Just for you, Grumpf

Originally posted by Flick-Flock Moth's are probably the lightest at roughly 10-20k, although they are 11ft so wont count.

And the hulls are less than a foot wide, so won't do much without the wide wings that GRF doesn't want.

I'm a little confused, you come up with a list of things you want the boat to do, a list of things you don't want the boat to have, but little that I have seen that makes a boat useable in 3 knots and 25 of wind, which is what you need  in order to race. If your boat is unbeatable in a force 6, as you say all real men's boats should be, then you are really going to struggle in the light stuff, which is why the skiffy boats are optimized for conditions that you feel are too girly.

So, what's the lightest reasonable sized boat (12ft+) ever recorded then?

Do we know stuff like that?

Well the other key here is what we think of as 'prodigious pace' I'm not
looking to be Billy No Mate so far out front there is no-one to race, what
I'm looking for is a single handed Alto.

Near Five Oh performance which if I get it right delivers the goods, but
not such that the boat delivers it if I sail foolishly.

And I want it to be as easy to sail as the Alto.

Really nicely balanced, wide enough yet not too wide.

But light enough so I can launch and recover it myself, all up less than 50
kgs

And I want not to have to be worried about taking it out into a big ish sea
through a bit of a monster shore break, so floats and big wide wings are
out.

Well I don't have the time to practise, and 'sailing the boat' isn't my
particular hobby.

Racing is my hobby and I'll learn the boat bit as I go.

Sad to say I never sail unless it is to race.

If I want wind on water excitement (which I don't much nowadays, having
become bored of those particular activities in local waters) I'll kite or
windsurf.

My opinion of the Bethwaite's is on record, though obviously not the
'idiots' my ironic flippancy accorded them, I nonetheless am not
impressed with anything the effect they have had on the sailing and
particularly the club sailing world has had.

Everyone has their own particular style and opinion and we're all welcome
to it, this happens to be a thread about my selfish needs, over the years
those selfish needs have also luckily for me coincidently been the pioneer
of many an activity that has gone on to prove a commercial success, so
don't underestimate them.

I'm sure there is a market for a fast, exciting yet easily sailed club single
hander that will be equally at home on the sea or a pond, that can be
used sitting down or equally provide an entry level platform to hooking
in.

There are other ways to control overpowered sails not yet used in the
sitting down world, Racks can adjust, folk can harness sitting down just
as easily as standing right out, if you chuck the rule book away for a few
seconds and think sideways, you'd be surprised at what results.




Edited by G.R.F.

GRf my other main hobby is playing Trumpet and cornet.

If I want to change my sound slightly (i.e. brighter or darker depending on the pieces in the programme we are playing) I will borrow or buy a different instrument or mouthpiece in order to help me obtain the sound I want.

To then be good enough to perform using this new equipment I have to practice for many hours a week for a few weeks before the performances start.

I would liken this very much to wanting a new style of sailing, and before it can be raced properly you must practice for hours to ensure that you have transfered your basics across to the new equipment.

Back to the music analogy, I now play on a very high end piece of kit, and it has taken me literaly years to get to the point where I am able to get the most out of this instrument. I enjoy my hobbies emensely and enjoy the practice. So, why shouldnt you have to practice for hours to get the most out of a high end piece of kit just because it is a hobby. Yes I could play on an amateur level trumpet and not need to practice as much, would I sound as good and get as much enjoyment out of it? I seriously doubt it! My sailing is the same, unless I am sailing a boat that challenges me, I do not enjoy as much!

Sorry to rant.