John,
I agree with Walt. The Vega is a very forgiving boat, and easy to singlehand
when rigged for that. Yes, on San Francisco bay she's uncomfortable but
solid, and can take a pounding. Yes, she's tender, but she stiffens up
nicely. Too much wind, reef her down, and she clips right along at a good
speed. Take her outside the Bay, and you want to come back; she rides nicely
in a swell versus a chop. I've had her outside the Bay, double-reefed in
about 25 knots and seven to nine foot rolling swells, and wanted to keep on
going. For me, the Vega is a dream to sail. I was looking at a 35-foot
Rafiki that I guy wanted to sell/trade for a smaller boat because the Rafiki
was becoming too much boat for him, and considered a deal. But I thought
about what he was saying, and figured I'll keep the Vega for the following
reasons:
1. The Vega will go anywhere the larger boat will go.
2. Although the larger boat has more space down below, creature comforts, it
doesn't cost me much to maintain my smaller, go anywhere Vega. I make do
with what I have.
3. Ever sailed a boat larger than 34 feet? Sailing's a lot of work. Sailing
a larger boat is even more work. The Vega makes it look easy, yet still
challenging.
4. I can think of a thousand reasons to buy a larger boat. But for me the
Vega makes better fiscal sense because if I had a larger boat, I wouldn't be
able to afford other interests.
5. If you ever get fed up, and just want to bail, you'll always have an
affordable boat that will take you anywhere you want.
6. The Vega has a great following/owners association, i.e. knowledge base,
from all over the world.
7. I like when I'm sailing into the Oakland estuary, and you pass alongside
another, larger, moder-looking boat, and the skipper or crew notice the star
on the mainsail and shout: "Hey, isn't that a Vega." I get a sense of pride
from that because, for a little known boat among all the Catalinas, Hunters,
and hight-tech what-nots, The Vega does have a reputation in the sailing
community for being a very sturdy, capable "little" boat.
8. It's a great "little" boat to learn how to singlehand on. The cockpit is
narrow enough that the winches are within easy reach. Lead you control lines
into the cockpit, rig lazy jacks so you don't have to go up to the mast, and
you're on your merry way.
All I have to say is that if you have a Vega in mind, just like any other
boat you think you want to buy, get it surveyed before you fork over the
cash. It the survey is satisfactory, and you buy the boat, heed the
information provided in the survey, and you'll have one of the greatest
boats ever designed. You might even find, after sailing it a couple of
years, that you'll have a hard time "trading up."
Steve DeMont
"Erendira" #2947
