The development Pacer 27 boat arrived in Cape Town for the Lipton Cup period as promised and with the assistance of Sparcraft and Central Boating, she was launched within hours of her arrival with a new rig. First to sail on her was the designer, Alex Simonis (Simonis Voogd Designs), Rick Nankin, Geoff Meek, and our delivery skipper, Wesley. Sailing in light conditions for Cape Town, the two North Sails guys soon fine-tuned the development sails. Initial feedback on the boat was positive except for a few small issues like changing the position of deckgear, the tiller design and a mast compression post which lived up to it’s name.

With Sparcraft’s assistance a new compression post was made up, and the boat was soon out every day this time with the Pentex Mylar racing spec sails.

Herewith some quotes from people who sailed her :

• This boat is a winner. I loved it
  Trygve Roberts (J27 owner)

• It makes the J27 feel like driving a Chico without power steering after getting out of the latest model BMW
  Trygve Roberts (J27 owner)

• Stiffer than the J27
  Trygve Roberts (J27 owner)

• This is a VERY nice boat. I predict a bright future for the Pacer 27 and it comes with my absolute endorsement
  Trygve Roberts (J27 owner)

• I have had a sail on the boat and thought it brilliant
  L26 sailor

• I have got to the point where I don't care if the boat is the Lipton boat or not. Having sailing it and had so much fun on it I want one no matter if it gets Lipton or not
  L26 sailor

• Makes an L26 feel like a diesel bakkie without powersteering
  Top L26 sailor

• surpasses expectation
  Rick Nankin

Read a full boat report by Trygve Roberts in the next Sailing Magazine..
 

The Pacer 27 Sport was officially announced as the 2007 Lipton boat, this by the Lipton Trustees, and sanctioned by the RCYC General Committee. After we arrived in Cape Town with the development boat, a Fax was received by our office in Durban from RCYC advising us that ‘committee members felt that prior to committing the 2007 Lipton Cup to using the Pacer 27 as the boat of choice, more investigation needs to be done ..’ This effectively rescinds the earlier decision. One of the reasons we were given was that the Trustees had not complied with the Deed of Gift for the Lipton. This has subsequently been proven otherwise as the Deed of Gift was in fact changed some years back and the process was correct, and was sanctioned by the then RCYC General Committee. A meeting was held between ourselves and the new RCYC committee and both parties tabled their concerns. The RCYC has agreed to make a final decision on the boat for 2007 by the 19th September.

Should the Pacer 27 S not be the Lipton boat, we shall go to plan B which will involve the establishment of our own event, of a similar or higher profile than the Lipton. We believe that the boat deserves such an event, and it will promote the class locally, and attract the top sailors in the country to participate. An advantage of such a move, would be that unlike the Lipton, the inland clubs and sailors would be given an opportunity to sail in a ‘Lipton-like’ event on their own pond.

Watch this space…