Racing Cal 25-2

[dennis]

I've read many stories and articles about the racing of Cal 25-1 Flat Tops. The newer boats, Cal 25-2, have even a better PRHF rating. I'm considering purchasing one of the newer model. I hope to club race and weekend cruise. The fleet I will be racing in has several C&C 24's and C&C 25"s. There is also Paceship 26 and several Catalina tall rigs. Has anyone out there raced their 25-2? Anything to watch out for on this model?

 

[Bob]

Racing the 25 MkII

Funny you should ask....I have just raced my recently aquired 25-II for the first time and was very pleasantly suprised. My club PHRF rated it at 264, non-spinnaker, and I think the boat ,in time, will club race very well. I raced as I received it; ancient sails, untuned mast, no backstay tensioning, two crew over seventy on a blustery day, no real sail adjustment other than initial luff and foot tensioning, no whiskert pole. The boat was very close winded, did great in the chop, outstanding on the reach (because of the beam no doubt), and was more than responsive enough to round marks and make tactical starts. On corrected time, over an eight mile race, we finished only 5 minutes behind an International 110, 2 minutes behind a Pearson 30, and only 20 seconds behind a Nonsuch 33. The rest of the fleet was 30 to 70 minutes behind me and consisted of a Tanzer 28, Catalina 25, Catalina 22, Cal 25 flattop, Tarten 27, McGreggor, and others of that nature. I was totally psyched to have the Cal 25 decisively sail away from the other 20 footers.

 

[Truepenny]

Racing the Cal25-2

I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the performance of the Cal25-2. I own a '78 model "Three Sheets." I don't formally race; but there are informal races sponsored by the owner of my marina. My boat does very well; generally coming ahead of all except for some folks from the racing club who participate. As well, I have talked to a dealer who previously sold Cals and is an active racer. he says the Cal 25-2s typically sail better than their ratings--in the hands of a reasonably sailer. They are typically rated at 215-220 and, he says, sail at 180. So you should be pretty happy.