[quote=Deepsees]I find that speed is relative to conditions anyway. I own an alley cat (no longer made) 5.7. It is a very smooth riding cat and robust in design. Who cares if a boat is so fast that one cannot comfortably ride it in two plus foot seas?
Firm hulls (especially on top... no spongy decks) are a must when the wind is trying to submerge the bow to pitch pole.
Since boats have to deal with a constantly changing riding surface, speed is not as important as control. Sailing is about using the wind to it's max.... safely. Righting a cat is a hassle and a potential hazard. A friend of mine flipped his hobie 18 in an inlet where there was significant tide flow... his mast stabbed the bottom and bent it... going for speed when control was the order of the day.
Enjoy the motion... no matter how slow or fast. I find that it is much more of a challenge to sail in light winds with currents than fast water moving over the control surfaces.
Keep dry[/quote]
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