wrote in message
oups.com...
I am perfectly willing to believe that advances in materials technology
has made such lighter rigging and fittings feasible, I can only say how
it appears to me. How do these boats with odd fittings and strange
shaped ports hold up? I wouldnt call the Beneteau ugly, just different
(but remember, i also defend the Mac26). Euro-styling leaves me cold
although I dont want to be seen defending traditional designs either.

Those portlights are fugly, period. And given their size and number they
better be absolutely bulletproof, if a boarding wave takes one out the thing
will sink in a heartbeat. Problem with a lot of newer boats, designer has a
particular set of design parameters/re interior volume, and you can't design
a graceful looking boat and meet these criteria. Beneteau is building boats
for the charter market to a large degree, and they want their boats to look
"modern". Problem is, after several years these designs look badly dated.
IMHO, it's fugly. I've never had any trouble offering opinions like that.
Macs are also fugly for the reason I've stated above, trying to stuff a lot
of interior volume into a short LOA. And, if both the Mac and Beneteau
appear to have skimped on the rigging, they've done so because they know
that the typical owner, like bubbles, won't be sailing in winds north of 20
kts., and won't be sailing in conditions where he has to be concerned about
boarding waves taking the portlights out.

John Cairns