Hola FLying Cat,
...well, I watched long enough..
...happy holidays to all my cat friends,...both sides of the pond...
....as you know, we sail all year round in the Caribbean, but our regatta season is starting now, Aruba was the first,..and we run up until after Easter......there are more regattas that a working man can go to,..so, you pick th ebest venue for you and your boat.
...so, a F17 is CHEAPER than the Tiapan?
...wow....
...how do they do that?
...is this the new F17?.....carbon mast,...redesiged d-board ( read....shorter,..see, Nacra read Catsailor forums too..).....new boom,...and all?
..ok, big question Flying Cat,......what is your wind and waves like?
..I am assuming that 'down under' you are not lake sailing in 5 knots and 1 inch waves,.....yes?
..here, it is 15-25 mph, and waves 3 feet +/- 1 foot(,..in the ocean, 3 foot wave is 3 feet up to crest, then another 3 feet down, to trough,..so, 3 + 3 is 6 foot verticle drop, ok?). I will do a 4 footer, and a 5 footer ( maybe) if I cannot avoid it ( certian reefs and shallows or currents will build some monsters, I identify the area and stay away). Waves 6 - 10 ( which is verticle dimension of 12 - 20 feet) forget it,...the boat can take it, but I can't, I go in. For example, in these next 4 months, it is our windy season. The equitorial trade winds blow 24 /7. It never stops day or night. This week, it is 20-25 mph. You may laugh, but if the wind is under 12 mph, we do not rig up, but say, 'we will go sailing tomorrow'...:-)
..ok,..so to me,...IMO,...and this is no one elses opionion,..I have family, a job,...and I love to sail in these conditions,....and I must come back alive every time!
...so, for me,..it is NOT the fastest boat in perfect condition,....it is the boat that can be safe,...be fast,..and consistant winner ,..when all factors are figured in..
..ok?..
...pick what you like,..after all,..you will be sailing it,...not me!
...Scooby,...Wouter and all,....are great helps and have helped me out 100%,...so, listen to what they say,....no BS,....sometimes there is 'sabre-rattlin', but, in good fun,...I dream of the day we all could be on a start line and go at it..
...for example, I have a 2000 I 17,...heavy by todays standards,....but,..she can fly in 20-25 mph,.....and destroy 3-4 foot waves in full throttle,....the only option I highly recommend is Front foot straps ( mine are at aft end of d-board well),....for, at that speed,...and motion,....there is no way you will stay connected to the boat! The 'down' hull is airborne 50% of the time, for as you exit a wave full throttle, the boat 'flies' for a second or 2, then attack next wave front and the entire bow disappears up to the front crossbeam and boat launches out again,....it happens in a wink of an eye...all full speed,..it is amazing what these boats do in the ocean,...for 17 feet 6 inches is not alot of boat in the deep blue!
...just so you know, I sail 'open class',..the I -17( with 150 s.f. sail..smaller than stock) beats I-20, N 5.8,.P 19MX, Tornados to upwind mark in aforementioned wind/wave conditions,....they hate it,..I love it.
....of course, Wouter,.John P, Scooby, Sparky...sail by Ogletree and articles by Asbey taught me how to dial the boat in,..the info and help is out there,..but you have to pursue it
...so,..buy any boat you want and get wet mon!
Bruce
?-17 Euro ( I, then N, now F...)
St. Croix
US Virgin Islands
