"DSK" wrote in message

It's true that computational dynamics have replaced the experienced eye in
naval architecture, and boats have become enormously faster (largely
because of advances in materials IMHO), the experienced sailors eye still
has a feel for what the sea will approve of. Ugly race boats are usually
optimized to some measurement rule rather than for performance.

I can't remember the name of the boat, but it was a noted one-off
rule-beater back in the seventies. It was so butt-f***ing ugly as to be
offensive. Not sure if it won many races, but it did get a lot of press.

Max