Trying out a J70
Photos
Weird course setting which turned out into a reach parade - also confused and a bit of a mess because the boats rounding the mark ending up going straight across the course of the boats from later starts heading up for the mark and then ploughing through a sea of boats in the start area - super hard to find clean air as a small boat so we ended up taking a huge hike out to get that. not my favorite choice of course and I think that for the corinthian, I don't expect an attempt at windward/leeward but more a course around the Bay type event.
In any case, light air but steady winds made for a fun day.
I was on a J 70, much more modern design and some of the discussions went around whether it is best to get to newer designs (for a sailing schools) or stay with older design. One argument is that students should train on boats they are likely to then see in the market/sail on later.
Very light boat - needs serious footing off in waves as it otherwise would just stop. super easy to depower, a teeny bit of backstay does it. Under canvassed in lighter air, with a teeny jib (with two massive turning blocks where you attach the sheets, might be a little oversized :)) - cleats for jib sheets are not well positioned which makes for awkward cleating when you are on jib trim and an awesome jib halyard tensioner. Wondering if we can install something similar on the express as it is also super sensitive to that in light(er) air. Kind of a mini J105 :) We have only seen the boat in fairly light conditions so hard to see how it would behave in heavier air and if it would get going. Good standing upwind and fast on a reach not enough wind to really look at more downwind performance and weight management.
I wonder what the modern equivalent of the Express 27 is? a boat that can take you across ocean safely, that can accelerate beautifully, surf like mad downwind, be small enough that it has loads I can easily handle even if winches break (although not top performance clearly), small enough that it can be short handed or fully crewed and perform each step of the way, with a fleet that makes round the buoy racing exciting and competitive, under canvassed by design so it is super comfortable in the 25-40 knot wind range (and competitive, meaning this is not survival sailing but very much performance sailing) and that has a good performance for all points of sail (as opposed to just downwind) - any recommendations much appreciated...although there is no plan right now to part with my beloved Elise. And I feel actually safer going across the pacific on her as I a) know her well and know how she reacts to a wide range of conditions and b) she has proven as a boat herself and as part of a design family that she can handle that kind of passage.
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