The last series I raced seriously (heh) we were racing PHRF in Santa Cruz Spring 2000 and a SC 27 was our main competitor. This boat was competantly crewed but not "rock star" quality. Here's what I remember.

1) In light wind the SC-27 did better... masthead rig? 2) Downwind in the typically brisk conditions in santa cruz, the SC-27 was faster on real low points of sail (as in DDW). I attributed this to it's narrow hull and mast-head, large shouldered kite. 3) We'd blow the SC27 away on reaches. Wider boat, narrower fractional kite. So when we wanted to pass on downwind legs, we'd go up and surf down. They'd go up to cover but come down in sync with us but out of sync with their own waves and we'd pass them every time.

-Bryan

:: I was looking for the sail area number on the Santa Cruz
:: 27, and

:: only saw 396 sq ft quoted.
::
:: Since the Express 27 rates close to the same, and even

:: though it's lighter, with a much lower amount of sail

:: area, I'm beginning to wonder if the 396 sq ft for SC
:: 27's

:: is with a Genoa, not a 100% fore triangle calculation.
::
:: But I would like to know more about how the two boats
:: compare.

:: Here in the Seattle area there are a number of SC
:: 27's...

:: I crewed on one last weekend. But the Experess 27
:: intrigues me,

:: and when I'm ready to move up to a bigger boat, I may
:: want

:: to consider it (though I doubt it would be in my budget
:: like

:: a SC 27 can be).