The Wyliecat 17 is a new breed of performance sailboat designed to give sailors of all skill levels the thrill of high-performance sail. Designed by the Thomas Wylie Design Group, this boat utilizes an innovative design that combines the best features of both sailing and windsurfing The Wyliecat 17 is swift and agile. One reviewer described the performance this way, "...the feeling you get from sailing the boat is the same as when you're sailing a big, stable Laser." The unstayed carbon fiber mast carries a 200-square-foot sail and wishbone-style boom. Mounted far forward on the bow, the mast flexes as wind speed increases, which depowers the sail and in effect, self reefs. The Wyliecat 17 incorporates important safety features like water-tight flotation compartments, a ballasted lead bulb keel and a self-draining cockpit. The ten-foot cockpit easily accommodates a crew of three adults, however the boat can be sailed by just one. Designed from the racing successes of the Wyliecat 30 and 39, the sporty 17 is a welcome addition to the Wyliecat family.