Peter Wiley wrote:


Not to buy into this, because my expertise is zero, but Tom Colvin
says and claims to have demonstrated that he can sail one of his
schooner rigged designs, balanced, on all points, without a rudder, by
proper sail trim. Given that he's now nearly 80 I'm inclined to
believe him.

What, old folks have greater credibility, just because of longevity?


Note that his hulls are cruising designs, not fin keeled
obsolete/failed racing designs recycled as cruiser/racers.

Do I detect some bitterness in your tone? Anyway, a boat that sails well is never
obsolete. The sea hasn't changed.

BTW the debate wasn't whether a boat can be balanced by sail (at which a long keeled
schooner would excel), but whether it could do so with the helm swinging free, a more
difficult proposition.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King