My requirements - your opinion ?

Hi All.

I am thinking of moving from twin wire skiff sailing to a yacht. I have no real feel for what I should be considering. Advice would be appreciated. The following is a list of my desires.....

1) Boat kept Largs or Inverkip in Scotland

2) Boat good to race but also good/safe to cruise with family of 5 in total

3) Need to keep price down (as we all do) but would try and aim for something 33ft or a bit bigger. Second hand therefore makes sense to me especially as I would need all the "extras" as starting from scratch

4) I would like a wheel rather than a tiller for no reason other than I like sitting on a yacht and steering with a wheel. I know there are yachts at about 33ft that have a wheel but this seems about the smallest ?

5) I would like a retractable bow sprit and asymmetric as they are simple and fun

6) Handicap or fleet racing would both be good

7) Wife would want a bit of comfort so can't be full race but I would still like a bit of performance

Any thoughts ?

Cheers

Mike

hmmm, assymetric 'bloopers' for cruising are pretty widely carried on clyde cruisers these days and pinned to the tack or some people have little A frame conversion. More or less any boat could be converted to a cruising assym'

What type of cost are you thinking though ? under 60K ?under 40k?

Probably something in the sun oddyssey/ sun fast range from janneau. They are suprisingly quick and use their space immensely well for cruising. A nice set of pentex racing sails from a local loft like saturn or owens (or jacksons if he is still doing designs)  could be worked into a budget on a VGC ex charter sunfast or the like. You could also charter a similar maybe newer model from largs to "suck it and see".

Real budget / value for money with still some one design racing left on the clyde and owners at Largs would be the solid sigma 33.

For a family of five great cruiser with the ADVANTAGE of an easily depowered FRACTIONAL RIG! yes frac' rigs without runners are better for cruising!!!!!!!!!!!  A few tweaks on the main and a little ease rather than being overpowered and needing to strip early.

The ex raced sig 33s have a beautiful No2 sail which are never used - therefore in VGC. Cranked in with barber haulers this would give you a very effective sail for all round use up to 25knts or more - from 1knt wind speed!  You would get an local handicap allowance for this and using the small kite ( CYCA handicap) and maybe on IRC and it would make family cruiser racing manageable- the sig's are finding themselves no longer in a one design in a few events, like West Highland week.

For a wheel and a bigger budget the elan 333 wheel version should be a few about 2nd hand- Good IRC and competent cruiser.

The X332 is a bit more demanding to sail / crew up - but has an assym in it's racing wardrobe I believe. No wheel If I remember correctly.

Does a j92 sleep 5? great fast cruiser (if a little spartan) as well as a demon SBR for scottish series. Another small option which is killer racing machine but manageable cruiser is the redfox 29/laser 28 (same boat) One berth is a 'bunk bed' pipecot but I am a big bloke and really liked them for both purposes. You would have excellent racing- no doubt someone could make you an assymetric to fly from the bow or pole.