Which Cat for lightweights?

Mind you if you read other threads one has to ask why the interest in cats?

 

Simple they are the best fun you can have legally on the water!!!

Assuming that there is a youth and then an olympic cat, Can't think of a better boat than the Nacra 500 with kite. I Know Nacra and Old man will agree but I really can't think of a boat where you get as much bang for your bucks. It would put any young helm in a good position to learn for the future.

I agree the Spitfire is a good boat but for a youth I would think the 500 or SL16 must be the way fwd.

Who knows we maybe all in the future patting ourselves on the back when we have a gold medal from this thread

 Sorry,  I think  that we have pushed this one as far as we can, I suggest that we all go to Graham on 20/21 st Oct  with our toys and then go for a play on Nacra 500 with or WITH spi.after racing. Olympian Hugh Styles will be there to help, God, he's quick.       Just try  

ONLY  if you're hard enough !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very old man!!

Sailor 420 - sorry not to have replied earlier, but this is the first time I have looked at this Forum - and I am glad I did...

I am that Spitfire sailor you were watching on the windy Sunday (16th). We looked heavy because we had two Spitfire helms on board. And it was so damned windy (F8 according to Hilbre weather station) that we were either heading into the wind, or straight downwind, except for the reaching leg, where we just had to play for safety - no hull flying with those waves!) We both normally sail with teenage crews (the Harris brothers, who you may know), and therefore come in at about 19 stone.

I have maintained a healthy 12.5 stone (I'm old!), while Jonathan has varied a bit as he has aged from 13 to 16 while sailing with me. Sounds similar to your set up.

So what should you sail? Obvious really - come try the Spitfire with me, or the other helm (Richard) at Dee SC. If the breeze is above a F2, you'll have a riot. You can email me at:  fastcats at dee-sc.co.uk, or call me on 07771 784 867.

As for pitchpoling: if you don't fall in, you aint trying. Having said that, I fall in a lot less often than I did - only twice this year. When you do fall in, so what?

The Spitti is quick - look at the Fast Cat results on the Dee SC website. The F18s eat our dust.

As for wind ranges - we sail whenever there is racing - F0 to F8, as you saw. You need to learn to manage the boat, but it will handle anything you can throw at it. Our results are spread across these conditions, and speak for themselves.

You could look at F16s - similar spec. The only downside I see for use at the Dee is that the dominant F16 in the UK is the Stealth, and these now have T-foils, which are not suited to our estuary with its shallows and moorings.

Feel free to get in touch, and come and have a go!

Simon

Can't see the issue 'T' foils if you are sailing a cat with boards. You are still gone to smack the daggerboard before the 'T' foil rudder. If its that shallow you need kick up rudders and a hull without boards.

For me the Spiti and F16 Stealth are a close run thing. The Stealth gets it for me as it is lighter and you are able to single-hand it properly. And I think the Stealth will go a little lighter in the crew weight stakes. And I like the 'T' foils.

Actually its righting after a capsize that limits the crew weight: esp singlehanded. Always best to check this when test sailing.


Edited by Jack Sparrow