Here's a good read from the new Taipan newsletter--if you can understand Aussie lingo...It's a testament to the versatility and performance of the F16 format:
No Friends.
This winter I have sailed the 4.9 a few times with all my mates, yep one up. I have done this with the main and jib, also main, jib and kite and main and kite only. The spinnaker is a 20.6 sail made with silicone cloth and fits into a carbon shute. I was caring plenty of winter condition at 86kg. The wind in all races was rarely over 10 knots.
Event One: Peel Island Marathon; length 22km, wind light northerly to 8 knots. Mixed fleet of F18s, 5.7s with spin, Nacra 5.8 spin, 4.9 Sloops and A Class. I sailed super sloop no kite, entered with the same yardstick as a 4,9 Sloop . Very fast to windward and on a two sailreach,
beaten easily down wind by the kite boats. After fantastic racing was second over the line and won on corrected time by 13 minutes! The boat was sensational upwind,the ends of the boat were not touching the water. It was very tiring in a race over three hours.
Event Two: Lake Racing in a large mixed fleet, wind 6 to 12knots. Boat set up with all three sails on a yardstick of 71 (three less than a 4.9 sloop). The first leg was 12knots on a shyish reach, going flat out I was able to keep the A Class and F18s behind but not the 5.7s. The boat was very hard to hold upwind, and I had to screw way up all leg, boats of all sorts went blasting through my lee. Went around the top mark feeling a little shell shocked and thinking it was winder than the real 10 to 12knots it was. I gathered my failing confidence and raised the kite. The boat sailed itself, stable, low, hull popped up and very fast. One jibe and I was first at the bottom mark. The race went on, wind lightened a bit and I got line honours and big corrected time win. This was big thrill and I felt very good about myself and the boat (maybe as there was no crew to keep having to pander too).
Event Three. Fun sail in 12 knots one up with kite, its is just so easy to control down hill. I wished there was more wind.
Event Four: Moreton Bay 2 to 8 knots, mixed fleet. Boat sailed as cat with kite. I am not too flash at this no jib thing, I was unsure where to point the boat to windward and
had a very poor first windward leg. No matter, the run was a dream, overtook everything. When sailing as a cat you can see all of the big green and blue spinnaker. The boat just goes so low and so fast, you wish the legs were ten times as long. The 5.7s were too quick for me up hill again. But down wind I killed them, the F18s way back.
Conclusion: If its light you should try it. It is fast, fun and exciting and not hard either. If it is windy or even medium leave the jib at home. If it’s an up and down course, leave the jib at home. For a marathon with lots of reaching the jib is a big help. One up the boat sits high in the water and the power to weight ratio is great. Maybe you need to be on the plus side of 80kgs to get the best out of the boat. If you are under that you don’t need all this extra power anyway. I am not advocating changing your 4.9 to F16, and sailing that way all the time. In my opinion
there is no better site than a fleet of 4.9 sloops; however I believe that if you have a 4.9 you may as well have all your options covered. In that way you can sail at optimum power in all conditions. With a kite option, a passage race can become a joy rather than a bore. When you hit the shore you may have a feeling of good seamanship and boat handling running through your system. That feeling is real good,
The kite setup cost me as follows all prices exclude GST.
1. Spinnaker Halsey Lidgard (Gary Saxby 07 3298 5586) $700.00.
2. Carbon Shute from Merv Anderson Marine 07 3266 2786 $300.00.
3. Blocks & fittings (2 smart ratchets plus others) $270.00.
4. Rope and halyards (spectra) $160.00.
5. Pole 40mm anodized alloy 3.25m long $60.00
6. Plug for pole AHPC $10.00
Total $1500.00
Dave Elliott
