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Crew Weight / Age

Posted By: Anonymous

Crew Weight / Age - 01/21/09 06:56 PM

Hello Together

I'm looking for a new Catamaran which provides a bit more boost than the one I own now.

I got an offer for a ventilo Zipo (Swiss F16 Design). I thought about maybe getting a F16 because I dont have a regular crew and for solo sailing, the F18 is too heavy...

Can anyone tell me about the optimum crew weight of an F16 for racing? Recreational sailing is not asked cause there it doesnt matter... can it carry three persons?

Which +/- average age does a F16 sailor has. Is every sailor around 14y or is it bit mixed?

Greets Elfish
Posted By: fin.

Re: Crew Weight / Age - 01/21/09 07:16 PM

A-N-D-Y!(Alpine echoes in background) you home yet? Talk to this guy. [I'd like to try and dig through it in Swiss-German]
Posted By: Rolf_Nilsen

Re: Crew Weight / Age - 01/21/09 08:59 PM

The Zip'O dont look like it is optimized for the F16 ruleset?
Ref: http://www.ventilo.ch/zipo.html

Compared to: http://www.diversediverse.com/rolf/florin/Prosjekt-hard-milk/hard_milk.html
(got to get that one on to the formula16.org website now. )

Optimum crew weight: I dont know for sure. 150Kgs in two-up mode is heavy. Min weight is defined as being able to right the boat. It is a powerful boat, but there is a lot that can be done with the sailplan.
It can carry three persons, but too much weight will kill performance, just like any cat. The newer designs have more volume than the older ones, so they will handle more weight better than older designs.

Except for Paul Alani, I only know of adult F16 sailors (do we consider Paul an adult as well)? Hope I am wrong about only adults sailing F16s!

Where do you plan to sail/race the boat? Are you certain there are events for you to enter with an F16?
Posted By: alutz

Re: Crew Weight / Age - 01/21/09 10:21 PM

Hi Elfish

I just got home to switzerland after a sail on a F16 for a second time at the tradewinds regatta with Tim Bohan.
Thanks again Tim!

Got home at 7:15 and then straight to work. Defintly an exausting day, glad I had a good seat in the plane!

The Ventilo Zipo's I have seen had carbon mast and hull step to enduce planing. I have never seen one sailing or racing, so I really don't know the strength and the weak spots of the Zipo's. They were used as training cat in Morges.

For F16's in general, my guess for the optimum two up racing crew weight is around from 110kg to 140kg (sorry don't know pounds ore stones). The less wind, the lighter of course.

One up, I don't know, but I guess it the same as the A-Cat or maybe favors a little lighter crew weight, so maybe 65kg to 85kg.

For cruising most of the cats could carry 3 people.

>Which +/- average age does a F16 sailor has. Is every sailor around 14y or is it bit mixed?
The guys and gals I have seen racing, were mostly fully grown, except me ;-) (I'm 40...) and in good shape.
The really good thing is also, that some of the crews were mixed, which is quite rare, compared to other classes, well except of the hobie 16 class of course. So a perfect boat for husband and wifes, or fathers/mothers with sons/daughters) which look for the same performance than an F18.

It was defintly great to race Matt and Gina and Ben and Lindsay.
Posted By: Gilo

Re: Crew Weight / Age - 01/21/09 10:36 PM

Hi Elfish,

I sail the Blade together with my girlfriend and it's an excellent boat for us. If your interested in racing, F16's are lovely machines. We really give the F18 a hard time.

Also one-up I really like the boat. I think it's difficult to be too heavy one-up. I weigh about 72kg and have to depower from F3 onwards.

Personally I started sailing a Nacra 5.0 (as skipper) when I was 14, an F16 shouldn't be a problem either and much more fun for a kid because everything is just a little less fysical.
Posted By: scooby_simon

Re: Crew Weight / Age - 01/21/09 11:53 PM

I sail single handed; I'm about 72kg and I do OK.

Because we have sails that can be designed to our crew weight we have a fairly wide weight range that is competitive.
Posted By: Gilo

Re: Crew Weight / Age - 01/22/09 05:41 PM

I wonder if I could right the Blade (with alu mast) at 72kg. Haven't tried it yet.
Posted By: PTP

Re: Crew Weight / Age - 01/22/09 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by Gilo
I wonder if I could right the Blade (with alu mast) at 72kg. Haven't tried it yet.


I am about 75 and need a little wind to do it (like 7kn or so?). yes, shouldn't capsize in little wind, but I manage to do so.
Posted By: scooby_simon

Re: Crew Weight / Age - 01/22/09 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by Gilo
I wonder if I could right the Blade (with alu mast) at 72kg. Haven't tried it yet.


Not sure.

This thread was also talking about age; I'm 40 and feeling it this week having been teaching Skiing all week.
Posted By: Smiths_Cat

Re: Crew Weight / Age - 01/23/09 05:47 PM

Hi Elfish,

where are you sailing? If possibile do test sailing before buying. Maybe somebody can offer you a trip.

What is your current boat?

Most of the time I am sailing with my wife, we are about 125...130 kg or so, and that's just fine. We have less than the maximum sail area (no jib), but good winds.
From time to time I sailed with male friends and it was ok, but felt heavy (not realy slow, but calm). Wouldn't sail it with three, but I wouldn't do with most cats.

Age. It is less a question of age, than of strength and weight. If you and your crew can handle a H16, you can handle a F16 as well.

Cheers,

Klaus
Posted By: WillLints

Re: Crew Weight / Age - 01/26/09 09:03 PM

Elfish,
I’m sailing a Blade and probably hit the limits of the box rule, i.e. weight = 65 KGs and age = 62 at last count. I can right the boat in white caps if I’m in practice but usually need a water bag to get the boat back on her feet. Sailing wise, I can easily handle more wind than I can on the H16 (one up in either case).
Will
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