I like sailing a skiff but only as addition to cat sailing. Sailed several but latest is the 49-er skiff.

My experience is that a normal crew does best in the light conditions when compared to a cat. Control is relatively easy here and the 49-er seems to pick up speed more easily in the light stuff. Mid range it is buy buy baby and cat rule mercilessly. Hobie 16's will beat the crap out of a 49-er here. In the rough stuff the skiff is only as good as thee lightning reflexes of the crews. Cats stay ahead here because of less strainious control requirements. There is a reason why 49-er races last 20 minutes or so and nomal cat races can go on for anything between 30 to 75 minutes. Sailing the 49-er well can be bloody tiring. But a Sh!tload of fun if you are not scared to crash and burn alot.

Also the Ausies VYC ratings rate skiffs and cats to oneanother and the second fastest skiffs 49-er / I-14's are rated the same or slower than a Prindle 16/Hobie 16 (no kites on these cats) And that feels about right from my experience. The only skiff to make an impression on catsailors are the 18's. They are rated about the same as the classic Tornado's. New Tornado's beat them on all courses I'm told. And I think Macca here has done a bit of 18 hunting on his Taipan 4.9 as well.

I really like sailing the skiff doublehanded with a good crew and get that team effort going. But when it comes down to speeds and control. cats win, hand down. That is my experience after sailing both for some years.

Sadly I didn't do to much skiff sailing this year, although I had my fill of F16's. You loose some and win some they say !

Good luck,

Wouter