A few years back...probably three now, I saw the video "Berserk" on our local RSN network (Resort Sports Network) most of you are familiar with the film, but I remember the beginning as they spoke about taking a fiberglass, 27' sloop to the Antarctic! My first thought was..."you poor fools, you are going to die"!
After the program ended, I was intrigued by the little "bombproof" vessel, featured in the film, that had taken these three sailors around Cape Horn...to the Arctic and then back to South America; so I researched the Vega, and was throughly impressed by her design, handling and safety factors.
With three children...a limited amount of cash, but a huge desire to do day sails, overnights and extended cruises in the future, we needed a boat that was structurally sound, spacious enough to sleep four, could be upgraded easily, and it needed to be a somewhat forgiving craft as I am the only experienced sailor on board. The Vega kept coming up on our criteria list!
Though she lacks the traditional lines that we have leaned towards in the past, we couldn't be happier with how she has handled herself in 18-20 knots winds, and she moves rather nicely in 10-12. Her motion is very comfortable for a smaller boat, and the high combings are great with young children (always nice keeping the kids "in" the boat!),
I still have a lot to learn about the Vegas, and there are some changes that I suppose we will make in the future, but for now, she seems to fit the bill nicely. Though she may not be the prettiest boat in the bay, the bottom line with this craft is that we feel very safe aboard her, and know that in a blow, she will do fine and so will her crew, and to us...that is worth all the money in the world.
