So if you build this ultra stiff all carbon uberboat, how much faster will it be? It would still have a similar water line and weigh as much as the old T 4.9.

There are ways to deal with this issue in a positive fashion, rather than letting it hang over the class' head like some storm cloud. Personally, I like the idea of a "prototype" rating: one off boats that are eligible for participation but not necessarily scored in official standings. You could implement that along with a GTO rule to ensure that the entire fleet does not become obsolete overnight.

I bid an US$ 100.000 class killer.

Who's dares raising "the stakes" even higher ?

Don't be shy, get your 15 minutes of attention now !

Wouter

I suggest we do it all in forged magnesium, hull, mast, the lot.

Imagine the bond fire we could do once this thing lose the first race its in

How do you measure stiffness? In one plane or many? Is absolute stiffness even desirable, or is some flexibility a good thing?

Like weight, I suspect it's importance is overstated.

And then a 15yr. old and a 17yr. old will still kick your butt on a "heavy" Viper...

Yeah, let's spend more money! That'll fix it! Always does, just ask BP how that's working for them in the Gulf.

That's my point. Frankly, I think it's more likely someone will come out with a heavy "cheap" F16. Maybe rotomolded?

It'd be 500lbs, and stiff as a over cooked noodle.

Maybe not.

http://www.hobiecat.com/sailing/models_getaway.html

Hey Honey, walk out on that forward tramp and fix that spinnaker for me, wouldja? Nice!

I say, maybe, maybe not....


I would have thought someone would have done that already, but maybe I'm mistaken.


Have you guys seen the debate about the bannana boards in the A-class?

A completely new innovation and the jury hasn't reached a verdict, yet!

So, in conclusion to this discussion, it may or may not make s difference.

Sometimes, your better off spending some of that extra money on coaching.

Mike

So which boat do you sail the most? The Prindle or the Blade?

Well an hour ago I was out on the H14 to meet up with a "new guy" who also has a H14 out on Lake Jackson, I'm going to try to get him out on the Prindle trap next time it's blowing. I usually sail the Prindle because it's all set up on the beach, ready to go, jib rolled on the headstay, all I have to do is raise up the main and I'm off.

The Blade lives tied to the trailer, mast down, under a cover. I am going to rig it up today and try to get some practice in tomorrow and Friday, if there is any wind, it's very light today.

You *NEED* a new F16 so that you can keep the Blade mast up on the beach and the NEW F16 on the trailer (under the cover) and ready to go racing!

Yes, I agree, now...you tell my wife!

What's the point of having the mast down? Here on our beach we have the boats all the season outside mast up, in every weather, no shelter. We do this with all sort of boat, my Javelin, some A-cats, Darts, Hobies, Ts. Boats are moored to the ground.

Cheers,

Klaus

That's fine if your racing is always from the same beach, the beach has space for mast up storage and the storage is available for a reasonable cost.

Agreed, but I was wondering why having the Prindle and not the Blade on the beach.

I keep my "racing boat" in pristine condition, that is, no Florida Sunlight, no bugs, no dirt, and I spend at least 3 hours washing and waxing it before I take it to any regatta. When I arrive at the regatta, I wash it again. Why? Because a bug might have splat itself on the bow. Call me Anal, I know I am when it comes to clean racing boats.

The Prindle is my back yard beach beater that is rougher than...well...it's rough, so no amount of Florida Sun can do any more damage to it. It's a great beater for when it's blowing 20 and I don't mind breaking stuff. The Blade however, breaking stuff on that boat gets expensive.

I just spent $450 for 1 new dagger board. The Prindle doesn't even have daggerboards, which is another reason I love it! The Blade is a Porche, the Prindle is a Mack Truck. Each has it's purpose and each is very good at what it was designed for.

If it makes you feel any better, I did rig up the Blade today and sailed it for an hour, 5 sets, douses, 20 gybes, 30 tacks, but the wind was light and by the time I got out it was after 5pm. Tomorrow I'll be out there early, all day, and on Friday I'm going to wash and wax it...again, then load it up for the trip to Cocoa early on Saturday. Why not Friday night? Because there are too many Love Bugs out on Friday afternoon, Saturday at 7am there won't be as many bugs to go splat on my clean racing boat so it will be easier to clean when I get there.

Hey, who's watching the Celtic-Magic series?? I am tonight.

<**** boat making a killing !

The fact that these 20's are also longer, wider, taller and have 15 sq. mtr. more sail area didn't seem to help much either !

Wouter

Could it also be the "nut on the tiller" doing the work.