Rick:

You bring up some interesting points about the Hooter. Obviously you have had some excellent results using the sail but so many times in catamaran racing it is hard to make objective comparisons due to a number of variables such as wind conditions, experience of the sailors, etc..

Regarding using a hooter upwind, I'm doubtful you could point as high as a well sailed uni-rig like an A-cat or F-18HT (which have tacking angles of less than 90 degrees) so even though your speed through the water may be better, I'm not sure your overall VMG would actually be better. Also if you are course racing, the handling difficulty inherent in tacking a hooter could be hard to overcome. However, on a long one-sided upwind leg with minimal tacking, I would think the hooter could show its advantage (we have seen this to be the case with the "screechers" used on the Corsair boats).

I'm not sure I could agree with you on a furler offering less windage or less weight than a snuffer system especially the ones being used by the F-18HT and Tornado classes where the snuffer is set back. The hardware we used on USA 3 was pretty light. I would be concerned that the roller furling hardware and the sail itself (especially if it is not being used) creates more weight aloft and forward which increases the pitching moment of the boat (not good in waves). I do agree with you that the roller furling system should be easier and more reliable to use.

The best test for a particular class would be to get two evenly matched boats, two evenly matched crews, and then rig one for chute with snuffer and one for hooter with furling and then do some controlled speed testing in different wind strengths. It would help if the same sailmaker (like Smyth of Calvert) made the two sails for the test. That should help settle the debate!

Keep the learning curve interesting!

Bob Hodges
A-Cat USA 147