The Tybee 500 is going to be a very interesting race also from a technological point of view. On the BIMARE F18HTs entering the long distance regatta we will have the opportunity (hopefully thanks to the pics of Rick, who committed himself to provide us with a first class coverage) to see a lot of new rigging ideas developed by many W1000 veterans to make a fast beach cat better suited for real open sea competition.
Just to name a few:
new reefable mains by Smyth and Sabre Sails both in aramid and in Cuber Fiber (please Rick take a close look also at the reefing systems), new spinnaker launching systems, different rudder systems, new carbon booms and spin poles,
chamfered beams, modified trampolines and so on.
In other words we will have the opportunity to see in action the 2003 W1000 boats if the W1000 has taken place.
How fast will they be? We'll have the answer only on May 17.