Bern and Darryl -

The Mystere 4.3 is a set-up-intesive boat to be sure - has everything you find on a Nacra 20, really, with a two-part spin pole and snuffer bag. Each setup takes me no less than 45 minutes - step the mast, tension the rig, off the trailer and track to a good spot in the sand, set up the pole and bag, fly the 'chute once on the beach to check lines and lube on the takedown. Then I get the main up and tension battens. Jib goes up last and gets wrapped around the forestay if it's breezy until I get myself dressed and the cooler stuffed. Long 'bout then, it's off to the skipper's meeting to see what's what and pay the fee. One last quick trip to the 'loo, finish off the coffee, and it's "shove off, mate." When I was exclusively crewing, all of that took half the time with two pairs of hands ('cept the 'loo part, of course).

She breaks down a little quicker, of course, but I'm usually not in a big rush and paying more attention to a cold beer and some tall tales.

I have a simpler boat - the Wave. Step the mast, up with the main, shove off. It's fun, but definitely not the same as the thrills I get on the 4.3 with the 'chute up. The Wave is a good time, the 4.3 continues to make me a better sailor. Would like to add the self-tacker to manage the jib better, but wouldn't take the spin off for love nor money. I appreciate the A-cat simplicity, and I've seen them win consistently against boats with more sails, but for now, I'm all about being "three sheets to the wind."