Hi. My name is Kevin McKiernan. I am trying to decide if the U 20 would be the right boat for me in the coming years. One problem maybe is " I was so much younger then, I'm older than that now". Now 60, I started sailing in 1961 on an Old town canoe with sponsons and a filthy cloth sail. Despite the dirty sail, it was a very fast boat. It was eventually burnt as firewood and I graduated to a brand new 1969 sunfish. I did very well with that racing in the jr sunfish class and crewed on Comets which at the time I considered a big step up in size, speed and performance. Eventually also sailed Hobie 16's, Pearson 25, and a J120 on which I was just a crew. At one point, I also owned a brand new Monty 17 and a Penobscot 14. Which leads me to my current dilemma. Back in the early 2000's I was fortunate enough to sail twice on a U20 owned by a gentleman who was a doctor in Syracuse NY. He was a great guy whose name I cannot recall. I believe he retired and went south to Fla with his U 20. We sailed his boat on Lake Skaneateles NY ( which by the way is one of the deepest and cleanest lakes you would be lucky enough to ever be on or in). All I remember is the boat was fast, and very responsive. My next boat will be sailed in NH, either on Lake Winnipesaukee or Merrymeeting Lake. It may be a U 20 which wins in the speed dept., or a Sakonnet 23, which while not as quick, is still a great boat with beautiful lines. I'm in great shape physically. Can I still handle a U 20, or should I take a step back and just go slower and enjoy the sail. If anyone has a boat still in the water or about to come out in the northeast, I would love to still see one again to try to decide if it is still the right boat for me.
Thanks Kevin
