[GordMay]

An intersting article:
IT’S HOW WELL IT’S DONE THAT REALLY COUNTS - By Jeremy R. Hood
He says, in part:
“...For many years books on the subject of cruising expounded the idea that a long keel with a keel hung rudder was the only suitable underwater shape for offshore sailing, yet if you head on down to Islas Mujares or Antigua or any other cruising destination, you will find relatively few cruising boats with full keels. It is clear that whatever has been written about the desirability of a keel running the full length of the vessel, few who set out and actually go places actually adhere to this. Probably the majority of cruising boats have modified fin keels and of these some have a skeg for the rudder, others do not...”
Full article at:
http://www.hshyachts.com/html/it_s_how_well_it_s_done_that_r.html

HTH
Gord