That is not an M20 but a Volvo Extreme 20. First is a uni-rig the latter is a sloop rig. And there are a few other important differences. For example the VE-20 uses the same (shorter) carbon mast as the Tornado's.

Wouter

Doesn't the snail system have a spi halyard hanging around the mast ?

If it does then why couldn't a similar setup be had with a normal snuffer ?

Afterall the spi halyard attached to the top when using a snuffer is actually in front of the forestay where as with the snail it will be near the mast as well.

I do find that the Sloop rig appears to be more forgiving with respect to Aerodynamic issues then a uni. But I think that is mostly because the uni rig is so sensitive to proper trim. A sloop keeps drawing even when slightly out of trim. In fact I feel that the sloop punishes off a mistake less severely and gives you enough time to steer back to the groove. Landyachting is actually even worse in this respect and as such a very good training for staying on the groove.

Wouter

The snail and the snuffer represents two different approaches, easy handling/bullet-proof or clean/hightech.

You can mix the snuffers and different halyard approaches they way you like, but if you pay for the snail you are probably aiming for a clean low drag approach.

Here I compare the F18 Capricorn setup (2007) and the M20 setup.

If you do a lot of short upwind-downwind racing every second counts on the roundings. A bulletproof and simple system is the way to go, use the snuffer with everything external. If you lose a bit of upwind speed due to windage (lines, blocks and a bag hanging under the spi pole) is ok as long as you can keep up with the rest of the fleet on the first upwind.

The clean approach means that you put things internal instead. The spi halyard is led down using a tube from the front of the mast and back to the sail track and then down along the the sail track. The block and lines needed for single line hoisting is hidden in the spi pole. The bridle and line used to bend the pole in a safe driection is replace by teardrop shaped rods supporting the spi pole.

And finally the bag is removed and replaced by the snail close to the mast.

My personal selection would be the following:

M20, short upwind/downwind course, use a snuffer
M20, longer courses go for the clean concept
A-class, due to the lack of arms on normal sailors the spi manouvers are quite slow and the advantage of a snuffer would be marginal but my personal opinion is that the A-class is sensitive to windage (The A-class has the same size as an F18 but only 30% or something as righting torque)

/hakan

I have a short interview with Goran about the new mk5 on my site
http://www.sailing-tv.tv/

Nice coverage of the regatta with lots of interviews with sailing rockstars!

/hakan

When we first set a kite up on our T, we ran a snuffer under the tramp (see pink sock running diagnal under trap and ring in the front port corner of the tramp) with an aim to reduce windage and weight out the front of the boat. This system was first used by Forbes / Bundock. All who used this system found that the savings in weight and windage was not noticeable however what was noticeable was how much hotter boats with pole snuffers could run whilst setting and dropping. Sets and drops were also a bit slower on the tramp snuffers as the tack had to travel out more than 4 meters to the end of the pole where as with the pole snuffer it travels 1 to 1.5 meters depending on set up. This is why you find all the profesional round the can racers using pole snuffers.

This is my exact snuffer...I purcahsed direct from Landenberger...he told me it was his design. Has that changed and now sold by Topcat??

The system is very good. Low cost, low friction. The dacron bag is much better than the more common mylar...a wet sail doesn't adhere as much to dacron as it does to mylar. Also, the taper in the bag shape helps lots.

Mike.

I can't tell you. I'm using the AHPC version. However I was told by VWM (who are using it) that it was the Topcat snuffer. The fact that they work very well I got from several F16 sailors who are using it.

Wouter