Cape Cutter 19 Association Forum

I have never seen a direct sailing comparison on these two boats, so would be very interested to hear if anyone has sailed both. The CC has better accomodation and a central outboard, tabernacle etc etc. It has more sail area for the light stuff, but in a decent wind are they closely matched? Interesting to hear any comparison. The RTI results seem to suggest its pretty even?

Hi Simon

I think the only benefit of a Shrimper over a CC19 is that the class is more active since there are ten times more of them.

I intend to try my utmost to get some Cape Cutters together this year though. We have three already entered for Morbihan, and I'll see if we can get an event in the south and one 'further up a bit'.

I did rent a Shrimper for a couple of days before settling on Zephyr.

Yes, I've also chartered a shrimper a couple of times but never sailed a CC19 so have no feel for how they compare.

Simon
I'm often in the Solent, so if you fancy a sail I'd be up for it.

Hi

Have a look at this on the old Yahoo site. This was discussed several times.

I researched this prior to purchasing my Cape Cutter which is now 10 years old. I have to say she has done everything asked of her, sometimes in trying conditions and has been used as a family boat in that time (kids now 18/16!). I have to say she is still as good as new (although during this time she has sat on a trailer in a barn when not in use!).

I tried a Cape Cutter 19 and Shrimper from Sparks Marina in Chichester harbour over a couple of weekends before going for the Cape Cutter.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/capecutter19/message/574

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/capecutter19/message/327

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/capecutter19/message/6

Kind Regards

Simon Head

Simon

That response is very helpful. I am particularly interested in comparable sailing performance. It would seem to me that in strong winds the boats will be similar, but the extra sail area available on the CC will pay dividends when the wind is lighter. I am quite surprised that PBO or another magazine has not compared them directly.

Thanks

Simon

That is exactly the case.

As the old saying goes its always better in light airs to have more canvas to put up than not to have (in the case of the shrimper).

I remember the guy at Sparkes Marina saying that he thought that the Capecutter19 was over canvassed compared to the Shrimper. My response to this was- well you do not fly it all then!- if its blowing a hooly you do not have the genoa out, staysail and full main. Common sense!

The CC has some good sail combinations with the main, staysail, genoa or yankee.

Some members I think sail with the yankee and staysail. I like the staysail and genoa although I sometimes sail with the yankee if I know I am to experience up wind sailing- the CC sails closer to the wind with the yankee.

The Yankee is also flown often as you may sail the boat as a cutter. In light winds the genoa requires to be helped around the forestay when tacking whereas the yankee is easily tacked. The genoa sometimes also wind shadows the staysail if flown, but it is a great fast sail!

Another thing to bear in mind is that the CC uses lead ballast- in a blow she is much stiffer than a Shrimper and able to take weather better- the Shrimper uses steel punchings for ballast.


Regards

Simon

Last season, I beat upwind with a shrimper, who evidently was trying to race us. I was sailing with my kids and the shrimper appeared to have 3 adults on it. It was quite windy (f4/5 IIRC). The shrimper was on its ear (they even looked like theyr were trying to hike it at times!) but I kept the CC flat (mostly because the rest of my like it what way). I held them off for a long time and if I my crew hd allowed me to use a little more canvas, I think we would have been faster.

I don't consider myself to be an especially skilled sailor and certainly don't feel I get the best performance (yet) from the CC (Russell, say nothing;) ), but that experience does suggest to me that the sailing performance of the CC is better than a shrimper.

Since my family do not like sailing when it's windy I certainly appreciate being able to carry lots of canvas in light airs, but able to reduce sail easily as the wind picks up.

Hi,
Four years ago I sold my Shrimper and bought a new CC from HM. In comparison the CC is definitely more stable (which is very much appreciated), and definitely faster: theoretical hull speed is much earlier obtained by the CC which I sail with yankee+staysail. Furthermore the design features of having an outboard in line with the keel and a more practical interior are obvious.
Only difference in favour of the Shrimper was the better polyester quality of my previous Shrimper versus my current CC built nr 104.

Kind regards,
Black Sheep

Hi Black Sheep

That is interesting, you feel that the Shrimper build quality is better? I think that the additional woodwork inside the Shrimper has always made it feel a quality boat, but then again the moulding quality on the Honnor marine boats has looked pretty good to me and I haven't heard any horror stories. It is amazing what difference a bit of wood makes. If you have ever got into a hawk 20 cabin there is no finishing and it feels like a plastic box.

The bizarre thing about the shrimper is that most people go for the 2+2 which is a very impractical layout. Most shrimper sea loos are also never used. The most practical layout is the original two berth with small galley and anyobne else sleeping in the cockpit under a tent, but at a boat show its all about maximum berths and having a loo!

The cape cutter does at least have a more workable layout.