I do ! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
( I have to retain my rep. )
If they are keeping the boat down then keep it powered up.
May work that way on a 180 kg barge like the I-20 but not on a F16. You are not looking for power but for speed. Certainly with the F16's these do not always go hand in hand.
A full mainsail will provide both alot of capsize moment and alot of drag. The first limits the amount of drive and the second eats halve of the sail drive that is produced. End result => slower speeds then can be attained with a flat mainsail.
Additionally, on the Superwing mast a funny thing happens when you strongly derotate the mast. The top of the mast bends away to leeward strongly and takes the top of the leech with it. In extreme conditions it even inverts the top battens. End result a very flat and low drag top while producing sufficient sail drive low in the rig => results in high speeds and a very calm feel to the boat.
Been there, done that. Did it singlehandedly with a doublehanded rig in those conditions, so who is your daddy ?
You really can't tell whether or not they are overpowered based on a still shot.
Does it look to you like they are underpowered then ?
Maybe this crew has just come out of a manouvre and haven't adjusted all the trim settings yet, that can be the case indeed. But I think it is pretty obvious that they are strongly overpowered.
You are not keeping two on the wire with a leech twisted like that in 8 knots of wind, remember that the F16 has less upwind sailarea then a Hobie 16 !
Wouter
