Modern symmetric two-hander?

The two symmetric classes that stick out at the moment are the Merlin Rocket (2 man hiker) & Fireball (2 man, 1 on trap). Both these classes are going very strong and have been developed over decades (more so for the MR as that is it's nature as a dev class. Both classes are also very well, almost professionally ran.

Originally posted by iiiiitick Well of course we don't really need a new class when we have Fireball, Merlin, N12 et al.

Depends on your definition of need. Those existing classes could be greatly improved on technically. We've learned an awful lot over the last 30 years or so, sailors have tended to get larger and all the rest of it. If you take the Merlin then 14 feet is too short for two modern adults, and many of the more idiosyncratic class rules force it into being a much more expensive boat than it needs to be.

Whether the result of implementing everything that's been learned would be a more popular boat is another matter. Its striking that these days people don't want fast boats, and it may be that all the design features that slug the Merlin's performance also nail it back to a speed range people are comfortable with. A fully optimised modern design two man hiking boat would probably check out around the 900 range, even if you compromised it with a pole kite. For example, where a Merlin might be surfing down waves a full on modern boat would be overtaking them and, if not careful, spearing into the back of the wave in front. Not everyone's cup of tea.

Edited by JimC - 27 Oct 15 at 11:09am

There is something about the X dinghies that just don't look right. Cant pin it down.

Originally posted by JohnJack Likewise with F1 cars if you took Hamiltons 2015 machine and compared it with something Stirling Moss drove. (that is essentially the MR isn't it)

In many ways yes, because F1 cars are built under a very tight and restrictive set of rules that make the cars much slower than they would otherwise be! Anyone who thinks sailboat rules are prescriptive andexcessive should study the F1 ones!

Edited by JimC - 27 Oct 15 at 12:25pm

Or get your heads out of your dark places and consider just for a moment that something new might just broaden the market.

Something that adults can learn to sail quickly without having to have been spoon fed sailing since birth, done the whole squad immunisation process and become hyper cynical. Be just someone who came along mid life and taken it up, without having to compete with weird beard grey haired alco pops & ex squaddies who have been sailing the thing since before the flood.

Edited by iGRF - 27 Oct 15 at 3:50pm