To all,

My own performance models predict a speed increase significantly more then SCHRS suggest, but it is still not a huge amount. Added to this is the comment by designer/builder John Pierce who widened the Stealth to become the Stealth F16 (among other changes) and said that the new layout made a very significant difference. Note however that the new F16 mainsail was part of these changes and will have caused the bulk of the performance increase.

For a 2-up boat my models predict a upwind speed increase in the order of 1 to 1.5% ; over an upwind-downwind race course this translates into about 25 seconds per 45 min. race.

The 1-up setup the increase is about 0.3% less => 20 seconds.

That is what my models say.

Of course these increases ONLY apply when the crew is maxed out on righting moment, meaning fully trapping and is depowering the rig. There won't be much of a performance difference at all in all other sub maxed out conditions.

However I also agree with Rolf here; 20-25 secs in a 45 min (fully trapped upwind) race is pretty small for 85% of all cat sailors and I'm not sure that it warrants the expenses to modify an existing Taipan to full F16 width. I think investments in a selftacker and new full F16 mainsail will result in much more gains and make the tramp alot more roomy.

We must also not forget that making the platform wider has a serious effect on the overall platform stiffness unless you make the new beams stiffer. This will most certainly require rebuilding the beamlandings. Again, I'm not sure whether it is worth the effort.

At some point it is just more financially attractive to buy a set of F16 hull and beams and then transfer your Taipan gear to that boat.

It is also my personal opinion that any perfermance difference in the order of 1% istoo small to be really noticeable on the race course unless you are racing in a really skilled fleet. 85% of us throw away multiples of 20 seconds by imperfect sailing and trim already and improving on that is nearly costless.

Wouter