What boat(s) that you have sailed excelled or changed your viewpoint?

[E39mad]

As a monohull sailer of many racing/cruiser racer and cruising boats I always viewed cruising catamarans as a compromise - poor to windward, potential to pitch pole in big seas, narrow hulls affecting accomodation etc.

Now not all multihulls are the same but one cat that overcame all of those negative views and more was the Freebird 50 - sailed one out of Chi Harbour and one up the coast of Florida. It was close winded, very fast, had wide hulls and a design that lifted the bows when surfing and deflected the spray. The sail outside Chi harbour was a revelation - 15 knots boat speed in as much true wind on a reach, a helm that had feel and it would beat at 30 degrees to the wind at 10 knots plus tack through little more than 100 degrees. The bridgedeck was high mittigating slamming and internally it the accomodation of 60 to 70 footer - needless to say I was seriously impressed! Shame not many of these cats were built - initially moulded at Gweek by Modular Mouldings and then built by Northshore.

Another boat that I absolutely adored and exceeded expectations was the Vancouver 34 - a boat that would track so easily, be finger light on the helm with the gunnels awash with virtually no weather helm and an overall feel both up top and down below that everything was just right!

 

[flaming]

I have to say most of my "changed viewpoints" have been negative. More than once I have found very popular designs that come with a lot of hype to be very dissapointing.

 

[jamesjermain]

I absolutely agree about the Freebird 50. I also sailed it out of Chi in strong winds which c=gave us 15 knots through the water - it might have been more but we put a tear in the genny and had so spend most of the day with a few rolls in it.
More than any boat before, this proved to me that a cat could be designed for performance cruising and needn't be a floating caravan in the mould of the Prouts and soon of the time. The interior was fabulous with its birdseye maple veneers.
This was one of the rare occasions when my wife joined me for a YM boat test and during the trials she casually said to the guy doing the demo, 'I'll only sail round the world with James if he buys a boat with a bath'. 'Oh! We have one of those - its mioulded-in under the forecabin berth'. Fortunately for her we couldn't afford the £500,000 it would have cost then.

Incidentally, one Freebird was built by Campers. It was stunningly fitted out but grossly overweight and sailed very poorly by comparison.

The Catana 43 was the next boat that proved I was thinking along the right lines and finally the Dazcat 10 convinced me a fast cat was the way to go and at a size and price (secondhand) I could just afford. You're right, though, you do have to make some compromises - headroom is the main one at 10m, slamming very definitely another. Pitchpoling is less of a concern provided you sail with a pinch of caution.

 

[E39mad]

Good to hear you thing so too James - prejudice (mine at the time) is a dreadful trait until you experience things for yourself!

The Campers built Freebird was the one I sailed up the coast of Florida back in 1994 - yes it was overweight but also under-rigged due to requirement for going under the bridges of the Intracoastal Waterway. Victory of Melfort was its name - was for sale in Majorca a few years ago.

The Firebird 26 was the micromultihull from the same designers (Martyn Smyth) and whilst not sailed one believe they could achieve close to 30 knots in the correct hands

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I first sailed a Wharram "Phi" (31') and helped build a "Captain Cook" (42') and I built my own "Tangarroa" (35'). The only one I sailed on was the Phi. I found the experience liberating. Up to that point I had sailed all sorts of mono hulls.

The fact that even Wharram's cats had a turn of speed, sailed upright, had shallow draft and fantastic deck space, convinced me that my first boat would be a Catamaran. I managed to build my own but life conspired against me and I sold it as an unfinished project.

My first boat was a Rival 41C. A boat that for various reason I know very well and had previously sailed extensively. It was part right place, right time, right price and part insecurity at buying anything radical.

I like my Rival and so does the family but in my heart I wished I had searched for a Wharram "Captain Cook". The accommodation in the hulls would not have been so different to the Rival, the wife would have loved the stability, the kids the massive deck space and me the ability to stick it on a beach. That might appear odd but I love the destination just as much as the voyaging.

One day .......