| A-cat in waves
[Re: Acat230]
#31350 03/18/04 04:40 AM 03/18/04 04:40 AM |
Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 9,582 North-West Europe Wouter
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 9,582 North-West Europe |
We have a guy sailing his A in our club race series. (21 races in 2004 with on average 14 boats per race; sometimes 10 sometimes 23). We do get some nasty chop sometimes as the North sea in quite shallow (max depth = 33 to 50 foot) and I very muich expected him to suffer in the more extreme conditions. However this guy is succesful in the heavy stuff and short high chop as well. When he sails he typically scores 1st and 2nd's with a very rare 3rd. Maybe lightweight boats do suffer in these choppy conditions but it may well be much less significant than it is sometimes maked out to be.
One ting is for sure the A-cat can handle it (Same story in several races this year over here) ; also clear from the A-cat worlds video clip form the 2004 New Zealand worlds. This is independent of the overall speed in these conditions although this seems to be good just the same.
Wouter
Wouter Hijink Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild) The Netherlands
| | | Re: Taipan myth
[Re: Wouter]
#31351 03/18/04 08:16 AM 03/18/04 08:16 AM |
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 430 Virginia Beach, VA Thomm225
addict
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addict
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 430 Virginia Beach, VA | Bob,
I think you would like the "Round the Island" race on your A boat, but you may want to rig a small spinnaker. Last year about the only up wind we had was from Ft. Walton to Destin. The rest was downwind with some broad reaching depending where you were on the course and the time. This year, I am planning on running all three sails again. Last year, I was still worrying about my mast which I have broken before in a high wind gust with loose main sheet. This year, I will allow a lot more twist in my main sail on the downwind if the winds are as reasonable as last year.
As for the cracks on the I17R speed, I believe we have a high level of competition here in the Pensacola/Ft. Walton beach area. To compare my I17R's speed to one other fellow that happens to sail an I-17 normal probably isn't the best way to go about it. The I17R is much more powerful (and lighter)than the I17 normal, plus here in Pensacola we routinely have anywhere from 20 to 30 boats on the starting line..
The start can make or break you. I know since I only had 2 decent starts in Mid-Winters. Actually, 3 but I blew the lead I had on the other two I17R's in the last race and almost flipped the boat 2X.
I certainly wish we lived closer together!
Tom | | | Acat 144
[Re: Acat230]
#31353 03/18/04 08:55 AM 03/18/04 08:55 AM |
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 125 Cape Coral, FL pete_pollard
member
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member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 125 Cape Coral, FL | I'm considering an A cat as a second boat. For cost reasons alone, I'm only considering wooden boats.
Do you have any knowledge of these, wooden, boats?
Thanks.
"Cat Fest Sailor"
Pete in Cape Coral
| | | Re: FXone VS Tiger
[Re: Thomm225]
#31359 03/18/04 01:46 PM 03/18/04 01:46 PM |
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 98 TedZ
journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 98 | Hi Guys There is a race in the North called Cat Fight. They have a start for all single handed boats, scoring is base on portsmouth numbers. last year winner was a Nacra 5.5, but check CRAM site for official results & boats. | | | Re: FXone VS Tiger
[Re: vicatman]
#31362 03/20/04 12:46 AM 03/20/04 12:46 AM |
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,669 Melbourne, Australia Tornado_ALIVE
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,669 Melbourne, Australia | I think the A Class fragility myth is due to the class' rules regarding no minimum weight years ago..... Cannot remember when the introduced min weight. Since the introduction of min weight, the A Class has moved on to become one of the finest constructed boats in the world. Gone are the days off one regatta A Class'. We have quiet a few A Class cats in our club which include Mark IV and V Boyers and Flyers. We have past and present A Class greats in our class such as Steve Brewin, Bruce McArthur and veteran John Goodier. We also regularly see the likes of Glenn Ashbey, Scott Anderson, Dave Brewer and Brad Collett. These guys put their boats through conditions that send other boats back to shore and have keeped Tornados on their toes. I have also seen A Class race on Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Australia. This place is notorious for its large steep chop and strong wind. I think the issue with their sea worthiness in waves as with all boats is the nut on the tiller and his skills steering over and down the waves. These boats do not deserve the title fragile as the platforms are very stiff and reliable...... more so than many other classes. As for the speed argument between the I17R, FX-1, F-16. I have never seen and FX-1 or I17R in OZ but I am sure all the owners love their boat and consider them quiet quick. If for example you have a fleet of FX-1s in your club and have great racing.... would you realy care if an I17R is quicker???? What else are you going to do with the extra minute or so less spent on the race course........ Oh thats right get to the bar........ I'll just jump on my Tornado now and see you there | | | Re: FXone VS Tiger
[Re: Thomm225]
#31368 03/20/04 11:06 PM 03/20/04 11:06 PM |
Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 12,310 South Carolina Jake
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310 South Carolina | Actually yes I have. When I bought the boat, the rudder pivots had already been re-drilled to establish more forward rake (less helm) for spinnaker. After I got it and was disgusted with the amount of slop in the rudders, I bored out the castings, inserted nylon bushings, and replaced the rudder arm/crossbar unions with the rubber joints like the Bimare F18HTs. I am proud to say that I have practically no slop in my rudder system now (although I have to wrestle with the hotstick to get it to extend since rotation of the cross bar is no longer limited). The boat sails very neutral upwind with forward weight placement.
Having steered the I20 in comparison (I imagine the I17 is similar), I agree that the 6.0 is a much 'heavier handed' boat in that the I20 felt 'twitchy'. I felt in control on both of them but the I20 is much more susceptible to driver error and demands proper main sheet etiquette during tacking. It's close but I still prefer my 6.0.
Jake Kohl | | |
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