This is what modern UK Cherub sailing is all about: Blasting along, both on the wire, in only 8 knots of breeze. This photo was taken the first time that Ben Brown / Daryl Wilkinson went out with the new Redeye sails (see below) and paint job. It was March 2005. It was cold but it was fast!

Watch the video here

Loco Perro (Mad Dog or Dog Mad) was born in Gotham Village over the winter of 2004. She was not the creation of Bruce Wayne but Mike Cooke of Aardvark Technologies who had up until then been building rather nice looking National 12s.

We wanted a fast hull shape that was forgiving to sail with potentially larger sails an twin wires. because there was a bit of uncertainty at the time about which way the class was going, we tried to make her as futureproof as possible i.e. by moving the mast back touch and a couple of other subtle things.

After a few sleepness nights she was launched in primer only at Weymouth at the 2004 nationals a little behind schedule. Over this winter she was painted and gained a suit of nice big redeye sails we also moved the centreboard back by about a foot.

Since then LP has finally been sailed in anger for the first few times and has shown all the right characteristics: fast and forgiving. This I think was proven in race one of the Nationals when we were first round the top mark and first through the finish line. Not a bad result nor bad pace. Although comments were made about our ability to roll tack which was something the Cherub fleet hadn’t seen for a number of years!!

• Name: Loco Perro
• Designs: Big Issue
• Builder: Ardvark Racing
• Construction: Foam Carbon converted to 2005 rules with C-Tec rig and Redeye sails.
• Location: North East London