Although it has keels - they are the best. (see drawing)
Yves had worked hard to find a keel that acted on the boat but did not cause drag and leave the boat with a drag free stern.
The first sail was in thirty knot plus wind and rough seas. I had picked my old crew now moved on to helming his own boat.
We agreed we would go out till we tipped over and then come in.
We put the boat in the water and could hardly hold it as I got aboard and hooked on the main. The sea washed over us as we went off the slipway and tightened up but the boat shook itself free and just rode across the waters.
The crew and I exchanged glances and we took the boat on to a reach that would hold a Dart 18. We raced across to next yacht club and then went about and came back down wind jumping off wave faces.
We didn't tip over infact it may be difficult to tip over.
We came in and just looked at the boat - it is just so capable
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picture supplied by KL
I was well on the line at the gun and headed for the up wind mark in front of me were two Dart 18's and a Tornado. The Tornado was obviously sailing a tighter beat than the Darts because of its centreboards. But I sailed a tighter line still!
The Tornado was first to the mark but I was just three boat lengths back. We reach off to the next mark and as expected the two Darts went by me.
We turned on our down wind leg and again I was putting time on the Darts. I arrive at the buoy just after the second Dart and we were off on the beat again I pointed higher and passed them upwind.
A boat to sail on the limit, to race and to have fun.
If you have to take out a family it is cleared to sail with five adults aboard.
