Guys,
Here's what I've learned about the F17 downhill after 5 years.... cool

It is faster to C mark not trapezing downwind on this platform. By the time you get adjusted to get on the wire and handle the sheets, I'm an easy 8-10 boat lengths further along the route and I'm sailing a much smaller box. Yes, it might be just a tad slower but the height gained more than offsets the speed of the trapped boat. Then when you have to gybe, I've gained another 20 because of all the in and out of the trapeze work. Then at the C mark, I've gained more because the trapper has to come in and situate before the douse. Keep adding the boat lengths for 3 downwind legs and you have quite a sizeable lead! grin We did a whole day of testing the concept and the trapped boat NEVER gained an advantage in the buoy race tests. This again is only about the way the F17 sails and in competition. The whole point of this exercise is control; whoever has the most control will be the fastest. Distance racing and overstanding are trap happy! I would imagine (and after sailing one) that Karl's boat will react the same way.

Bob wink

"The election is over, the talking is done, Your party lost, my party won. So let us be friends, let arguments pass, I’ll hug my elephant, you kiss you’re a $$.”
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