Sailjuice Global Warm up handicaps

Originally posted by Peaky Hi Bob, I can't make it to Grafham I'm afraid, but do you know what handicap the Icon might have for the series? I sail off the suggested 1020 at Chew but I know QMSC has a reputation for giving new classes a punitive handicap at the Bloody Mary. I hope to do the BM and Stevie Nich - I'm not expecting to win but am hoping not to give the Merlins a headstart!

Hi,

Jeremy

You are very welcome to try Icon and 'prove' 1000 for yourself  ... again !!  Go on we dare you  !
  
It would suggest that Icon is faster than Merlins which outside of the 'Burghfield Bubble' is highly unlikely as you know.  After all at BSC the National 12 is the real bandit as many have observed ... if and when pointed in the right direction     Icon approaches Blaze speed in a blow and pretty well equals competitive Phantom speed in the light stuff .... is the informed observation at a widening variety of locations where broader competition is available.  We are very happy with that as well thank you !  The 1020 figure is lower than both of these classes and reflects its observed performance across the wind range and at a variety of inland and sea locations.

But we are flattered of course  and you are making us blush ... 1020 already possibly makes it the fastest production hiker of its type, we think, anywhere !

hey ho ....  back to work.

Mike L.


Edited by blaze720 - 06 Dec 11 at 10:47am

!! + didn't you recently beat a Merlin on the water at Lymington sailing off 1020? Obviously no idea on crew skill factor etc.... just an observation


Yes - We did indeed make it .... but that Merlin caught us up having started later in the sequence and was all of twenty metres behind at the end on a downwind spinnaker leg at the finish of the pursuit !   A case of 'just in time' ...  Looks like the PN's used at Lymington and elesewhere (Icon off 1020) were pretty accurate - this is the first time in the chocolates anywhere on this PN so even you might think them not a thousand miles out !

Mike L. + Andy Beddows


Edited by blaze720 - 06 Dec 11 at 1:48pm

Hi '400'

Think you should try establishing a 'sans 3rd sail' handicap alternative set-up for the 400 in that case then !   Icon is not as wide and carries less 'white' sail than a 400 btw ... but we like it like that..

Some are seriously suggesting we should rate something approaching the Merlin ... hell we set out to make an efficient and cost effective 2-sail alternative (half the price btw) and think we have succeeded but that is highly unlikely !  If we've managed what some imply then we must  just be sailing it rather badly    .... and all are obviously welcome to try your hand at proving it. (why not just come along for a sail and a beer sometime)

Mike L.

PS - There is a batch of Icons in build currently  - you will see a few more out there very soon.  


Edited by blaze720 - 06 Dec 11 at 7:25pm

Maybe the Icon would be a good teamracer?

(.... and 1/3rd of the most expensive from what I hear)

Funnily enough the team racing bit has been said by someone who sailed it very recently but arguably slower boats do provide closer racing.  Plus the Firefly is a bit bullet-proof (student-proof) even if really gives advantage to those on the light side.  In the day I preferred Larks ...

Mike L.