>>The Kayak type system shown on the Tornado post earlier in this forum is along the lines I'm thinking although still too many bracing wires. The trick is to build a monocoque structure that is light and stiff - still working on that one!!





This is partly the reason why I like the Skunk system.



-1- it's mouth is just in front og the bridle strop which on the taipan is quite near to the mainbeam. In effect only 1.4 mtr. of pole is bagged in stead of the whole 3,25 mtr. on the big EO-snuffer or kayak type snuffer. the remainder of the bag in either on the trampoline or under it.



-2- The skunk bag is mad of a reinforced kevlar sailcloth that retains its shape (doesn't flap). It is forced into a flat oval shape by the mouth piece and the way it is fitted to the beam. In effect is has a rather small 5 cm or so height with a large 25 cm or so base. So it has the volume needed at the cost of only a smaller projected area.



Now both these points -reduction in exposed length- with the flat shape (exposed side area) reduce the overall projected surface area by a huge margin AS WELL AS the lever arm that this area has. With the added effect of no flapping I estimate a reduction of force just by these three effect by no less than a factor of 3 or 4.



The Kayak snuffer has a more aerodynamic shape but does again run the full length and its increase in overall surface area (not projected area) goes a long way in correcting back over the gains made by this more aerodynamic shape. Beware for intuitive perceived gains that are not supported by experimantal data.



An example : imagine you have three shapes -1- a sfeer -2- a sfeer cut in halve with the curved side facing the current -3- a sfeer cut in halve with the flat side facing the current.



How would you order the shape on accending dragforces ?



Answer by experimentaion (from my time a university) :



most drag = shape -3-

2nd place = shape -1-

least drag = shape -2-



Yes, this is really true ! Shape -1- looks more aerodynamic but when compared to shape -2- isn't. There isn't much difference between the two but shape -2- curves back to rapidly to maintain attached flow for long and it's big overal surface area induces enough extra drag to come out at more in total.



The only certain winner is to have less overall (exposed) surface area and secondly to have the least (exposed) projected area.



Another example : Those small square city cars not only consume less fuel because there are light but also because their frontal area is so much smaller that tehy can get away with having an awfull aerodynamic body shape.



The Skunk has a really small exposed area (the rest is on or under the trampoline) and a very small projected are (coz it is flat)



Maybe these consideration help you further in your quest for the ultimate snuffer.



As you can see I'm in for a discussion about it.



On a side note :



F16 and Taipan rules are exchangable right now. A Full compliant Taipan is F16 compliant although you'll be without the spi which is forbidden by the T rules. Personally I hope that the possible new Taipan rules will rule a spi setup that is teh same as the F16 setup. It would seem the most logical approach.



Regards,



Wouter