Alan ashore
Member
I'd suggest that for 2015 Fastnet this thread is a tad late.
Assuming the hyopthetical finances are not such that the £100k budget is loose change, and therefore that you really want to "go for it", then as well as choosing a boat which is capable of winning, you need time to
a) learn to sail it well
b) optimise it along the way
c) get your crew trained
IMHO the ideal phasing for this kind of project is to buy the boat ahead of a non-fastnet season, so you have had a whole season plus a winter to get some foundations laid ahead of the Fastnet campaign itself.
Assuming the hyopthetical finances are not such that the £100k budget is loose change, and therefore that you really want to "go for it", then as well as choosing a boat which is capable of winning, you need time to
a) learn to sail it well
b) optimise it along the way
c) get your crew trained
IMHO the ideal phasing for this kind of project is to buy the boat ahead of a non-fastnet season, so you have had a whole season plus a winter to get some foundations laid ahead of the Fastnet campaign itself.