The same reason as some mobo types are wedded to the view that:
I do both. There is undeniably something magical about motoring out the harbour, hoisting the sails and turning the engine off and gurgling along in near silence. There's a joy to be travelling using only your knowledge of how to extract power from the wind, as I rarely care about the last 0.2 knots I am not constantly messing with ropes and sails. Its similar to the pleasure of propelling yourself in a sea kayak without being as wet or exhausting. I get enjoyment from working out where is going to be a fun sail today, and understanding the environment we operate in (tides, winds, headlands, etc) to plan a journey - that to me is the fundamental difference. In the RIB I can mostly jump in, turn the key and go. I can predict accurately when I will arrive and know I can get back to where I want to go almost regardless of the conditions. For every hour under sail I can probably extract another hour (or more) of fun in planning, thinking, looking at the weather etc. The RIB can bring other pleasures.
Did you genuinely not understand what I wrote or just quote part of it to try and twist what I said to suit your misguided view? If the latter then perhaps you need to apologise for misrepresenting me.
I don't think the Fireball is modern, early Sixties I think. I can recall seeing Fireballs at Skerries Sailing Club in 1965 or '66.
You missed the wink?
You’re not alone in that? We might manage 8 under engine. In optimum wind, 3 times that isn’t out of the question. An admission, we would, on 99% of occasions, wimp out of that.
You selectively quoted what I said and in the process changed its meaning, it is perfectly reasonable to take umbridge at that in my opinion. In the process, you gave me the impression I was not entitled to have an opinion different to yours, I accept perhaps that was not your intent.
Did you read the OP? His specific question was - big sailing dinghy or rib?
I did, my impression was the requirement for a family day boat which encompasses a bit more than you suggest I would say. I would think for a family something with a cuddy to provide shelter and storage would be beneficial rather than just an open boat.
"Rib or otherwise in the 5 to 6M range with outboard. Thinking day boat rather than cuddy style and the cuddy for day sailing would be largely a waste of useable space."
And that's before you take certain ladies requirements into consideration. For some reason, a bucket, and the use of the spinnaker (as long as you’re not going downwind) doesn’t seem to impress them.
