The International Canoe

Hi Everyone,

Yet another boat has been advertised as the fastest singlehander. The boat is hailed as the "International" Swift Solo. It looks like an overcanvassed, sloop rigged dinghy with a gennicker and trapeze.

Does anybody have any details about the boat. how does it compare to the IC? Do not worry I am not going to change class.

Regards

Southpaw.

It's a 29er with the crew missing.

If it gets advertised very much as "International" there will be ructions!

Very Bethwaite inspired, very big sails, rather heavy (by my standards anyway). Mostly home built in strip planked cedar. If you like the strip plank cedar look some of them can be quite decorative with various colours of cedar in patterns, but for some reason that look doesn't appeal to me at all.

I agree with you. The website claims that there are about 100 boats sailed in 16 countries. But the list of boats shows that 1 is sailed in England as well as single boats in several other countries. So yes there will be ructions.

But what is its performance, is it another design where speed is derived from large sail areas rather than the design? Is it faster than say the RS700, Musto Skiff or the IC.

There website compares the boat's statistics to the RS700 and the Musto Skiff but not the performance measure. The IC is not mentioned - as usual with these new trapeze skiff classes.

The boat itself, in my opinion, does look quite attractive. But I do like the look of wood. But I will stay with my Carbonfibre Razerback.

Peter

I have raced my (new rules) IC against the Swift Solos and Mustos several times.

The IC has a marked speed advantage upwind and the Swift Solos are faster downwind. On a W/L course the IC is usually a bit ahead by the finish.

The SS and Musto seem close in speed around the course. I haven't sailed one but I imagine the SS is a handful in a breeze - they carry a lot of sail. Downwind area is about 40sqm.