Mac 26 M/X and Hunter theEDGE

[John McDonough]

$1,000.00 per member. My check is in the Mail.

For $1,000.00 we can use the boat for a week.

Reading the above links & reviews, I would think that at $50,000 for a Hunter powersailer, Macgregor should still be a very popular model.

[Highlander]

Hi All

Well I was just @ the TO boat show yesterday "Sat." & their was the Hunter Edge right beside the Mac 26 M , Well the M26 looked long sleek & fast ! compared to the Edge that looked short fat & ugly, just my unbiased opp.

once inside I was even more disappointed the V-berth is no longer than 4ft at best, thought I was sitting in my mac19
not a lot of space other than a little wider ! the head is no bigger than the mac26m actualy smaller with just more head room ! So look at the boat closley you'll see it has a 2ft swim platform which is nice, then the rudder compartment under the helm seat " which is more of a pod & not a very comfy to sit on for very long " takes up another approx 18" at the least . So now you are down to 22 ft 6" of living space I felt the only diff, between my mac19 & the Edge on the inside was really the headroom !!!. on the outside the edge could not even come close to my Mac 19 never mind my 26M just on looks alone, no jib track either very sparse on equip. and that folding hatch top is a sure leaker & I don't think I'd want to stand on it either ? So starting @ $55000.00 grand CAN. with an 70hp eng " thats a boat show special price ? reduced !
I'll just sell my mac19 but will be keeping my 26M

J

[School House Steve]

Thank-you John and Bransher for putting your $1000 checks in the mail. I am making you my first two race sponsors. While $2000 is a great start, I'm afraid it doesn't come close to the $50,000 I need to buy an Edge equipped to beat a MacGregor. People, I need more sponsors! I think we also need a Mega-sponsor like Kelly-Hanson Marine to sell us the boat at wholesale cost. I'm sure this would reduce the amount by $30,000 or more. Also to complete the race agenda I'm going to propose, I'll have to quit my job for the entire summer if not longer so I need to cover the costs of food, lodging and travel expenses. Since it's highly unlikely we will have enough sponsors to purchase two race boats, I figure it would be one Edge against a hundred or more Macgregors, and this would rule out individual "Match" races. So I have divided the North American area into five Regional Divisions and an optional two International Divisions. Since I don't know that much about sailboat racing and especially the rules, I'm just going to make things up as I go. First I propose a race format based on the Hare and Hounds idea plus POINTS. The Edge (the hare) would cross the starting line first and given a 5 minute head head start before the Macgregors (hounds) White Fleet could start followed 5 minutes later by the faster Blue Fleet. I have designed special race courses to test the various abilities of both boats and sailing conditions crews would expect in our individual areas.

The first race, The Pacific North West Division, would be called "The Puget Sound Round-About". It would be a circumnavigation of Vashon Island starting and ending at Quarter Master harbor. Like the thinking of local sailors in these waters, crews can choose race around the island in either a clockwise of counter-clockwise direction because it doesn't really matter since we are all ending up in the same place. Since this race is also open to sailors from Canada and Alaska, to make this race as realistic as possible, it will only be held while raining. In the rare event that the sun should shine, all boats are required to immediately hove to and start their Bar-B-Ques. First crew to finish their steaks and shrimp shish-kah-bob's wins extra points, any crew not finished eating by the time it starts raining again LOSES points,

The second race, The South West Division, would be called "The Catalina Classic". It would start from Marina Del Ray to the Catalina Island Yacht Club and end up eating and drinking all night. Any crews who pass out, lose points. I'm hoping we can get Roger MacGregor to pick up the tab here

The third race, The South East Division, is called the "Florida Keys Slalom". Starting on the southern tip of Florida, each boat would have to weave in and out of the Florida Key Islands. Some where along the way, buried treasures would be geo-cached on beaches. Each crew would have to safely beach their boat and use a hand held GPS to find their treasure. Any crew un-able to find their treasure would lose points. After picking up your treasure (a puzzle) crews would be allowed to race to the finish line at Margarita-Ville, assemble their puzzle to raise their Chilling The Most flag to win.

The fourth race, The North East Division, called the "Long Island Tea" would be a little different. NO SAILS will be allowed, and all water ballast must be removed the boats! This will be a strict drag race the length of Long Island with a 90 degree hair pin turn at the mid way point. All boat engines will be limited to the manufacturers suggested horse power at their date of manufacture. Any X boats that capsize at the turn, will lose points.

