I know this sounds stupid but .. im really shy about walking up to a person and asking if i could trying riding with them on thier catamaran. I would really love to try righting an FXone to see if i can do that on my own (it would really help with my decision). The thing is we have a house in Boston and we go there practically every summer. Ive seen some ppl sailing cats there and i got really close to asking them if i could come along .. but i chickened out and i really regreted it.

Don't be shy at all. Most cat sailors are pretty down to earth and there's nothing we like to do more than to get even more people involved in our sport. I am always trying to get friends & coworkers to come down to the beach and go sailing. The best way to learn and try things out is to just go up to people and start asking questions. If there is anyone on the forum in the places you are going just ask and I am sure some will reply and help you out.

Sarah
If you head to Boston over the summer send me a PM. I will be able to get you out sailing in the area.
Barry in Boston

Well you are obviously trying to start a pissing contest. What gets me though is your use of falsehoods.

You talk about some small splinter in our hand while ignoring the 2x4 in your own hand.

Just one example; You look at the : I-17 (aus version = orginal), I-17 (EU version), I-17R (american version), I-17 F17 version, I-17 XL version (EU again), than I-17 sloop (Aus/Asia version) compared to the I17 sloop as launched in USA and EU and then you decide to talk about "differences" between F16 boats ? For example the difference between I-17 (EU version) and I-17R is 3 sq. mtr (30 sq ft) and 0.5 mast length. Difference between I-17 EU and Aus I-17 with respect to overall weight is over 20 kg's. The largest significant difference between any Taipan 4.9 and fully optimized F16 boat is 0.05 sq. mtr ( 1/2 sq ft) in overal sailarea and in favour of the older Taipan, that and 0.16 mtr width (7 inches).


And don't put words in my mouth. I know full well the "OD racing selling argument" ; next regatta I'll welcome both the FX-one's and I-17's to our common open class again as they don't have the numbers for OD racing. At least in North-West Europe. Don't pretend that some 15+ boats (let alone 30) of either I-17 or FX-one are racing anywhere as OD class except on lake Michigan USA.

I think you can guess now what I think of your following statement :



Just plain BS, and I fully and utterly disagree with it. I also notice you use I-17 again in this statement and not F17, which one it is. Of course the statement :"getting the most from her boat in a 12 boat F17 than a 12 boat F16 fleet" would backfire a little bit.

In answering Sarahs question I repeat what I said in my other pasts. Narrow down the choice to A-cat, FX-one, F16. And One-design is dying why else would nacra replace the I-17 with the F17 (Formula 17) ?

Wouter

At 70 kg's and no special aids, you won't be able to right it. I, at 85 kg, only managed to do it once and only because the cliffs were very near and during my adrenaline rush I got lucky with a gust hitting the tramp in the right way.

There won't be many boats you can right unaided at 70 kg though. A-cats and F16's (carbon mast) yes; F16's (alu mast) and Shadow will be on the edge; others (Spitfire, I-17, FX-one, Hobie 17) = no way.


Here is me racing the FX-one in Greece (2001). It was very new then, you can still see the French word "Nouveau" (new) on the bows. Indeed best advice is to test sail the boats, I did exactly that myself in 2001 and decided on the experiences gained then



Wouter

Hi Sarah,

This will be the second year that I sail the FX-One and can tell you that its a great boat which is easy to sail and gives excellent performance. Personally I think that the Inter17 is slightly slower and heavier that the FX. Solo righting will not be easy in light winds, although I weight 75kg and have'nt had a problem yet. (If in doubt, order the righting pole. problem solved). I have yet to sail an F16 so cannot really comment on that. Although I saw a Swell Shadow last year and thought it looked really nice.
http://www.swell-catamarans.co.uk/
I sailed alongside one (downwind) during the Round Texel race last year and was under the impression that it was slightly slower than the FX. Its spinakker is 10m2 compared to 17m2 on the FX.

If there are some FX-One's at your club already than that would be even more reason to get one.

Have fun! :-)
(Wouter, will you be attending the Texel Dutch Open?)

Gee, I've never met a woman with a carbon fiber mast.
All the women I've met didn't even have rudders.

Pretty much left that wide open huh.

Tony,



If I will attend the Dutch open then it will be on a Blade F16. Currently I'm registered together with Jaap Haasnoot. So I'm preparing myself to handle (non-OD) protests of people who think we are sailing a heavily modified FX-one. The two boats do look rather alike with respect to hullshape.








But the important point here is "IF"; a month ago I would have answered "Certainly", but last week I got an assignment that is really screwing up my plans. If I get lucky and all goes speedy then I'll be there. If it doesn't and it does look that way then I won't. I probably can't justify getting away for a week. But then again I'm still working to get it all done so that I can go. Wish me luck. With respect to the round itself, chances are better here. I assume you will be there also. Will you be singlehanding or doublehanding ? Give me your sailnumber please so I can say hello.

Wouter

.

Just picture of Jennifer (left on Taipan F16) and Matt (right on Blade F16) approaching the upwind mark sailing singlehanded at 65 kg and (about) 72 kg. Picture was taken at the Gulfport A-cat/F16 singlehanding race event this year (2005).

Sarah, Check out www.schrs.com/cgi-bin/doc/schrsratings.pdf
You will see the weight of almost any cat there.
SCHRS is a handicap rating system used by European cats. WS is the weight. The FX is heavy for a singlehander, but the Inter is even heavier.
Dermot.

