Ric
Well-Known Member
I am looking for "next boat" suggestions.
I sail uniquely in the Med (mainly Western Med) which for all its detractions, has lots of good points - plus it is where I am lucky enough to live! However, the area is infamous for having either very little wind, or far too much, mixed with nasty short breaking waves from random directions. I mostly sail single-handed, with most passages not more than one or two nights.
My current boat is generic French 32 fin-keeler with 130% overlap genoa and small mainsail - which is not very comfortable in anything above an F5, can't sail upwind as soon as genoa is rolled, and has very limited vision from down below meaning that I am always a bit stressed just putting the kettle on when sailing inshore.
I don't want to go much above about 36ft - I want to be able to easily handle the boat single-handed, including berthing in tight marinas. I want a double head-sail arrangement with a decent upwind fore-sail (solent, or possibly even a self-tacker), plus a genoa or gennaker for off-wind sailing. I'd like a lot of cockpit storage - so would prefer deep cockpit lockers to a massive rear cabin with hanging cupboards which would only ever have a couple of t-shirts in them!
Ironically the two boats that I have identified that might suit my needs are not marketed for med-sailors at all - the RM1060 or Southerly 110...
The RM seems like a very seaworthy design that would be a cracking good sail across a wide range of wind-speeds due to the decent sail-plan, and the cold moulded hull is apparently very quiet in a big blow - but possibly the light displacement and broad "Open" style hull would make it fairly bouncy in typical short Med seas. It has good vision from down below, tiller steering which generally I find better for single-handing, and plenty of cockpit storage and space. The twin keels are rather irrelevant for Med sailing - though I guess they would be useful to reduce yard fees! I know there is also a single-keel version but the draught is limiting even in the Med.
The other is something from the Southerly range such as the 110, the 35RS or even the new 36. Seems like they would be very comfortable and powerful upwind and perhaps not too bad in light winds if fitted with a furling gennaker.
I'd be grateful for any other suggestions or observations - I think the key points are double-head sails, forward vision and sea-kindliness. I don't need internal volume and speed which seem to the the only objectives of modern designs..
I sail uniquely in the Med (mainly Western Med) which for all its detractions, has lots of good points - plus it is where I am lucky enough to live! However, the area is infamous for having either very little wind, or far too much, mixed with nasty short breaking waves from random directions. I mostly sail single-handed, with most passages not more than one or two nights.
My current boat is generic French 32 fin-keeler with 130% overlap genoa and small mainsail - which is not very comfortable in anything above an F5, can't sail upwind as soon as genoa is rolled, and has very limited vision from down below meaning that I am always a bit stressed just putting the kettle on when sailing inshore.
I don't want to go much above about 36ft - I want to be able to easily handle the boat single-handed, including berthing in tight marinas. I want a double head-sail arrangement with a decent upwind fore-sail (solent, or possibly even a self-tacker), plus a genoa or gennaker for off-wind sailing. I'd like a lot of cockpit storage - so would prefer deep cockpit lockers to a massive rear cabin with hanging cupboards which would only ever have a couple of t-shirts in them!
Ironically the two boats that I have identified that might suit my needs are not marketed for med-sailors at all - the RM1060 or Southerly 110...
The RM seems like a very seaworthy design that would be a cracking good sail across a wide range of wind-speeds due to the decent sail-plan, and the cold moulded hull is apparently very quiet in a big blow - but possibly the light displacement and broad "Open" style hull would make it fairly bouncy in typical short Med seas. It has good vision from down below, tiller steering which generally I find better for single-handing, and plenty of cockpit storage and space. The twin keels are rather irrelevant for Med sailing - though I guess they would be useful to reduce yard fees! I know there is also a single-keel version but the draught is limiting even in the Med.
The other is something from the Southerly range such as the 110, the 35RS or even the new 36. Seems like they would be very comfortable and powerful upwind and perhaps not too bad in light winds if fitted with a furling gennaker.
I'd be grateful for any other suggestions or observations - I think the key points are double-head sails, forward vision and sea-kindliness. I don't need internal volume and speed which seem to the the only objectives of modern designs..
