Thoughts on Sailing the new Sage 17 at the LHPCC 2011 I am writing this and posting here because the Sage 17 is a boat built and designed by Jerry Montgomery. I was in the trailerable sailboat business for 31 years and sold many brands of boats-Beneteau,Catalina,S2, Montgomery Sailboats, Newport/Neptune, Spirit, Reynolds, Ranger Sailboats,Mac Gregor, etc. I have no financial interest in the Sage or Montgomery companies. I own a 31 year old M-17. I had the good fortune to sail the Sage 17 #1 at the Lake Havasu Pocket Cruisers Convention on Friday February 18th 2011. See videos. _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8WDYhY0SW0_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8WDYhY0SW0) We sailed in "cruiser mode" with the OB on the transom mount - she still hauls the mail for a little pocket cruiser! My friend and crew for the weekend- Craig, and I were given the opportunity to sail on Friday, and went out to 'chase' a couple of boats of the same size and larger around the Lake. Friday morning the Montgomery 17's and MacGregors were racing and we thought it would be a good time to see how the Sage compared to these boats - we had NO intention of racing these boats,we just wanted to go out and 'wind it up' and see what Sage 17 #1 felt like. This is a prototype and has a small bit of sorting in its future as all new boats will. The boat was VERY nicely balanced from the get-go! The boat is very stiff once on a tack and seemed to stay right up on its feet as the wind increased later in the day. Overcast skies and light air were predominant. Wind out of the SSE at 3-5 kt at the start- the weather mark approx .75(?) mile upwind. This boat accelerates like no other pocket cruiser I have ever sailed - more like an old school sport boat (U-20 or a J-22 - really! FUN) We get a 'decent start' considering we are not racing, and proceed to fall in behind a highly modified Montgomery 17 around the weather mark in second place after we over- stand the mark by about 30 yards as the wind is shifting East (my bad), then back to SSW for a run of approximately 1.5 miles. The Modified Montgomery 17 (fathead main,rotating mast, 'super' rudder etc) is leading us by about 100 yards. The breeze is light and shifty causing us much consternation and we put the whisker pole up and down repeatedly (no spinn allowed) - finally get in phase with the shifts - breeze picks up slightly - we roll the boat to weather with the pole and start reeling the Modified Montgomery back into arms length. The modified Montgomery is a quick 'product' on a reach and run, as it has a cut down Tornado rig with a Hobie 16 main truncated at the head! BIG MAIN - This thing boogies downwind for a short stocky boat, we reel him in a bit and eventually give up little if anything, even though the Sage 17 rig is much smaller. Yeah, we are very happy and surprised. We round the leeward mark, and sail near the finish line about 50 yards behind the Modified Montgomery 17, ahead of all the stock M-17's and most of the MacG's! Not bad for having sat down in the boat less than an hour earlier ! This boat made us look PRETTY darn GOOD and feel even BETTER ! We were impressed with our first ride in the Sage 17, a pocket cruiser with an enviable background and pedigree. From the board and hands of Jerry Montgomery - it is pretty hard to go wrong here, check the boat out when you have a chance. Go for a sail or it looks surprisingly like a M-17 and you will miss out on the nuances that have been incorporated into the Sage 17. Disclosure - I own and sail a Montgomery 17 tall rig. I think the Sage 17 is a faster boat. Similar cockpit amenities and cabin with a very spacious v-berth and two seats! A refined and modern version of the M-17. Lessons learned and applied to the new Sage that have been garnered from years of experience. For example: No compression post in the cabin due to an engineered arch of carbon fiber - making for a roomy and airy interior - the interior is not quite completed on hull #1 at the time I sailed her - but the furniture was in place. What is not to like? This is going to be a great Micro Cruiser, Pocket Cruiser, whatever your favorite term - this baby has the makings of a GREAT ONE! A 30+ year later remodel has done wonders to a great boat type. Then again - I am biased. Many thanks to Sal & Gail Glesser of Sage Marine, Jerry Montgomery and Dave Scobie for the use of their toy - we had BIG fun ! Still getting 'grins' thinking about it. Scooter and Craig. Gary H. Oberbeck M-17 #316 "Air Powered"