In this weeks Saturday race, I took a layday on my Inter 17 to sail as crew on a friends Hobie Fox. This is a 3 succesive saturday series of 3 races per day w 3 throwouts per series. ( I had a 2-1-1 the first day so I laid the I-17 up).
<br>We raced inside the reef at the St. Croix Yacht Club in Teague Bay, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
<br> The winds blow 15+ with gusts and swirl in this bay. There is plenty of shifts. and a few winds holes too!
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<br> The formula 20's decided to go with out the chutes because the run out of real estate too soon.
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<br> Last week, a squall line came thru during the races,..but that is another story.
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<br> The line up is a Inter 20, Hobie Fox, (2) 5.8's , a Inter 17 (me) and a new Hobie 16 ( a 14 year old skippers with his Dad and has the potential to smoke all of us..)
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<br> So, enough scene setting. The Fox, other than the reverse bows, have very full hulls, just like the I-20. The bows bury down wind but you learn to ignore it due to the fact that there is so little to them. The boat moves. Is comfortable upwind in a blow and chop. Hums downwind and is easily driven. All in all, you get your $15,000USD worth.
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<br> But, I missed the mainsail only rig. The simple rig. The simple tramp layout. The speed. The safety(..face it, if you cannot handle one sail, go play mini-golf..) The ability to concerntrate on sailing and not on adjustments. I am spoiled,.. the Mainsail only boats do that.
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<br> Do not get me wrong, the jib and main cats are great rides,......but for me,...I cannot wait until next Saturday to get back on the I-17.
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<br>Bruce
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<br>St. Croix<br><br>

how can you compare an hobie fox(20 feet) with an i17???<br><br>

Poetic license,...plus I wanted to get the topics back to sailing...!
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<br>If you meant ,'how would I compare the 2?'
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<br>The Unirigs are such a 'pure' ride,..you know? They just go like a stallion and obey your command,....it does not fight you in any manner,.....a great experiance.
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<br>Bruce<br><br>

Can you use an I 17 uni rig? What is the benefit?<br><br>

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<br>The Inter 17 is a singlehanded version of the I18/I20. The advantage of the unirig with just one person is that you don't have to mess around with the jib when sailing, as your hands are full with the tiller and mainsheet, plus occasional tweeking of the downhaul, outhaul, and mast rotation controls.
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<br>Here is a link to the I17R home page.
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<br>If you haven't tried sailing one, you owe it to yourself to give one a test-drive and see why they are such fun to sail.
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<br>Sail fast and have fun,
<br>Alan Thompson
<br>I20 - San Diego<br><br>