Astom, a new hiking singlehander

whilst I can't see the point in it commercially (in the UK at least) it strikes me it's a bit of a one-off, but if others want one then there's a fag packet to write a quote on somewhere.  There are worse reasons than to design something than just for the hell of it....

As for the 50-70kg range, both the D1 and RS100 retail rigs aimed at that market space.  God knows why anyone wanting a moderate to high performance boat would want to compromise with a great big, volumous hull for such a sail plan... not unless it's simply a case of giving ''er indoors a go when it's light enough for her to handle it'... I get the impression such a patronising approaches to toy ownership might well get some of us into trouble   

The overriding problem for designing a boat specifically for women and smaller adult frames is to ensure it doesn't become a 'yoof boat'.   I've heard of people put off the Laser circuit because of the overly-yoof element, and the 29er, awesome boat, but no pair of lightwight adults could seriously want the social side that comes with that over say a 200, or a N12.  Secondly, if that travesty in Santander has anything to go by, where Ovington, RS and Hartleys all fielded proper designs around female geometry, specifically for elite female athletes, it appears some women are quite happy to accept the patronising 'girly rig' approach anyway.... so what do I know about it all