--Believe you will find in polling sailors ,I-20 s or any that the basic attitude is the more the merrier , lets race , as long as I don,t have to spend big $ and the racing is FAIR .
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<br>-I have 2 jibs and 2 chutes and need new ones and a new main this year , badly blown out ,,-{only after a couple thousand miles } -
<br>-Having one extra chute to Formula rules is not a problem ,
<br> I would like to get them from the local sailmaker of my choosing ,-and modify my boat the way I choose,with better rudders or jib , or adding lighter gear and lines .
<br>-believe this holds true for most existing cat owners.
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<br>-Wish there were some good simple way to equalize performance ratings for 20 ft cats with larger beam , but the performance differences are too varied through the wind ranges .---[SEE PREVIOUS POST containing a segment by noted designer on weight and beam effects} for more info on the subject under weight considerations .
<br> Adding 18 inch racks would do it ,but no one would want the expence and added weight .
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<br>-The Tornado with it's lighter weight and smaller sailplan with 10 ft beam has a tremendous advantage when the wind kicks in as many of us have experienced in open racing .
<br>-In light wind we can sail away , but as the wind kicks in the 8,5 beam boat with its larger sail area is struggling to depower and pinching into the wind while the 10 beam cat with lighter weight and smaller sailplan comes into its ideal designed higher wind range and passes by with its average 450 more ft lbs of increased crew righting lever arm working against the force or thrust of the sails.
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<br>-The sail area to weight scale formula proposed for all 8.5 beam 20 ft cats equalizes performance averages , with the existing heavier cats with larger sailplans potentially sailing faster in the lighter wind ranges , while the newer lightweight design cats with smaller sailplans would potentially , just as the Tornado , excell as the wind kicked in , though not for reasons of beam , while the larger sailplan cats were trying to depower . -
<br>-note; reef points are allowed on the main and jib as an alternate means of depowering when its really blowing , and the 2 chute sizes {smaller } enter into racing strategy.
<br>-Which combination of boat crew weight and sail area would prove the fastest , ---It will vary in each condition between many different types of boats ,--which will be the ideal design combination ? believe somewhere in the middle of the scale , at which most new cats will target this ideal design average for best overall performance .
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<br>-The most fun with a sailing rating rule would be to just allow a max, sail area and place whatever sailing craft underneath it ,--would it be a cat ,--a tri ,,--a skiff ,,--a foiler , ?
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<br>-We have great existing cat designs of all types weights and sail plans in the 20 ft catagory respective to the 18s and 16s . --We have a practical consideration of trailering width of 8.5 ft that most are built to , that leaves the sail areas and weight as the variables to define our class ,-To what precised extent they are defined is up to us ,
<br> To the extent of one design as iF does leads back to one mfg.boat dominating the racing scene and right back to one design , The more developemental scale allows us to find the ideal performance combination ,-which is infinately variable with each new weather system each new day . This is the perfect formula variable to ensure a long standing class that will not become outdated with it,s old tech heavy class boat in a few years . -
<br> Again look at the Tornado evolution towards lightweight quality building methodes, excellent design, and new modification over the years as the reason for its longevity, we could all just sail this excellent cat , but as we all know ,one cat does not fit all .-<br><br>