Cruiser/Racers

[bitbaltic]

No not yet, I was just curious about the boat, as I'd never heard of it before.

I think from the advice everyone has given I am now 90% sure I will buy something older and easier to handle initially, rather than jumping in at the deep end!

But I am still curious to know whats out there for the future

yes on that I agree. There's nothing wrong with planning for a future boat. But you will adjust your aspirations as you learn to skipper a boat. When I bought mine, I knew she was a cruiser/racer, although not as extreme as boats designed in the last ten years or so. Even then I have often found myself on the edge of my abilities in handling her, a season on from purchase. She has met and exceeded every performance expectation I had, but she has presented an enormous challenge in anything above very light airs, and especially so when sailing shorthanded with family crew. I really think you should just get out there and get an older cruiser/racer (the earlier Hunter suggestions were very sensible and now is the time to buy) and see how you go, come back to boats like this next season when you know more about yourself and your crew's expectations.

 

[dt4134]

Yep, I think the best thing to do would be to get something not so shiny and new to begin with

That aside, out of curiosity has anyone any experience of these:

http://www.columbiayachts.com/yachts/c_Sprint.php

They look very interesting!

With such a high-aspect keel & rudder you'd need to be spot on with your helming skills to get the most out of that boat, and you'd need crew that were spot on with their trimming skills too. She'll be difficult to sail to her handicap.

 

[Sovereign]

Re the legend
The link does not work on my Ipad so I may be wrong so forgive my memory- it is an age thing!!
If I am not mistaken Tyler had the mould made but did not start production straight away. A rep from Beetle resins- John Dungey- borrowed the mould & built the first one. Name was Ocean Beetle. I crewed it in races for 3 years but with little success until Tyler came for a sail & agreed to supply new sails etc & sponsor the boat in the round Britain race. Circa 1981 . John Dungey had one crew , also called John, but I forget the surname. They actually won on handicap but hardly any mags bothered to report the success. I think line honours went to one of the well known boats like the tri Toria or cat British steel but do not quote me
The boat sailed at Burnham for the first few years of its life but I do not know what happened to it or whether Tylers actually built many, if any

I believe Tyler moulded about 30 of which ours was Hull No 26. The fit-out was various - Burns made a lot of woodwork kits and ours was fitted out out with one of these by a local professional boatbuilder - who was a relative of the first owner who kept her and raced her successfully for 35 years! After one intervening owner we took her over and have renewed her winning ways. She has a pretty good handicap - and it is amazing that you can still cheaply buy these old boats and do well in them as long as you have good sails! In the race of our club year an X28 won - followed by us - then an Elan 333 and 27 others. We added to that with another 2nd out of 26 boats and 5th out of 23. These are passage races of around 3-5 hours duration from Chi to a Solent destination with a few extra marks thrown in for good measure. Not quite the John Dungey record, but hey...my wife and I were dead chuffed at both 66+yrs.
Buy a reasonable boat with a reputation... learn to sail it... then invest in some decent sails and start racing ...ENJOY!