Good advice and good call, Dermot

Sarah,
At the end of all of this somewhat bewildering input from so many different 'vested' interests, I hope you buy a catamaran that you eventually have endless fun with and whichever it is I doubt that it will be a decision you regret in any way.

Don't let Wouter's well intentioned but technical argument with Sparky put you off, don't let the anti-Formula, pro-OD camp put you off, don't worry about the "everyone else is sailing X, so I have to get one too" faction. Just weigh up (no pun intended) the pros and cons of your shortlisted design(s) and make your decision based on what YOU want from a boat, No-one will judge you for your choice

Hello All,

A little note to all the freindly cat sailors out there.

Sarah is from another culture. If you need clarification on this, drop me a line, and I will explain it to you.

The proper thing to do, is what the gentleman from Boston suggested. Maybe some of you East Coast cat racers can do the same.

Set up a time. Set up a place. Make it fun.

Sarah,

Would you be more comfortable taking a test sail with a gal? If so, I am sure one of the gal skippers, wife, daughter or girlfriend will accomodate you.

I am sure they will gladly help you out.

regards,
Bruce
St. Croix
US Virgin Island

ps, I see the 1st Hurricane is already out there,..yikes,, it is season so soon..

You did specifically say "Im looking for a single handler."

I suggest you look very closely at this Nacra A2.
Performance Catamarans A2 A Class Cat

You mentioned that waves are not a problem. If you truly are single handling this boat and truly don't have waves to worry about, then this would be your best choice, in my opinion.

When the wind is above 16 mph, things will become difficult; on any of the cats you are looking at, as well.

GARY

John is right.

Whatever you get know that you are invited to the Formula 16 forum where we can help you dial in that boat and have you beat the guys around the course.

We did the same with Brobu (Inter-17) in his fight with Vicatman (Hobie FX-one). I'm not to hung up on what boat you sail or decide upon. In the end; tuning a diamond wire, prebend rig with squaretop is the same on any modern boat and good fun. I'm know the rest of us at the F16 forum think the same.

Let us know what you got.

Best of luck.

Wouter

I really appreciate the concert Brobru but my culture has nothing to do with it .. and I dont have to be with a female cat sailor .. Its annoying sometimes when people think that just because Im an arab woman that means Im surpressed and that I dont have the freedom to do what I want. People shouldn't always listen to everything they hear on the news Its not like that here.

once again Brobru I know ur intentions were good but my culture isnt what many seem to believe.

Sarah, If you are in Boston this Summer, do contact Barry! He is one of the best contacts you could have for cat sailing in New England! I don't know of any FX Ones in Massachusetts, but there are probably some Nacra 17s. If I have the time, I'd be glad to get you out on my Hobie 17 Sport conversion. It is a fast fun solo boat, but due to the mods can't be raced except in open class. It is a great old boat, and would probably serve you well if you don't have big waves/chop. Check out Team Goose under groups, in Catamaran Pictures at www.thebeachcats.com . Come on down to Gooseberry. Most folks have older Hobies, but sometimes there are some Nacras. Barry has been known to make an appearance for The Island Hop. Check out www.fleet448.org too! We love to welcome enthusiastic new sailors to the sport of cat sailing! I think you are in for a lot of fun no matter which of the boats you choose!

It appears Sarah's question has been answered. If they are sailing FX-1's in your area, THAT is the boat to get. But of all the boats mentioned, the Inter 17/F17 is definitely the best and fastest boat if you are large enough to sail it. You have to match your weight to the boat. You can sail the Inter 17 (2) up or as it was intended unirigged. There is a jib kit available. It also has a big boy spinnaker for those weighting over something like 500lbs! or so. The F17 also has a 30'4" carbon mast which will power up the boat quiet nicely. On top of that, it is actually closing in on 18" long. All this adds up to speed..................

Tom

Ehhh of the boats mentioned, which included :

A-cat US sailing rating = 64.8
F16 uni 1-up US sailing rating = 66.4
18 square even (Tami ) = 63.7

Then nacra F17 (former I-17R) = 66.7

Yep it is the 4th fastest of all named.

FX-one = 69.2

Having said all that ; it may be that sarah can only by the EU or australian I-17 versions which are more in the 75 rating range under US sailing portsmouth.




Actually the first I-17 was designed and launched in Australia (where it is lighter as well) and was a doublehanded sloop design from the very beginning. THAT was the orgininal I-17. It became uni-rig first in Europe as a the Inter-17, It gained weight and lost sailarea there, then a little later is got a new carbon rig as the R version (first only in USA) and it is rarely seen outside the USA.



And BOY did it need all the speed boosting modifications it ever got ! The EU I-17 version is put in the start fleet with the Hobie and Prindle 16's/18's because it is of a comparable speed. Sure enough the I-17R (F17 now) is alot faster and comes close to what it should be. In that sense it is a good boat. Still, there is no need to claim it is the fastest option of all mentioned.

Sorry, I just had to give this a reality check. And you know this is all true. Go to US sailing rating page

http://www.ussailing.org/portsmouth/tables05/tables05mh.htm

To check up on the numbers.

For Texel ratings (Europe) go here :

http://www.watersportverbond.nl/data/D93_numdet1.pdf

I think the ISAF SCHRS rating page has already been given in this post.


Wouter

Dermot and Wouter: Thank you for the links they were really helpful.

But Wouter the second link doesnt seem to work