|
By the way, I should mention: initially I had started looking at Contessa 32s... simply because the bigger the boat the harder it is to truly singlehand...
A Valiant 42 has a huge sail area. A Tayana 42 probably as well, despite being cutter rigged for most. The Ketch strategy is interesting, but it is something I personaly don't like.
The question is important. One usually gets tempted to go "bigger" (subject to budget) but in the end it is a compromise. Bigger is better maybe in strong weather, but not always. A Contessa 32 is probably the ultimate boat you'd want to be on in a really nasty storm... but then it is truly too small... esp if you are two or plan to chill on your sailing tour.
Hell I do plan do hang out in islands and surf, windsurf and simply live well for a while - that's where size to store stuff and live not out of a small bag and cabin makes a difference. I am sure everyone out there is facing the same dilemma. Plus I may find the lady of my dreams so you wouldn't want to share a shoe-box with her for a few years...
So in the end that would be a good topic to discuss related to optimum size in a separate thread some day. Not all 40ft boats are equal. The modern Sweden Yachts for example over here which I sail have massive sails. I could NOT singlehand a Sweden 42 for example. The main is too big to handle in 40+kn winds, drop and fold it. A Tayana 37 is small comparatively...
|