My concerns a because I live on the NE coast my ideal cruising
ground is the Atlantic coast day sailing and making port-to-port
recreational trips. But I really want a boat I can also race if want.
I want to do the Figawi in 2005 and the notice of race said a boat of
any length can enter so long as its PHRF rating is under 200. Even
for day sailing I still want a boat that can point and is fun to
actively sail. I don't really have a need for standing head room or TV
and VCR. The only sailing I realy ever done is racing so I'm used to
spartan interiors and peeing in a bucket. I would like to be able to
single hand it. A guy wants to sell me his 525, including a trailer,
basic sail inventory (5 total), motor, spin gear, for $2000 and the
boat looks pretty good. I've looked at J24s and the cheapest I can
find is twice that for a boat that hasn't seen bottom work in a long
time and without a trailer. Same for merit 25s. Honestly, I would
get an S2 7.9, but the cheapest I've found one of those is $10,000.
Merits are very cool too, but still in the 6,000 to 8,000 range.

Basically, I love to sail, want to have fun, race for fun, and every
once in a while sail from RI to the Cape or to the Chesapeake Bay.

best,
Richard

wrote in message .. .
On 26 Feb 2004, (Richard Randall) wrote:

I guess by perform I mean how tender or stiff it is. But out of
curiousity, what would be your list of racer/cruisers 26 feet and
under. I'm drawn to the 525 because it much less expensive than a J24
or Merit 25.

To what extent is your concern primarily "costal" compared with
"off-shore" compared with PHRF racing conditions?

And re. alternatives, what about, e.g., a well-maintained Pearson 26?