Capt. Rob wrote:
Performance is truly defined as how well something fulfills its
intended purpose.


Oh, I guess that means that if the guy with the Island Packet 35 feels
his boat performs great within his goals, then that's good performance?

Certainly. Its a great performing cruiser!

Sorry, Jeff, making up your own definition for sailing performance
won't cut it.

Sorry Bob, you're the one making up a definition. Performance is
"fulfilling the intended purpose." Look it up.

Your boat sails poorly in light air, is tedious to tack
(your own) words and is weak upwind.

And yet, it will go upwind faster than your boat in a breeze.

Even compared to newer cats it's
still not a good performer. However, my 35s5 sails well on all tacks,
goes upwind, tacks on a dime and is able to work in light air and is
still considered a good performer against more modern designs.

yada yada yada. It might mean something if you raced it.

You enter as many qualifications as you want but the
basic facts are not altered.

Right. You bought a "racer/cruiser" that might be a good racer but is
a below average cruiser. Given that its hard to call it a "great
performer." Buts its no matter, you don't race and you don't cruise,
so I guess that makes you a "poor performer."

You own a cruising boat that does well off the wind, tacks badly, can't
sail well in light air, can't point, has a numb helm....all by your own
admission now less....

I own a cruising boat that can handle any conditions I'm likely to
encounter on the East Coast. It can go upwind as fast as your boat
and it flies off the wind; all with a small rig that can be
singlehanded. It has three staterooms, two with queen size bunks, all
with great ventilation, standing room and plenty of lockers. A head
and shower that you can actually use underway. A galley bigger than
many apartments have, big enough to cook a Thanksgiving dinner for
eight, who can be served in the saloon. No A/C because it don't need it.

I carry a dinghy on davits and a kayak on deck. A cockpit that 8
people can stretch out on, a foredeck made for sunbathing. I can do
100 miles and arrive for dinner refreshed. The boat is even unsinkable!

This boat has taken us from Toronto to Maine to Key West and back.
We've lived on board close to 600 nights, and still use it more than
half the summer. We're planning a trip to Newfoundland that will take
three summers to complete.

So I ask the assembled masses: which boat has or will best fulfill its
intended purpose, or putting it more simply, is the best performer:
Boobie's Bendy, or my PDQ?