Hi Steve,
not wanting to talk to personaly about peoples weight, but I think Willy and Petra are fastest sloop Taipan? I don't think they are the lightest and would have guessed they are above the weight you are suggesting is optimal?
In my experience the quality of crew is more important than the weight within reason. I would be happy to sail a F16 20 kg heavier if the crew is better.
Regards Gary.
Yep, waiting for someone to bring up Willy and Petra. They would be outside the ideal weight range but Willy is a very exceptional sailor. He recently placed I believe 7th at the last F18 worlds (first non pro) with Steve Brewin, raced with Ashby on the F18s to an Oz title win and campaign with Ashby it the Tornadoes before Ashby hooked back up with Bundy. He is in another league to most off the others sailing in the class at present and the extra Kgs they are carring are off set by his skill level...... However skill level has nothing to do with optimum weight. Skill level should be taken as being equal when looking at a boats competitive weight.
Bundy and Ashby would beat us around the cans if they were 180 kg and we were 150.... However they would beat us by more if they were 150 kg also.
