A while back Wouter, by the use only of "calculations" only, you stated that you thought that the Alpha F14 would probably eventually end up competing somewhere close to the F18's (and by default with the F16's) Well our winter experiences sailing seem to be heading well on the way towards the direction that you hypothesised it would, I must admit that I was a little dubious of your “calculations” BUT I now have to admit that you may have just got it right.
An update of the continuing performance results of the F14.
The Alpha F14 sailed in the Adelaide Yacht Club’s once a month winter series last Sunday. It had to sail with three F18's, these being a Hobie Tiger, the Blade F18, and a Nacra F18. There were two races on the afternoon with light conditions. The wind was from the North/NW at 7 to 10 knots, with a few minimal shifts. The course for each race (back to back) was three beats and three windward returns, ideal conditions for the F18's. The Alpha stayed with the F18's during the first race, but finished behind all three, BUT by back calculation of the times, the Alpha sailed up to a yardstick of 74 (the F18 yardstick is 70). So not too shoddy a performance. In the second race the Alpha stayed right with all three of the F18's for the whole race finishing less than two minutes behind the Blade F18 and in front (over the line) of the Hobie Tiger, the Nacra F18 was behind the Alpha on the first beat and turned onto the run well before the first buoy to sail downwind with the Blade and, as a consequence, he never went through the finish line.
(Could you include the F14 within the F16 “grandfathering” or some thing similar rule so that they can sail together – just joking Wouter)
Food for thought
All the best
Darryl
