Barracuda 45's

[Lucky Duck]

By chance I was speaking to the new owner of his boat while in Portland around a fortnight ago

 

[IanG76]

Came across this thread by chance. Although I would normally have been sailing on IOR Yachts I had the opportunity to race a Barracuda 45 in The Armada Cup race from San Sebastian to Plymouth. It would have been in the mid 1980's, I think 1986. I was sailing on a yacht based on the East Coast and we were racing against 'Navico', another Barracuda. The feeder races down to San Sebastian were some of the most exhilarating sailing I had done. I can't remember the exact speeds, but they were significantly faster downwind than anything I had experienced on 1/2 or 3/4 tonners I was used to sailing. At times it was like helming a dingy, surfing down waves! I think we took line honours in 2 of 3 feeder races. Coming back wasn't such fun in the actual race, there was no wind! Barracudas weren't so competitive upwind in light winds! If anyone can identify the yacht I was on please let me know, it's the one in the harbour. I never sailed on her again or kept in touch with the rest of the crew.

 

[IanG76]

Came across this thread by chance. Although I would normally have been sailing on IOR Yachts I had the opportunity to race a Barracuda 45 in The Armada Cup race from San Sebastian to Plymouth. It would have been in the mid 1980's, I think 1986. I was sailing on a yacht based on the East Coast and we were racing against 'Navico', another Barracuda. The feeder races down to San Sebastian were some of the most exhilarating sailing I had done. I can't remember the exact speeds, but they were significantly faster downwind than anything I had experienced on 1/2 or 3/4 tonners I was used to sailing. At times it was like helming a dingy, surfing down waves! I think we took line honours in 2 of 3 feeder races. Coming back wasn't such fun in the actual race, there was no wind! Barracudas weren't so competitive upwind in light winds! If anyone can identify the yacht I was on please let me know, it's the one in the harbour. I never sailed on her again or kept in touch with the rest of the crew.

It was actually the 1988 edition of the race. The first edition was in 1986, running alternate years and directions.

 

[DJE]

Came across this thread by chance. Although I would normally have been sailing on IOR Yachts I had the opportunity to race a Barracuda 45 in The Armada Cup race from San Sebastian to Plymouth. It would have been in the mid 1980's, I think 1986. I was sailing on a yacht based on the East Coast and we were racing against 'Navico', another Barracuda. The feeder races down to San Sebastian were some of the most exhilarating sailing I had done. I can't remember the exact speeds, but they were significantly faster downwind than anything I had experienced on 1/2 or 3/4 tonners I was used to sailing. At times it was like helming a dingy, surfing down waves! I think we took line honours in 2 of 3 feeder races. Coming back wasn't such fun in the actual race, there was no wind! Barracudas weren't so competitive upwind in light winds! If anyone can identify the yacht I was on please let me know, it's the one in the harbour. I never sailed on her again or kept in touch with the rest of the crew.

East coast boat you say. Could it have Moonboots from Benfleet Yacht Club?

 

[IanG76]

East coast boat you say. Could it have Moonboots from Benfleet Yacht Club?

The Barracuda I was sailing had a sail number K44..T (not sure if I am missing numbers). I think Moonboots had a different sail number from the photo I found.