If I didn't have a triton....

[Figment]

Fleet of (4) Illusion Mini-12 meter boats for sale on Ebay

I LOVE THESE!!!!!

[Quetzalsailor]

Agreed. They're very cute!

One's for sale in Rock Hall, and there's a small fleet at Miles River Yacht Club in St Michaels.

On the other hand, I'd bet they're claustrophobic; they won't plane; and with a waterline length of what? 12', they'd not be very exciting. I'd take a Herreschoff 12 1/2 any day.

[Case]

In case you didn't know - a Herreshoff H 12-1/2 is actually 16 feet long.

Just mentioning it in case. Until early this year, I actually thought they were 12-1/2 feet long (haven't really studied them in person). Turns out it was the waterline length. I felt like a total fool when I learned about this little fact. It is hard to reconcile that some of the older designs had numbers denoting the waterline length. I had a similar foolish experience when I found out that the New York 40s were actually 75 feet long or something.

Those little sailboats do look fun. Wouldn't want to sail in rough wakes, though. Would be a literal bathtub if that happened...

- Case

[Quetzalsailor]

Yes, a now-passed friend of mine used to race his out of Quissett, MA. I've sailed it; what a sweet boat!

I think you're right about the bathtub potential. Of course an old Star or similar open keelboat will do the same thing, but with more provocation.

[Hirilondë]

The proper name for the boats today is the 2.4 Metre. They are actually built to a box rule similar to the 12 Meters, and thus there is room within the rule to modify the design of any given boat. They use spinnakers for racing as well, so you can imagine the number of lines that lead to the crew of 1 to handle. You will note from the link that there is still a world and some continental championships for the class. At one time there was a small fleet in Newport, though I am not sure whether it is still viable. I would consider racing again if I could do it in that class.

[Ric in Richmond]

How about these....go before ebay deletes!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/21-J-Boa ... 836wt_1167

[Bluenose]

How about these....go before ebay deletes!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/21-J-Boa ... 836wt_1167

No worries about completely losing this cool boat. I lassoed a few pictures to a post on my blog.

Alas, it didn't sell. So maybe it will get relisted.