The fifth race, The Central American Division, the "Chicago Rum Line" will be held on Lake Michigan. Starting at the mouth of the Chicago River, contestants will sail north to Milwaukee where they will dock and search for a keg of the best beer around, and then return to Chicago with the keg un-opened. Any crew that returns with less than a full keg will lose points.

Now if we get enough sponsors, I would consider two international races assuming we can get the Edge to fit into an standard shipping container. Perhaps, since it doesn't have 6 feet of head room we can turn it side ways and it will fit

The sixth race, The European Division called "Trouble in the Channel" would take place between England and France. The Channel has been the site of many contests of daring feats, such as the first airplane to fly any distance over water, first person to swim the channel, first flight of an human powered plane across the channel, and my favorite, the guy sponsored by Red Bull who jumped out of an airplane over England and glided to France with a set of wings strapped to his back. Starting in England, the MacGregor fleet would play the part of the English Navy. If the winds really start to blow, the Edge would play the part of the Spanish Armada. If the fog comes in the Edge would play the part of the German Fleet at Jutland. Each boat will be equipped with a starboard and port water balloon launcher just like we used in college. Race tactics that would help here could be forming a battle line, crossing the tee, broadsides and plunging shell fire. Admiral Nelson would be proud. MacGregor boats will also get grappling hooks while the crew of the Edge will be armed with cutlass's. Any boat that can capture the Edge's flag wins, it the Edge escapes, it wins.

The seventh race, The South Pacific Division, named "The Blooming Onion", will be the yet most grueling of them all. Starting in Melbourne, crews must trailer their boat across the entire continent of Australia, through the Outback (no blooming onions here) all the way to Perth. A four wheel drive tow vehicle (which I have) is a must here. First crew to raise their mast, launch their boat, do a 360 degree turn in reverse, retrieve the boat back onto the trailer and lower their mast wins.

Well that's the plan, let's get those checks in the mail. See you on the water!

Steve

[c130king]

Steve,

You either 1) have too much time on your hands or 2) too much alcohol on your hands or 3) both of the above.

Cheers,
Jim

[Québec 1]

Understanding the incredible stress and energy needed for this project It becomes evident you need help on this endeavour. I hereby pledge my time as first mate, race instructor, navigator and president of the eco-logy non-profit organization which will fund this projet in Canada.

My experience in the funding of non profit organizations permitted me to realize...as soon as I saw your project .....that we were admissible for federal funding in Canada. We would be admissible to funding under the program which was put in place to help the homeless. It will be a projet which will highlight the importance of the prevention of homelessness and will undoubtedly be of interest to many Mac owners especially in these troublesome times.

This will also permit all those who invest in this projet to get a charitable tax receipt..just like you get from your church ..at just about this time every year.

We will call this projet THE CHALLENGE FOR PREVENTION OF HOMELESSNESS. I will be looking for capable people to join our governing body..but caution before you apply ..there will be meetings every month. In the winter months we will be focusing our activities in the Rockies and in Australia whilse in the Summer we will be focusing our activities in Quebec..where you will have to learn a second language and in England and France. You will have to travel extensively and work tirelessly in order to make sure that we are meeting all federal government program criteria and charitable organisation requirements.

I don't have any experience becoming a church but I understand this could also be a good financial goal and I am presently looking for a member on the board who could help us eventually attain this blessed goal. P.S. Can I be the pope .
Q1

[waternwaves]

I humbly suggest the following race rule addenda

on the chicago rum race........ the wisconsin entrants need to carry two kegs........ (one to drink). those canadien entrants need to tow their smaller boat with their larger MAC

The keys have to be navigated in reverse at night........

The puget sound race should requires and intentional beaching, removing the mast.........then resteppipng to continue., or for Duane... carrying the mast while using the kite sail and removing 2 spark plugs........

The california race should include a mandatory all deck work and sail handling must be done with two full wineglasses carried in the hands at all time.

And for the Melbourne to perth crowd.......perhaps a handicap rule that something poisonous or lethal has to be carried in the cockpit at all times........ Croc, snake......etc....

for the New England crew.... we could just take the rudders off and force all to choose their direction with sail balance and weicht shifting..

There...... now I think the playing field could be equalized......

I need to quit thinking about sailing and get back to the real work world.........