FRED's Page

Hello Fred,

If you are in the looking stage now I would suggest making a list of how you intend to use the boat, day sailing, cruising 1 or two weeks, liveaboard, coastal or offshore etc. Be very realistic about how you will use it as it determins the nature and cost of the boat.

That said I personally love the Freedom line for its ease of singlehanding and seaworthyness. It also has lots of interior room for extended livaboard. I have a friend who sailed his F32 in the Newport to Bermuda races a number of times both as a singlehander and doublehander. He has also lived aboard with his wife for 6 - 12 months at a time and crossed the Atlantic and back. Needless to say the boat is also a good coastal cruiser.

My biggest concern given that I sail the Chesapeake is the draft. Many Freedoms are deep fin keel and for my area I like 4 1/2 ft draft for which my F35 wing keel works just fine.