Gludy - the Raggie

[Hurricane]

Bieing totally constructive in this matter, I dont think Paul should be worried about this.
The kind if thing he's looking at doesnt have the same type of performance (sail to weight ratios etc).
With the Firebird, as she is going down wind, you are continually worrying about the leeward hull "digging in" and thus slowing your boat speed.
I'm sure that I'd feel very happy on the sort of boat he is considering. Not sure that I'd want to be in anything more than an F6 or F7 though - mainly because I'm not very good on the sea sickness front and my ideals of boating have moved on to nice calm days now where the diesel engine rules.

I think that something he should consider is thet the 20 knots cruising is a bit "far fetched" - sure - these boats DO 20 knots plus but I think thats pushing it a bit and an average will be less than 12 to 15 knots for a typical passage IMO.

I, genuinely, wish him the best of luck - part of me still wants to do what he is doing - the other half of me (SWMBO) doesnt!!!

He definately shouldnt be put off by this video clip though.

 

[michael_w]

Have you considered Gunboat Catamarans? Bit different from the usual herd. Have a look at the video. Sorry about the cheesy music!

 

[Bav34]

Enjoyed the clip. I'm a bit confused which Firebird I delivered from Gweek to Southampton. Thought it was Phoenix ... later Elan. Owned by a good friend of mine, Terry Smith. Kept at Calshot. Raced it a few times with him (MOCRA???)

Think he subsequently inverted it twice /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Hurricane]

I think it was Graham Hutchins that owned Phoenix but he unfortunately died and the boat was shipped to the Caribean - In fact I had Phoenix's trailer.

Didn't Terry Smith go joint ownership in with Reg White?
If so that would be the origional Firebird (no 1)
Seen recently round the Hamble and re-painted battleship grey with a red mast. I think it was Firebird 1 that was totally inverted by Reg's son Rob during a Nab Tower Race. The rigging was cut off and eventually turnred up in some fishing nets - being a complex carbon mast it dissapeared into the island's black market.

There was also Hypher which I think was dry sailed from Calshot in the late 80s

Other than that there was "Fly Half" which used to be on a swinging mooring somewhere up the Medina. She was mostly made from carbon fibre and suffered some structural damage after a pitchpole in Sweden. All fixed now though and I think she may have a nice new carbom mast - see above.