Mmmmmm.....

[Guest]

I have a strange theory as to why some people are happy to go to sea with light boats with tiny keels and un-protected rudders. It is because they were brought up in dinghys where this arrangement is essential. I am not wrong. Unless I am.TTFN.

 

[LadyInBed]

Depends on how you define going to sea, is it a hop across the pond, channel or solent?
Maybe they / we don’t know any better / different. If you’ve always sailed a light boat, you learn to handle it according to the conditions. Some people put out in finely tuned racing boats, pushing them to the edge and sometimes over. Some in conditions well within the capability of the boat, but not within their capability, but I reckon most undertake passages well within the capabilities of both.

 

[Ohdrat]

Re: I may be the exception

I was brought up in a dinghy .. racing but prefer to go to sea in heavy(ier) longer keeled boats than the light weight.. mostly because I am I suppose into the "adventure" aspect rather than the out and out speed thing.. also living in the Highlands my local cruising / adventure grounds are probably wee bit more challenging than a "pond".

 

[30boat]

I also think that people are happy to go to sea in whatever boats they manage to put their hands on.Most people who buy secondhand have limited budgets and can't really be choosers as to the boats they end up with.Myself I got a W.Fulmar.Could be worse.
I wasn't brought up in dinghys although I like the way a finkeeler with a hung rudder handles.

 

[extravert]

That theory may apply to some people, but not me. I sail one of the boats you describe, an X99, with a light hull, unprotected rudder and tall bendy rig.

The reason for this is because I have found that there are very many more days when the wind is force 3 or less, when I can sail and a heavy long keeled boat will struggle, than days when the wind is force 7 or above, when a heavy boat would be out and coping well and I am holed up in a harbour.

Also for me being able to sail (rather than motor) in light winds is a whole lot better experience than being able to sail (rather than sit it out in a harbour) when the wind is blowing a gale. Even in a long keeled heavy boat it is still likely to be a cold wet tiring sick-inducing experience.

So the next question you are going to ask is what about if I am caught out in a gale? My answer to that is that like most sailors I imagine, I do most of my sailing in coastal waters not far away from shelter of some sort. I don't sail my boat across oceans or even across the North Sea. On the few occasions when I do sail longer unprotected passages with little shelter then I wait for appropriate conditions. This was exactly the tactic I used last summer between Kinlochbervie and Peterhead. Both Cape Wrath and Pentland Firth were uneventful and calm in the right conditions that I waited for.

So it's all about having the type of boat for the type of sailing you want to do. Some people want comfort at expense of sailing ability and seaworthiness, some want seaworthiness at expense of comfort and light wind ability, and yet others want light wind ability at expense of seaworthiness and comfort. I know what I want, but I have no criticism of people who want something different. You can't have them all in a small boat.

 

[zefender]

Ridiculously common sense view Extrovert.

 

[billmacfarlane]

Alex , like the guy who sails in the X99 , I also sail a lightish , shallow keeled boat with a big bendy rig , a Maxi 1100 . It's not really anything to do with dinghy sailing except I suppose that I like the feel of the helm in such boats. I've never really given the unprotected rudder much thought until now , but I've sailed for the best part of 15 years in such boats without a problem so maybe the problem's not so bad as you think. Unlike the X99 chap , I've sailed mine in adverse weather conditions , and there's not really much difference in how the boat sails except she goes faster which I love. So I don't think you're theory's right except maybe that I like the dinghy like feel of her sailing characteristics.

 

[EdEssery]

I also have a light boat with a fin keel, unprotected transom hung rudder and a bendy rig. Extravert is very pragmatic and billmacfarlane is right about the "need for speed".

My mid 80s 27 footer will outsail many many newer boats in the mid 30 foot range. It's great fun. I get to Yarmouth faster and pay less harbour and marina dues. IMHO it's much better value for money. I'm generally never more than three hours from a safe haven - if I cross the Channel or go down to the West Country I'll watch the weather for a few days first and pick my weather window.

When I'm ready to go round the world or across the Atlantic, I sell the house and buy a Halberg Rassy until then I'll keep my eye lifted for bargain second hand racing machines on the Brokerage lists. Now if only the second hand price for Elan 333s would come down a bit.... I could beat most 40 footers too.

Ed

PS Although I learned to sail on racing dinghies, I confine my racing to the RTIR - I really don't want the shower drain clogged with torn up 50's - the fivers are bad enough!