Martin Schöön wrote:
Simple question:

What is a sport boat?
or
What is the 'definition' of sport boat?


There are a number of rules of thumb that some clubs &
regatta organizers use to decide what is & what is not a
sportboat, but so far there is not really a concise
technical definition.


Looking at them 'from a distance' I think I have gathered
that a J 24 is not a sport boat but both J 80 and Melges 24
are. How come? Because they plane more readily?


J-24 SA/D=22.6 D/L=145
J-80 SA/D=26.6 D/L=122
Melges 24 SA/D=32.1 D/L=73



How small can a sport boat be without becoming a dinghy?

I think part of the definition is that it has to be
self-righting, hence the bulb keels.


How big? Is a Melges 30 still regarded as a sport boat?


Definitely yes!


Could a multuhull be a sport boat or is that too blasphemous?


I dunno about blasphemy, but why would you want to race
against multis against monos? There only be a small amount
of fun in winning, like defeating a ten year old at chess or
judo; and imagine the ignominy of (don't even think it!) one
might lose.

If the performance ratios were the main guide, then most
multihulls would easily qualify IMHO.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DSK writes:

Martin Schöön wrote:
snip
Looking at them 'from a distance' I think I have gathered
that a J 24 is not a sport boat but both J 80 and Melges 24
are. How come? Because they plane more readily?


J-24 SA/D=22.6 D/L=145
J-80 SA/D=26.6 D/L=122
Melges 24 SA/D=32.1 D/L=73

Not a huge difference between the J boats I think.

How small can a sport boat be without becoming a dinghy?

I think part of the definition is that it has to be self-righting,
hence the bulb keels.

Ah, that rules out the J-24: Back in 1982 I met a guy who told me
that everyone who told me it was impossible to capsize monos
didn't know what they were talking about. He had hugged a keel
of a J-24 after a violent gybe. The J-24 stayed 180 untill helped
back on its feet.

Could a multuhull be a sport boat or is that too blasphemous?


I dunno about blasphemy, but why would you want to race against multis
against monos? There only be a small amount of fun in winning, like
defeating a ten year old at chess or judo; and imagine the ignominy of
(don't even think it!) one might lose.

You are reading something into the question that isn't there.

If the performance ratios were the main guide, then most multihulls
would easily qualify IMHO.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King


--
Martin Schöön "Problems worthy of attack
show their worth by hitting back."
Piet Hein

On 28 Aug 2006 18:33:56 +0200, (Martin Schöön)
wrote:

I met a guy who told me
that everyone who told me it was impossible to capsize monos
didn't know what they were talking about. He had hugged a keel
of a J-24 after a violent gybe. The J-24 stayed 180 untill helped
back on its feet.

There are any number of J-24s that have been capsized and sunk,
including several at one time in the same race. I once knew a guy who
had turtled one on Long Island Sound. It stayed afloat for a while
but eventually the cabin air escaped through the sink drain and it
sank.

Wayne.B writes:

had turtled one on Long Island Sound. It stayed afloat for a while
but eventually the cabin air escaped through the sink drain and it
sank.

I will point that out whenever people complain about the creature
comforts of my boat :-)

--
Martin Schöön "Problems worthy of attack
show their worth by hitting back."
Piet Hein

DSK writes:

Martin Schöön wrote:
snip
I forgot one thing in my previous response.
Are the numbers below based on empty boat weight or sailing displacement
with crew?

J-24 SA/D=22.6 D/L=145
J-80 SA/D=26.6 D/L=122
Melges 24 SA/D=32.1 D/L=73

snip

--
Martin Schöön "Problems worthy of attack
show their worth by hitting back."
Piet Hein