So are you based in Dubai? Are there a lot of expats there? (assuming you are British, of course)
Do you have any pics of sailing, so we can all be dead jealous of the sunshine?

thnx

Originally posted by Black no sugar Ive counted 72 boat tests on the website, ranging from the RC Laser to keelboats. Surely you must be a subscriber, feva_sailor: I can't imagine Y&Y magazine being available at your local newsagents!

72 - wow that is a lot.

I'd be interested to see how many of those the boats recieved a rave review and how many got panned Clarkson style ...

That very rarely happens in any yachting magazine whether it be a boat or gear, mainly due to the advertising income that might be lost if a bad review was given. The only bad review I can remember was Yachting World slating the Walker Wingsail Trimaran, which ended up in a libel action that YW lost.

Back to the original topic...

It would be good if the weaknesses of the boats are pointed out, although I think it is good where possible to give positive reviews...

Examples;

Laser, a  great class (racing for everyone at every level). However in terms of the boat the Rudder is too small and at the wrong angle making creating a large amount of weather helm up wind...

49er, fanatasic boat. However highly unsuitable for the majority of club sailors...

etc.

I would describe myself as an euthusiast of both the Laser and the 49er (for very different reasons). I feel if you are not honest about the class it hurts you in the long run. For example it is not good PR to see notice sailors trash a 49er just trying to bear away off the beach!!! It would be better for all concerned if they were in a different boat...

Most of the tests are done by the same author (rather than a specialist from the class) so the reports should be pretty consistent. Although in terms of any test it must be quite hard to write a report for a pico and an international moth being consistent in approach!!!

I quite like the idea that the RYA had a while back, we had an instructor's try a boat day at one of our conferences........ I got heavily involved with on-shore discussions about re-structuring the RYA from the Level stages to what the current structure is today, i.e, seasmanship skills, H'P sailing etc. I did however get to sail the 470 and Spice. Never having too much experience of the boats, I gained a good view of the 470 and almost got very involved with the class and my general view of the Spice was it would be a nice boat for two very light weight weight sailors to sail if fitted out properly. I'm not going to do a review of both boats on the forum but being able to sail both the boats gave a better insight into both the classes and was able to pass on my information about both boats to other people. I thought it was an excellent idea that the RYA came up with because we had our local major boat brokers turn up with fleets of RS, Laser and Topper boats. The combination of all the boats being tested by experienced sailors from different backgrounds gave a good insight into the boats which were tested. Possibly arranging something similar and publishising the general views upon the tests may be able to provide more rounded reviews of boats.