Considering a Hunter Impala

I own Impala GBR 9522 Beeste that competed at Abersoch.  

The IRC rating is not a necesserily a bandit. It is however competitive under most conditions. If you want a bandit look towards the Sonata's.

I find the problem with the Impala is that different owners have optimised their boats to acheive better IRC ratings as most of their club racing is done under IRC. I have left Beeste in class and the IRC rating is the standard rating for the Impala. If I had the boat measured I know it would have an even better rating as the sails are undersized as the previous owner had optimised its IRC rating. If you look at past Impala events like Ramsgate different boats win in one design to IRC in the same race, this makes one design pointless. You don't get this in other one design boats. Even in Tarbert the two boats had different ratings??????

 The Impala class is aware the class is struggling and have contacted members to encourage a turn out for a one design event next year. The problem is the boats are spread around the country and not easy to tow. A class is only as strong as its members.

I raced Impalas in the mid 90's and have since sailed many sports boats and cruiser racers to a good standard but I have returned back to the Impala and still think they are the ideal club racer.

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Beeste Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 18 Apr 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote Beeste Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Considering a Hunter Impala Posted: 31 Dec 10 at 5:36pm
	I own Impala GBR 9522 Beeste that competed at Abersoch. The IRC rating is not a necesserily a bandit. It is however competitive under most conditions. If you want a bandit look towards the Sonata's. I find the problem with the Impala is that different owners have optimised their boats to acheive better IRC ratings as most of their club racing is done under IRC. I have left Beeste in class and the IRC rating is the standard rating for the Impala. If I had the boat measured I know it would have an even better rating as the sails are undersized as the previous owner had optimised its IRC rating. If you look at past Impala events like Ramsgate different boats win in one design to IRC in the same race, this makes one design pointless. You don't get this in other one design boats. Even in Tarbert the two boats had different ratings?????? The Impala class is aware the class is struggling and have contacted members to encourage a turn out for a one design event next year. The problem is the boats are spread around the country and not easy to tow. A class is only as strong as its members. I raced Impalas in the mid 90's and have since sailed many sports boats and cruiser racers to a good standard but I have returned back to the Impala and still think they are the ideal club racer.

RS400atC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3011	Post Options Post Reply Quote RS400atC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Jun 11 at 8:45pm
	I used to own an Impala, about 10 years ago. As others have said, there has been drift away from one design. For instance Celerity and Burhou have different keels. Some boats have inboards, some an outboard in a well. (This was allowed under one design, with some correctors IIRC). It's not the only class with different IRC numbers and smaller genoas for IRC, X-99's were a prime example at the time. It was a great boat, although we did not race it much apart from local club stuff and the inevitable RTIR. I felt that it needed a lot of fat blokes on board to be competitive for a small boat, although it was very capable as a cruiser and took us to Cornwall and France two up very happily. I think a lot of the boats moved west to cheaper moorings like Falmouth and Ireland. A great boat, if a bit basic below, goes upwind much better than most 28ft cruisers. Our diesel was very noisy so we sailed as much as possible!

Eben Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Sep 10 Location: Dublin, Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote Eben Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Jun 11 at 10:10am
	Thanks everyone, I'm currently sailing a Sonata, and acknowledge that it is more (much more) of an IRC bandit! Fair sailing EBEN