What is not to like about this boat? It is light, super fast, makes a mission of keeping it simple, and has an impeccable pedigree.
When I started sailing, the hot boats at the time were J24s, which could help explain my continued fascination with them now. Most of the hot production boats were in that size range at that time, but it seems as the baby boomers aged, the boats grew with their waistlines, and so we ended up with super beamy over stuffed boats that got longer and fatter by the year. Maybe it is just my misperception, but it looks like the market is turning over, and a new trend is setting in. That trend is towards sport boats, or at least sporty boats. Boats with retractable keels, ramp launchable, with light weight rigs, and minimal crew needs.
This makes sense when you look at how the society has changed over the last 30 years. Water access has become more expensive, and time more scarce, while at the same time, the baby boomers who drove the market for years are at the beginning stages of aging out of it. So it is a younger generation that is now driving the market, one which is more athletic, with a bigger craving for speed, but with less time, and much less likely to be trying to cruise a 24' boat.
It seems to me that the VX One hits the bullseye when it comes to this market. Here you have a boat that can sail in the lightest of winds, and at higher wind ranges becomes a thrill ride like few others. The rigging takes simplicity to a new level, making it easy to go from trailer to water in short order, which elminates the need for permanent wet or drysailing facilities. All you need is a ramp, and a couple hours. Finally, Bennett has managed to bring thecost of the boat in at a level that opens it up to a much larger and younger audience. People that might otherwise be begging rides on OPBs, can now run their own campaigns without risking bankruptcy, divorce, or both.
In short, this is a very cool boat, which should see great success in short order.
