Great Marc ,-be sure to e mail team Tybee {race organizers }and give them your suggestions and support .
www.teamtybee.com Also really like your proposed major distance race in Texas ,-
I,ve sailed in Corpus Cristy and Padre Islands in years past ,it seems like another great venue possibley up to Fort Walton Beach in the Gulf, with help from fleets along the coast this similar type of Worrell race may expand from one of the great existing distance races in Texas ,-I,msure several of the excellent catsailing teams from TX are up for it.
note on Steve's weight prop. -
In an ideal catsailing world all teams would be the exact same height ,weight, strength, hearing and sight, etc,all physical human factors ,--in attempting to equalize them we often just compound problems and inadvertantly discriminate in other areas, --just look at fatboy rules attempted.
crew weight is desided by each team in choosing who to team up and race with , heavier crew weight is an advantage in higher wind conditions allowing a team more ft lbs of righting moment on the wire to hold the boat down ,, sometimes bows up .-To compensate lighter teams in the ideal catsailing world in higher winds adjustable racks would be added allowing an equalization of ft lbs or righting moment ,-team height would also have to be factored into the rack distance equation from hulls for each team along with weight, you then could allow heavier crew teams added proportional sail area as you propose as a solution , without both you are discriminating against lighter teams . --Now you have a nightmare of measurements enforcement checks , and for teams each time a crew is changed or both loose weigh a new sail is needed , those with different or replacement crew are not class legal etc etc,--not a practical ,realistic ,or fair solution .---
The solution for the Hobie 20 is to add a new carbon fiber replacement comtip and new main along with spin and snuffer system to equal or surpass the performance of the current I-20s speed potential , Add safety gear ,compasses etc needed , this will bring the boat weight to 410 and allow the 300 sq ft spin ,-The added horsepower will more than make your team competitive . As you know there are numerous ways to take weight out of any existing cat especially the N-6-0 ,-to bring it to min boat weight 410 . The mfg. should never allow these types of weight variations in the first place . This boat would not be competitive without this modification in any class or type of racing .fix it .
--One should not confuse existing problems in design and building and presuppose them onto a new Formula class that is attempting to allow modifications and upgrades to help allow catsailors to correct these inherant problems .
New techniques in racing the 20s have really jumped up the speed potential in this length catagory as we all have seen in this years Worrell with 6 new leg records set , {often by 350-360 lb teams } -which most that race it will tell you is the ideal weight range , and over this distance and range of weather becomes a true test of sailing , tactical ,boat prep, navagational,endurance,and seamanship skills.
