[sailingdog]

You ask the question "Do great minds choose smaller boats?" I proffer that if this is true, and smaller boats, less money and simplicity are what make great minds and great sailors, Mike Sanderson on ABN Amro One, Robin Knox-Johnston on his Open 60 Saga Insurance, and others must be complete idiots since they are sailing on huge, very complex, incredibly expensive boats.

Last I checked neither of them are paying for those boats, as they are sponsored boats and I'm talking about cruising boats rather than the much more expensive racing market. Also, I don't believe Mike owns ABN/Amro One. You're taking things out of context. Hell, if I could get someone to pay for it, I'd get a huge boat and be done with it.. but that isn't what I'm talking about. Please keep the comparison apples to apples so to speak.

I take offense that you feel that if you don't rough it and cruise in a small boat, you must not be a "great mind" and you aren't a true sailor. I'd actually lean in the other direction... you'd be stupid not to buy the biggest boat you can afford (from a purchase, refit, maintenance and cruising kitty perspective) and actually be comfortable. I'm not sure where comfort exactly is when it comes to determining your dedication to the sport. I recall reading that Joshua Slocum often wished for a larger boat - he just couldn't afford it.

Again, you're putting words in my mouth that I didn't write... You might want to re-read my original post. I would appreciate it if you didn't start reading biases into my post that aren't actually there. If you feel a need to have a 40' boat, with a washer, dryer, microwave oven, satellite TV.. so be it... that's your comfort level. I don't have a problem with that.

I also agree that going too small is just not sane... but again, this is often detemined by your personal comfort level and need for space. What you need for a family of four, which is your situation, is going to be far different from what I need for single-handing.

To me, a great mind is one who chooses to sail. A not so great mind is one that chooses to discriminate based upon what others sail.

We'll buy each other rum punches some day and debate it for hours like true sailors should

I don't discriminate against people on the basis of what they sail... Hell, I'm a multihull sailor...doing that would be ridiculous...we're outnumbered by the monohullers by a long ways... And you can buy the first round.