Were you at Andy's Escape demo day at Cheddar Rupert...blew 6-7 all day? The Laser yoofs were very complimentary about the Captiva's high wind ability, I think all of them tried it.Rupert wrote:The funboat has caught on well in the UK, whereas the Escape range didn't. I nearly ended up demoing the first Escape design 20 years ago, as Wet and Windy wanted to get involved. Luckily it never happened, as they were not the nicest boat to sail. Fun in a blow, mind (the demo MXray was upside down all day) and the reefing system with the bent boom in a 2nd mast pot worked well. Never sailed the bathtub version pictured, though.
W & W took on the range but as a major Topper dealer Escapes were aimed at the recreational side of his clientele.... I can't remember how many he sold but probably 20-30? I always felt that the Escapes were aimed at the people who would have bought a 'retired' racing design which was utterly unsuitable recreationally for their purpose but constitutes about 80% of most dinghy parks..the Escape was the 'arrive and be sailing in 5 mins, minimal maintenance alternative.