinghy sailor who is ready to quit working hard hiking to go an extra ¼ knot upwind and wants to experience true planing performance upwind without having to use a trapeze or worrying about capsizing.
• Any big boat/PHRF or cruising boat sailor who thinks they are not the right size, are too old, or do not have the agility to experience the joy and excitement of a fast high performance small boat.
• A sportboat sailor who wants to sharpen his apparent wind sailing skills and does not want to miss a fun sailing day because he cannot find a crew for his VX, Viper, Melges, Esse, or J-70.
• Any sailor who wants to get excited about sailing anytime he looks outside and sees the trees moving.
• Any sailor who wants fast, fun, and EASY."

I think in UK the Weta is up against Dart15/18 both of which have decent fleets and strong CA's. 

I also find the prejudice odd. I've raced dinghies for 35yrs and I consider multis such as Dart 15s, Dart 18s & Spitfires to be just different types of dinghies. The only thing that is different is trying to sail it on one hull therefore heeled all the time. You can argue that the high power mainsheets and travellers are different but they are just a means to get the right sail shape just like any boat.

As for Wetas, we have one at our club. It's about RS400 pace and it looks well built and the owner loves it. I'll never buy one as its just not for me but each to there own.
What I will say is that in the UK if a boat gets labelled as a fun boat rather than an around the cans race boat during its initial marketing, then it will forever be difficult to get that class to grow in sailing clubs. Sailing clubs here largely function to provide dinghy racing, not people just reaching about.