It all depends on how athletic you are. The Express is a wonderful boat to sail on the bay, even in big wind, but it is an ultralight, and it is very lively. So if you're looking for something more relaxing than the W-21, you might be better off with an Alerion Express 28, another great Carl Schumacher design. The AE28 has a diesel inboard and a self-tending jib and is clearly meant to be wet sailed. The outboard placement on the E27 makes getting it on and off difficult, particularly under way; the only weakness in the design, really. Otherwise it's a joy to sail in any conditions and very easy to single or doublehand. As for cockpits sans seatbacks--I assume you mean like on the Antrim 27--they're great for racing round the bouys when nobody has a chance to sit still for long. But for longer races, cruising and daysails, I think you'll find the Express cockpit far more comfortable. Especially in big waves or chop, it's nice to sit in the boat rather than on the boat. Cheers, Larry Fisher Expres 27 #69 Gwendolyn

:: My wife and I,ages 64 and 70, sail a Wilderness 21. We
:: love the boat but find it too small for Bay sailing
:: during summer months. We are considering an E-27 as a
:: replacement. We would prefer to wet-sail as we sail
:: weekly and will not race the boat. We would appreciate
:: feed-back regarding the suitability of the E-27 for us.
:: Also please comment re: the pros & cons of cockpits sans
:: seat backs.

:: Many thanx,Harvey