Low Cost Offshore Racing

[LongWay]

I am interested in doing some offshore racing and would like recommendations for a good boat that I can purchase and outfit for about $100k.

Races would primarily be in the Gulf of Mexico. I would like to race single handed, but perhaps with a small crew. Would be PHRF racing.

I have some racing experience as crew, some singlehanded coastal cruising experience, and 1 rum race singlehanded.

I have thought about a J35 for this. Any thoughts or comments?

Any help is appreciated.

[sailortjk1]

First thought, have you also considered an anual budget?
To stay competitive, most skippers are dumping thousands into their boats every season. The initial investment is only part of the equation.

[Giulietta]

Long way...

You have 3 words:

LOW COST
OFFSHORE
RACING

You can combine any 2 of the above, but not 3.

[Faster]

A J35 is a reasonable pick for this kind of activity, although I wouldn't put it at the top of a list of "easy to singlehand" boats. But sailing such a boat shorthanded will be easier to do on long-legged offshore jaunts than typical "round the cans" races.

As to your budget, a J35 can be purchased with at least some money left over to finance maintenance and campaign costs.

Indeed, to be seriously competitive, as Giu says, of the three, pick two. A limited budget is going to affect your ultimate performance.

However, for many local and more casual race programs, the gains due to the latest sails and a mirror bottom can be nullified with a single horrible tack or a bad tactical decision. So it is possible to bring home some hardware if you sail smart, maximize YOUR boat speed, concentrate on maneouvers and boat handling skills, and avoid mistakes. Even without the latest and greatest equipment you can do quite well, especially if your boat of choice can sail to or beyond its PHRF rating.

Best of Luck!!

[LongWay]

Originally Posted by sailortjk1

First thought, have you also considered an anual budget?
To stay competitive, most skippers are dumping thousands into their boats every season. The initial investment is only part of the equation.

Very good point. I can afford a few thousand a year above normal maintenance, which I am assuming I spend now on my Catalina 30.

[LongWay]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

Long way...

You have 3 words:

LOW COST
OFFSHORE
RACING

You can combine any 2 of the above, but not 3.

I guess nothing with sailing would be considered low cost, especially racing.

Maybe I should say reasonable cost and modest offshore? I am not considering major campaigns, but would like to be competitive locally, perhaps try a Bermuda 1-2 sometime in the future.

[blt2ski]

J105's along with one of the 90 series boats have been used for some offshore short handed racing. Not that those would be my first choice, but doable.

What about a mini transat? mid 20' boat, might even find a new'ish one for with in your budget. Being smaller, they might be more affordible as far as upgrades to sails etc too.

i am sure that there are some others that fit, but these are two I have seen used.

Waiquez predator? think that is the model, has also been used offshore by a few folks too. Jeanneau Sun shine 36/38, a Tony castro design from teh mid 80s. Probably a number of later model IOR boats that were built and designed in the early 80's after fastnet might be affordible this way too.

Also look at some of the late 80's early 90's Beneteau first series boats too. many are Farr designed, not sure how well they will be for single/double handing.

If you could go new, the Jeanneau Sunfast 3200 is designed for offshore 1-2 person racing too. 08 european yacht of the year also.

Dehler, X-yacht also should be on the list too.

Marty

[catamount]

Longway,

This past season I sailed my Peterson 34 in a low-cost offshore racing mode similar to what you are proposing, and we did quite well and had a lot of fun too. The Bermuda 1-2 has been on my radar screen, too (just not for 2009 though).

The J35 was one of the boats on my list when I was shopping. Other boats you might consider could be a C&C 35 (I liked the Mark 1), some of the other C&C's would likely be good too. The are all going to be older boats, designed for racing with larger crews, but all can be adapted to short-handed if that's what you want to do, and they would all be suitable for serious offshore work.

You might also consider something like an Olson 30; and for a newer design, maybe look at a Flying Tiger 10M -- those could be had within your budget.

Really what you should do is look at the boats that are competing in the events that you are interested in and then try to find something of similar ilk -- you don't want to have a much slower boat than everyone else (that's no fun), and likewise if you're in an ultra-light sport boat while everyone else is still pushing leadmines around the course, that might not be so much fun either.

While I generally agree with the "pick two" sentiment, I also wish to point out that everything is relative.

Regards,

Tim

[CharlieCobra]

I know where there's an FT-10 with trailer, fully kitted out for 50K. Screamin' deal but ya best move fast. It's hull # 39.

[LongWay]

Originally Posted by blt2ski

J105's along with one of the 90 series boats have been used for some offshore short handed racing. Not that those would be my first choice, but doable.

What about a mini transat? mid 20' boat, might even find a new'ish one for with in your budget. Being smaller, they might be more affordible as far as upgrades to sails etc too.

i am sure that there are some others that fit, but these are two I have seen used.

Waiquez predator? think that is the model, has also been used offshore by a few folks too. Jeanneau Sun shine 36/38, a Tony castro design from teh mid 80s. Probably a number of later model IOR boats that were built and designed in the early 80's after fastnet might be affordible this way too.

Also look at some of the late 80's early 90's Beneteau first series boats too. many are Farr designed, not sure how well they will be for single/double handing.

If you could go new, the Jeanneau Sunfast 3200 is designed for offshore 1-2 person racing too. 08 european yacht of the year also.

Dehler, X-yacht also should be on the list too.

Marty

Thanks for so many good suggestions. I have had the J105 suggested to me before, but it is not a boat that I see very often in long distance offshore races. I have never sailed one, but there is a large fleet here on Galveston Bay that race.

I have thought about the Mini and think they are very cool boats. They are on my pist as possibles, but the downside is no real chance to take my family for a weekend cruise.

The new Jeanneau Sunfast 3200 looks like a great fit. A bit more than I want to spend, but maybe I can talk the Admiral into it.