The sloop vs uni debate has been running a long time,
It also has been decided a long time ago.
Afterall, Orange 2, B&Q and IDEC 2 were all sloops (as were all other record breakers) and that is not because the uni-rigs are better. The only records held by uni-rigs at this time are the 500 meter straight line dash, meaning the windsurfers. The 1 nautical mile record is held by Hydropthere and that is a sloop again.
The only data that I found from the last Texel that could be used to determine the speed of different boats was an upwind leg
The standard defense of the uni-rig sailors. Last time I checked, reaching the finishline requires the completion of at least a single downwind leg as well.
There are no prizes given for reaching the A-mark first.
Texel is quite a tricky race with several checkpoints you need to pass, I've tried it once in the M18. The first checkpoint is to get out from the beach and the we have this massive start, currents and so on.
And the sloops are not held back by this because ......... ?
M20 was first and second round Texel two years ago, uni is KING (or can you really use a race around an island to measure this.....:)
Only a foolish boxer would claim the world championship after winning his first contest in a series of 7 prior loses.
And why can't you use a race around an Island to measure the performance of a sailing vessel ? Racing sailboats is not like a track event where everything is tightly controlled. Why should the course be adjusted to suit the design and not the other way around. If the uni-rig is King, shouldn't it be King in a wide variaty of situations ?
If not, then of what exactly is the uni-rig King ?
Wouter
