The Volvo X 20 weights 1200 KG which is quite lighter than the old Formule 40 we had 20 years ago, which used to weight 2000 kg with 90 sq mtrs windward
Don't you mean Volvo X-40's? The Volvo X-20 is a different catamaran.
Marstrom's idea is probably to maximize the ratio: crew weight/boat weight,which is quite similar to horsepower/ weight, that is why with 450 kg, less sail area she will be probably faster than the VX 40.
Thank god for measurement rating systems.
Texel rating Volvo X-40 (with 4 people on board) = 69
Texel rating M32 (with 3 people on board) = 78
Therefor Texel says that the X-40 will beat the M32 by 78/69*3600 = 470 secs with the X-40 finishing the course in exactly one hour. That is roughtly 8 minutes. 13% speed difference is a whole lot for improvements in efficiency to overcome.
Even with a 25 % jib the M32 will only lower its rating to 73 and still be beaten by the X-40.
Now indeed, this all dependent on how much faith you put in Texel to produce accurate rating numbers. However, she was the only system (together with schrs) to have projected the F16's correctly from the very first moment these were launched. Additionally, any errors in this system are made negligiable when the two boats being compared are very similar in setup and general size. I feel this is the case between the X-40 and M32. The M32 being allmost a 80% scale model of the X-40 but without a jib.
Wouter
