Anybody have any comments on what they would like to see (or think is "fair") as far as Portsmouth Numbers for F 16HP's?



If you apply the "spinnaker modification" number to the Taipan 4.9 (sloop and uni) numbers you get the following: (First number is "base" number, rest are wind speed dependent numbers starting at Beaufort 0-1, 2-3, 4, 5-9- Not sure how many races are run at Beaufort 9!!)



Formula 16HP sloop spi

66.9 70.3 68.4 65.4 63.1



Formula 16HP uni spi

67.6 71.5 70.0 67.3 64.4



The Hobie Tiger (F 18) numbers (just for comparison since Texel rates F 16HP sloop equal to F 18):

64.8 67.5 66.4 64.0 60.1



Comments??



Kirt

Was that distance spin. or bouys spin? I'd say the bouys spin. modifier, or otherwise in distance races, we get a big hit for the chute, even though it's smaller than the max that would be "comfortable" on a distance race.

That would be a good incentive for the future Taipan buyers to "limit" themselves to a smaller chute, even if they were primarily interested in distance racing.

I know it's only a few months before we'll have enough stat's for a "real" dpn, but a lot of people are buying chutes right now.

Thanks,

Michael C.

Kirt

If, in fact, the portsmouth number ends up being a couple of points higher than the F-18 (after there are enough races run to get a reliable number), will the F-16HP class modify it's box rules to allow the F-16HP and the F-18 to truly sail boat for boat? Or will it continue to stick to the Texel rateings of equality even if they are not consistently equal on the raced course in real world situations?



Granted my questions entails a lot of if/then scenarios, and the F-16HP may prove to be the F-18's equal (proveing the validity of the Texel rateing)...but if it doesn't pan out... will we up the ante?



Peace

Michael-

As the F 16HP's are "meant" to carry the spinnaker at "all times" while racing I utilized the "bouys" modification number for these suggestions.

However you bring up an interesting point- Right now the max. spi size is limited in the F 16HP class (17.5 sq m) so any boat racing "under" the F 16HP PN must use a spi of this size (in ANY race) or take an additional "hit".

However, any class legal Taipan 4.9 (since there is no "class spinnaker"- yet) can use ANY size spinnaker it wants and just apply the proper spinnaker adjustment number- Which for around the bouys would give the same numbers as I suggested but for Distance racing would involve a different number and bigger "hit". So if you have a T4.9 (Soon??) and you wanted to use the smaller spi in a distance race you would be better off racing under the F 16HP number (if it ends up being the proposed numbers) rather than the T 4.9 number adjusted for distance spinn.- Of course if there is little/no downwind/deep reaching work you'ld be better off racing as strictly as T 4.9 sloop/uni-

As for being "slower" with the smaller spi- this is still debatable and to be demonstrated in some/all conditions. The "big" (21 sq. m) spinns are the same size as the F 18 spinns and they seem "powerful" enough despite >150 lbs. more weight. I suspect there is still much to be explored in terms of optimal spinn shapes/techniques etc. on these boats- Heck, even the F 18HT's only have 20 sq m spis! And they also are "lugging" more weight than us downwind (depending on crew weight of course!)-

Sort of goes back to the whole "premise" of our boats- Efficiency versus brute Power-



Kirt

Seeker-

Right- Lotsa "ifs"--

HOWEVER, we are an "owner/sailor run" class- IF that is what appears to be the case then the Class can choose to alter it's rules (sort of like the Tornados chose to do to get the "Sport")- HOWEVER, I would really like to see somebody explore some fo the various "options" to alter the boats performance to that of the F 18's FIRST and then put those mods up to the class for a vote-

In the meantime, we all need to be out there competing with F 18's as possible- My last attempt to do so ended up being my sloop Taipan 4.9 w/ spi sailed "heavy" against a U.S. spec Inter 18 (CF mast, more sail area) sailed "light"- They got us in two and we got them in one race but we both had "technical problems" and I had "teething problems" (still unable to snuff!!) so wasn't a "fair" display for either IMO.



Kirt