thanks Alan ,
<br> From the photos it appears the racks are simple alum .tubes in rectangular shape with rounded edge connectors , covered by tramp material angled up slightly and addached to the crossbeams .
<br> I,m sure improved designs can be made readily available or built without much expence .
<br> Snuffers are carbon f tubes , this or even plastics may possibley be used, -the connection is the interesting design feature to solve. -
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<br>-18 skiffs use huge 10 ft racks , though supported by stays , -not needed with 2.5 ft racks . suprizingly even this size adds an added 800+ ft lbs of righting moment for the average 325 LB crew.
<br> Do a quick estimate on the 18 skiff racks ,-or older Worrell cats that added 12 ft racks to a N 6/0 and others . 325 times 12 =-whew , -
<br> you get a sence of the sail carrying ability and potential top speeds of these craft.
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<br>-Raced the Hobie 21 in Prosail and Ultimate Yacht race events in 88 , --The 21 {though very heavy }-has wings , they are fun , easy to get accustome to , add top speed performance , and are a great place to attach spin blocks to for better sheeting angles .
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<br> All designer have stated that the existing 20s are overpowered , --the speed potential of 20s is limited by its righting moment = 8.5 beam , allowing 16 and 18s better speed potential in some conditions. --What reason do the 8.5 beam 20 ft cats have to exist in their present forms as new 16 and 18 designs sail by at higher speeds , what is the attraction of this configuration of boat , -other than it requires larger people to hold it down in a breeze.
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<br>-Should we base a class soley on any existing design , the I-20 ? Tornado ? --Should we accept duplicate and compound design errors and problems of existing designs , or set an ideal standard and the difficult task of attempting to unify all existing racing 20s. for equal performance class FAIR Sailing , --
<br> -Believe once it is refined it will fall within a minute margin within the ISAF -Texel ratings ,
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<br> Carl-
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