Hi all,

there are still, trophies for heavy weight boats within the class. This years Nats also show Heavy weight winner.

With the Knowledge it should be possible to make a timber boat as fast, but who knows? Rob is building one at the moment, to replace his Denholm hulls. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Rob how about giving the other guy's interested in timber boats some ideas. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Most important in this discussion is to remember, the differences in speed we are talking about are relatively small, actualy manouvreability is probably the bigger difference <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />. The difference between different hull shapes performance, is much less than the difference in sailers ability. I placed 5th. at 2000 Sloop rig Nats and won sloop rig states later on a timber heavy weight boat, in fact it was heaviest boat in fleet, built in the 80's. Then changed to Cat rig on a Boyer minimum weight boat, which I won states and placed second at Nats winning 3 heats. The performance difference when I sailed a Denholm allowe me to win a couple more heats, thats all.

What I am trying to say is, if the guy imediatly ahead of you is on Denholm shaped hulls and you are struggling to pass him on older shaped hulls:p, then the newer hulls will make the difference, but you have to be there first.

Hope this doesn't sound like blowing my own trumpet, that is not the intention.

Most important is to sail what you have to it's potential and beyhond. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Regards Gary. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />