How can I best reply to this ?

It is not ONLY about the people either.

For example, I know a good number of sailor who went with the F18 beause it was "happening !", Some of them have now downgraded (as it is called) to a smaller and more versatile design.

A given design can be the best thing since sliced bread but if it doesn't fit nicely to ones dominant use then it is NOT the right boat. No matter how good the people around it are. As a matter of fact there is no "best boat" out there, only boats that fit a particular personal usage best.

It is a great one-liner, but not one that holds a knock-out punch.

Many people have forgotten that I was actually at the cradle of the A-cat growth in the USA. Years ago I was the one who pushed the idea of importing A-cat boats from Europe to the USA back then. Chip Zenke finally got the deal and shipped the container of Bim 2000 and since then the A-cat class has been growing. It is sort of pitty that so many people have such short memories and try to make everything I say as some sort of hate speak. I guess this is just the way it goes in life.

But I do know very well, what the A-cats are and what they are not. In the end the only thing that matters is whether a type is the right one for you and will give you plenty of enjoyment. This point was crucial why I didn't got into the A-cat class personally and why I did get involved into the F16 class. Some will claim that illogical arguments or feelings were the cause of this but they are incorrect. The design simply did not furfill my requirements. I think each must think through this choice thoroughly and without being influenced by "40 boat events" and "happening" selling points. Because they are just that selling points. No-one buys a boat for "3 events per year" and a single "40 boat fleet" doesn't carry much weight if the rest of the year you will be the odd one out in your local area. In the 90 % of the year that you are not at a class event, the direct enjoyment of sailing the boat itself (as in "about the boat") will be heaps more important. In addition to this, by far most of the Florida events are distance races or open class events without a big A-cat presence. That 40 boat event is certainly spectacular, no doubt about it, but it is only one event as an event like tradewinds saw none. This is not a jab at the A-cat class or the A-cat boat, but it will have to be factored in, in our decision making.


So I want to focus on your intended use, earlier you wrote :





The three points of -3- are in direct conflict with each other. Including 2 : the requirement for being lightweight makes the criterium even more difficult. But lets put these down as your wish list. Now focus on your "how will I use it list".

Were do you sail most. Is it a soft sandy beach, do you need to go through a surf, do you want to take somebody along now and then, do you have club races locally, what are your buddies sailing, what are your predominate winds, how skilled are you in beach catamaran sailing, will you be parking the boat on the beach or on your law or are you a trailer sailor ? Are you a recreational sailor or are you looking to become a serious racer. How much are you willing to spend ? Things like that.

Why are these important ? For example ; lightweight high performance boats don't really like to be run up the beach when you have just cleared the surf. Lightweight carbon masts/beams don't like beach side (mast-up) storage or high influx of UV radiation. Extremely efficient catamaran designs have a narrow groove of optimal performance, without sufficient sailing skill you will have a hard time making the boat go; especially downwind. Lightweight boats need to be anchored down very well or a large gust will blow them over; even under mast alone. It is no fun sailing a non spinnaker boat when all your buddies have spi boats. Not all boats will allows you to bring somebody along. When the winds are high in your typically area then high performance boats require a certain minimum level of skill to be handled. Excetera

I'm saying all this will several boat types in my mind. I'm sailing a lightweight high performance beach catamaran myself. One with the same rating as the A's and I can tell you that all these things DO matter alot.

Among others I have both owned a Prindle 16 and F16 and I've used them both much in the way you decribed in your list. From my experience so far I can tell you that the Prindle 16 was the best bang for the buck and alot me to solo sail alot; it was stirdy and very inexpensive while maintaining a good performance (especially when singlehanded). I could run it up the beach or sail it into collisions without a worry. The reasons why I'm now more happy with my F16, despite being more fragile, alot more expensive and requiring generally more care, is because it fills my more serious racing requirements better as well as my personal desire for spinnaker sailing. I race alot in local club races that sees nearly only spinnaker boats.

You should look at your own wish and usage list in the same way. It can well turn out that a less sophisticate design will be much more your thing.

Remember nothing is for free.

You can certainly have a high performance and highly efficient cat but your required care will mirror the same "high" level, not to mention the "high expenses".

Compare it to this. Everybody wants to have a most slim, most adventurous and most beautyful woman (wife), but how many of us are really into investing the required time, money and headaches to keep her.

It is never "about the people" as much as it is never about "The boat"

It is always about the combo of these two and the criterium called prospected usage.


Wouter