Bandits!

Any difficult boat to sail (where some have mastered it) will always be a bit of a bandit. 

Consider the MPS for example – A joy to watch the like of Sten sailing one and you know it’s going quick, but the back of the fleet are swimming a lot.  Hence the handicap (by definition) will be based on the average of the good sailors vs bad (or learning) sailors.  So the harder the boat is to sail, the more people struggle, so the “average” performance (and so the Hcap as this is based on the average) gets slower.  Thus the good sailors have a nice number to sail off.  

Because it is one of the most horrible boats ever created. The hull with all the extra junk on it weighs a LOT more than 60kg and bends like crazy. It is the most hated boat by sunsail staff since it takes 3 people to lift them anywhere.

Also for a trapeze, asy boat to have the same rudder fittings as the topper is stupid, they break in no time. The mast also has the wrong metal rivets in it resulting in mast breakages in F1-2.

The biggest bandit on two hulls has got to be a spitfire!

Thats based on SCHRS which is purely measurement, guess what it was designed after the rule was created!

Got to support Scooby here, class racing is the only way you are going to be able to rate yourself on a level playing field. Handicap racing can be fun but it always allows you a get out clause.

Going back to the Topaz Trez, when it first came out, we thought Great, 12' boat with 90sqft of sail, just like the Firefly, but with a spinnaker as well, so we went and tried one...the amount of power from the "white" sails is considerebly less than the Firefly, the hull is not only floppy but is more "cruising boat" shaped. Up wind, the firefly leaves it standing, and down wind you might stand a chance on a perfect asymmetric reach, but on a run you'll just be left criss crossing behind the Firefly's wake. Do many people race them on handicap, and make returns, or is it still Topper's recommended number?

British Moth and Comet may be good in the light stuff, but REALLY pay in the stronger winds, especially the Moth, which reaches max speed in about a 2, and after that is pushing a bigger and bigger bow wave!