Selecting the Class Boat Best for You 35 



WHAT KIND OF BOAT TO BUY? 



The next consideration is the kind of boat you wish. In one-designer 

 you have a choice of two major styles: racer-day sailers and racer-cruisers. 

 The latter is usually called a "cruising sailboat" or a "cruising auxiliary." 



Racer-day sailer one-design classes are the most popular of the sailing 

 craft. They are the least expensive but they still provide tremendous 

 fun. Whether you want a pleasant, easy day-sail with your family or a 

 devil-take-the-hindmost race you can get it from this type of boat. If 

 racing is your prime interest, inquire at local yacht clubs and find out 

 what the active one-design classes are. There is no use having a racing 

 boat if there is no competition. For complete information on racer-day 

 sailer or day-sailer racer (since most boats are designed with a prime 

 purpose, either racing or leisurely day-sailing— and a secondary purpose, 

 either racing or day-sailing, you must decide on the primary reason 

 for buying the craft). See Chapter 6. 



The cruising auxiliary or cruiser-racer— the boat with sails, engine and 

 cabin— is a great favorite all over the world. The cabin provides shelter 

 for the youngsters on day-sails and longshore accommodations for periods 

 ranging from a weekend in the small sizes to more extended voyages in 

 30-footers and up. They are stiff, able and seaworthy, and can negotiate 

 a lot of rough water in safety. While many auxiliary and cruising sail- 

 boats are considered one-designer and do have associations, quite often— 

 unlike the smaller-class boats— there are not sufficient numbers in a given 

 area for even-up racing. To overcome this, most yacht clubs have a 

 program of handicapped racing for cruising sailboats, so the cruiser or 

 auxiliary isn't excluded from active competition (see Chapter 5 for de- 

 tails). If the skipper and crew are experienced enough, and your boat can 

 pass the race-committee requirements, you can participate in the classic 

 offshore races such as the Bermuda, Nassau, Mackinac, Ensenada and 

 Honolulu events. 



Midget Ocean Racers (MORC) are cruisers that are under thirty feet 

 and meet special requirements (see Chapter 7), and the class holds fre- 

 quent races for those who like to go offshore, but haven't yet struck oil. 

 Full data on racer-cruisers can be found in Chapter 7. 



