There is no boat designed to fit this race. You either have a high-performance boat you can sail fast or you have a boat designed for surf. I believe this boat brings those elements together well. The boat's hulls consist of a fiberglass shell containing a foam composite, making the Inter-20 very lightweight. The boat weighs approximately 400 pounds, even fully rigged.
Less weight is good, race veterans say, particularly when pushing the boat into the surf.
But the Inter-20 lacks the sail area to help propel it through the waves. In addition, the rudder locks into place. The helmsman cannot easily adjust the depth or angle of the rudder in extreme conditions. He ends up fighting the boat as well as the conditions. It beats the hell out of you.