Whats the fastest sailboat I can buy?
That question is awkward to answer, because speed is not normally a consideration when choosing a sailboat. Boats compete in controlled classes, so everyone is racing the same design or at least a design that meets the same set of limitations set by the class rules. You can’t buy a faster boat of a special design and race against boats that are built to the rules of a different class. Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter how fast a particular class boat is, because everyone in that class has a boat that goes about the same speed. The real advantage comes from how well you trim your sails before you put it in the water, how well you keep the boat on the right course for wind conditions and sail trim, and what tactics you use to insure you cross the finish line first. So the answer is, the fastest boat is the one with the best skipper…and fortunately, that is something you can not buy. That is something you earn.
