Two little Cherubs

One class that has everything to gain and nothing to lose from this April's trial for a new women's Olympic skiff is the Cherub. With two of the five entries being based on the Cherub development class - the Daemon and the GT60 - the global profile of this exciting but little-known 12-footer will never be higher. Not only that, but even if these two entries don't get selected, there will now be a choice of two very well sorted, off-the-shelf packages available for potential Cherub owners. At the moment the Cherub class attracts the keen DIY enthusiasts, the garden shed tinkerers who don't mind getting elbow deep in epoxy and carbon dust. In the cash-rich time-poor world of the 21st century, the idea of building or repairing your own home-build contraption just doesn't appeal to most of us. Come what may in Hyeres this April, at least these two boats will offer an easier way into the Cherub fleet for those who just want to go sailing. And what if one of these two boats does win selection? Well, the Cherub could become sailing's answer to Olympic beach volleyball!