[quote=waterbug_wpb]hmmm, for the same price you can buy an A class or any number of other cats that will lap the Weta on a proper course in any wind.
in winds and sea-states that will destroy an a-cat and make soloing a 2 man cat very sketchy
I'll call bullshite on both of those premises.
Not busting on the WETA, they're a great boat, but that claim is a little far fetched.
"I said, now, I said ,pay attention boy!"
The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea Isak Dinesen If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most. E. B. White
No racing on Saturday. Winds and weather above Class criteria, excpt for short periods. Current results stand. Weather forecast fo today questionable. We have gone from the low side of the wind criteria to the high side. Class rules require average winds not to drop below 4 knots or higher than 22knots for any period of 15 minutes. ..... There were plenty of “sucker punches” that offered windows of 10-18 knots but these race-able periods would always be interrupted by a squall band that would bring heavy rain and high winds making it unsafe for racing.
Just because there is a top end race wind limit doesn't equate to the boats falling apart or not being capable of sailing in those conditions. It's a class choice for good racing. Also stating 2 up sailing would be sketchy. Raced the n-20 in over 30 knots and gusts higher, and I guarantee you the extra 6 feet made a huge difference.
"I said, now, I said ,pay attention boy!"
The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea Isak Dinesen If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most. E. B. White
Our South Aus clubs thrive on above 15kt winds, infact we would hardly sail if we didn't enjoy the better wind. Look up Cape Jaffa wind observations if you don't believe me, it is 15km from where we sail and I used to sail my A class all the time. I named A class because it fit the bill as quick and easy to rig but I also said heaps of other cats fit the bill. Have you ever tried to rig and get your Weta in and out of the water solo in above 20 knot winds? You've got a camera it would be entertaining footage to see, even footage of a Weta on it's beach trailer in 30 knot wind with it's unfurlable fully battened jib would be informative. Weta owners need to stop building the Weta up as a giant killer and just tell it how it really is. It is a great boat for what it is as that video showed.
Last edited by JeffS; 10/11/1210:20 PM.
Jeff Southall Current boats Nacra 5.8 1703 Animal Scanning Services Nacra 5.8 1667 Ram Raider Nacra 18 Square Arrow 1576
there are some pics about of a weta being sailed solo on main only in the channel island, california
big wind stuff
i don't think an A cat would survive that wind without being damaged
A cats were never designed for such, which is fair enough
just saying compare apples to apples
would you put an a-cat into the double damned?
When the north-easterly increased to 15-18 knots for the second race .............. Breakages have been a regular problem for the sailors, especially those like Outteridge, Spithill and Slingsby who took delivery of their boats only a few days before the regatta started. So far forestays, rudders and daggerboards are the most commonly damaged items, along with two masts that fell in yesterday's practice race.
Give it up erice there are a pile of cats I would put 2 up in that race that cost a lot less are quicker around a course and easier to set up. I've been kind to the Weta if you post again about cats breaking I will post a list of the things that have broken and gone wrong on our clubs Weta.
Jeff Southall Current boats Nacra 5.8 1703 Animal Scanning Services Nacra 5.8 1667 Ram Raider Nacra 18 Square Arrow 1576
Read the OP . This thread isn't about your love for the Weta or false pretense about A cats. Jay asked about a Weta vs.beachcats.
"I said, now, I said ,pay attention boy!"
The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea Isak Dinesen If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most. E. B. White
because I'm old and slow, but still need something to push out into the water and sail around so that in the rare instance someone DOES need an extra pair of hands on a cat, I won't totally be out of my element.
That, and it'd be nice to run out to Key Waden and Cape Romano for a little camp/sail
But since we've started the sh-tfight, a cat would allow me to singlehand around the cans here with the leaner fleet a little better? We get that nice Gulf chop (short, steep, up to 1 meter) and some sandbars you don't notice until your daggars find them...
Have a sail on a Weta Jay it may well suit you, when I'm old and slow I may consider the Weta as my last off the beach boat. I've had the disabled skippers accidentally do gybes then complete 360 turns in 10kts without me having to change position in the boat.
Jeff Southall Current boats Nacra 5.8 1703 Animal Scanning Services Nacra 5.8 1667 Ram Raider Nacra 18 Square Arrow 1576
G'day Pete during the learn to sail program I have spent up to 20hrs in a week sailing the Weta in all types of conditions sometimes solo blasting in proper wind sometimes heavily ladden with up to 5 people in light wind. They are good downwind for what they are, they are much more fun to reach than to head too low, I would rate them much better downwind than upwind. The upwind start of a race is a bad time for a Weta
Jeff Southall Current boats Nacra 5.8 1703 Animal Scanning Services Nacra 5.8 1667 Ram Raider Nacra 18 Square Arrow 1576
If your interested this link is to a video from my Taipan 5.7 and it features the Weta each time I lap it, that may sound bad for the Weta but this is in plenty of wind, the skipper of the Weta is a nervy new sailor less than a year, and the crew has had a stroke so can't do much on a boat but loves it. The Weta has made it possible for them to sail http://youtu.be/4kvPq-wqlsM
This is what it looks like when you have to abandon your wife on your own boat in the middle of a good race to help right a turtled Weta http://youtu.be/l2WOTFfBhLc
Last edited by JeffS; 10/13/1205:28 AM.
Jeff Southall Current boats Nacra 5.8 1703 Animal Scanning Services Nacra 5.8 1667 Ram Raider Nacra 18 Square Arrow 1576
I've seen Leonard and Mead on a Weta in thirty knts. or so. The kiteboarders were doing loops and barrel rolls while the Weta was a flying rooster tail and in full control - even on the angle of death (with two souls). Jim Leonard, from Birmingham Sailing Club, defeated Chris Kitchens, the Weta designer from NZ, in the 2011 Weta Southeast Championships, held in conjunction with the Trimaran Nationals. The regatta was hosted by Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, home for the 2012 Alter Cup Championship.
Dick Hitchkock is the dealer rep for Weta Florida.
