dht@druri.UUCP (Davis Tucker) (12/19/85)
>...A voyage across an open ocean would destroy a 12 meter. These boats are >only built to race and have no berthing accomadations. > Eric A. Freeman > genrad!panda!eaf I would like to point out that 12 meter yachts have been raced quite succesfully for a number of years on long ocean races (I think it was American Eagle that won the Sydney-Hobart), with minimal refitting. It might be that post-1980 Twelves are too fragile, but there is nothing unseaworthy about the 12-meter design. Of course, the refittting includes a more adjustable sailplan, berths down below, navigating equipment, etc., and also a number of minor mods to make it slide through the IOR (Int'l Oddball Rule). Davis Tucker
brianm@bigtuna.UUCP (Brian Martin) (12/26/85)
In article <27@druri.UUCP> dht@druri.UUCP (Davis Tucker) writes: > >>...A voyage across an open ocean would destroy a 12 meter. These boats are >>only built to race and have no berthing accomadations. > >I would like to point out that 12 meter yachts have been raced quite >succesfully for a number of years on long ocean races (I think it was >American Eagle that won the Sydney-Hobart), with minimal refitting. I was aboard Stars & Stripes today--no way to support a racing crew for a 4+ day open ocean race. Below decks is nothing except a hollow aluminum shell--and it's real cramped. Imagine putting in a galley, berths, water tank, communications/navigation equipment, auxiliary, head, ground tackle, etc. These boats are real prima donnas--they get TOWED in and out of the harbor, they never anchor, they don't operate at night (so no running lights), etc. An open ocean race would require rethinking and redesigning the boat--not an easy task. -- Thanks, Brian Martin University of Hawaii School of Medicine UUCP: ..!{dual|ihnp4|vortex}!islenet!bigtuna!brianm US Mail: 3420-A Hinahina Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 Phone: (808) 735-5661