Reader's respond

The Juage 9.50 should be an amateur class

On the subject of the Juage 9.5, the proposal for a class bridging the gap between the Mini and the Class 40, several readers have responded.

From California Lehel Garami writes:

My view on the Juage 9.5: it would be just great to have a new class of boat that perhaps amatures could get back into racing without all the big sponsers and big money.

I've campaigned a 1985 Hobie 33 for over 15 years racing singlehanded/crewed on the west coast of the U.S. and have now much interest in the newer high tech boats. I've done some research into the Mini class for a while now and it seems without some sponsership it's an unreasonable cost for such a small boat for an owner to build and pay for themselves (although state of the art)

With all the sponsership supported classes all ready out there, it would be really nice for an owner style amateur class to evolve. Perhaps this is similar to the very early around the world shorthanded races in which owners brought what they had and raced for the sheer challange and adventure, and now we're seeing beautiful state of the art machines being raced running into the millions of dollars and all but totally sponsored by big corporations.

This is not a bad thing in itself, but leaves the amateurs looking for that adventure of a lifetime and perhaps also in a place in life to follow a dream and do there own campain wondering how to get involve without all the buisness of sponsers

Also from the US Kirby Jacobson sent this:

It is important that the technological edge is not wholly owned by massive corporate boats that require big teams and deep pockets. Future technology should allow us to go to smaller and smaller craft to get performance that is the domain of big boats today.

In other areas of technological development, less expensive products allow faster generational turnover and more rapid use of new ideas. In boats, a smaller design should allow more experimentation because the trial costs are lower and the overall costs can be broadly shared.

If we continue an approach where the boats are fewer and more expensive then we will get to watch it all from the sidelines rather than participating ourselves.

A class that would encourage our participation is a boon to us all.

Kirby
HMRS Starry Nights F31R


From darkest Plymouth, William Mumford shared his views:

Fantastic and about time to. I think the demise of the Open 30s was a huge loss and as a 40 year old the Minis are just too small. The essence will be cost. 40s are too much and there is very little in the production boat market that fits the bill. As a boat for the next RB&I or transat this would be just the job. Bring it on!

From Brighton, Phil Blume was more succinct:

Doesn't the Figaro Class already do this?

Got any views on any of this? Email us here


Regarding the similarity in appearance between solo sailing star Dee Caffarri and Big Brother host Davina McCall, Graeme Sutherland sent us another alternative - that of former Dr Who and more recently the highly enunciated voice of Little Britain, Tom Baker and the Open 60 class' own Jean le Cam, three time winner of the Solitaire du Figaro.