The RS100 Owners Thread

Originally posted by Vronny Getting back to the topic of RS100s . . . . . ! OK, so there's a general view that upwind the RS100 is hard work, even with the 8.4 rig. But does anyone know how well the 7.4 sail works? You've got the same size spinnaker so the downwind stuff will still be exciting but perhaps the 7.4 sail can get you upwind without so much pain. I haven't seen the 7.4 rig. Does it look ok?

Looking at the Rs100's I've sailed against, I would say where they struggle in our PY fleet is not upwind but on reaches. I would guess that making the main even smaller would worsen the tendency to hang on to the kite on marginal legs as the main alone would be too little power?
Obviously if you sail at some sort of W/L nirvana club it will be different from our FYC courses.....
I've only seen one 7.4 rigged, it looked very flat, so the power ratio may be more than just the reduction in area so to speak.
On a beat, our RS100's are starting to look menacing at times, particularly in force 2/3. These boats seem to be a bit of a culture shock for their owners, but they are enjoying the challenge I think!

Getting back to the topic of RS100s . . . . . !

Originally posted by 2547 Originally posted by yellowwelly An entire industry is built in the Alps on lifts and cable cars to take people up the hill.  Much as it's great fun to ski or board back down again, not many of us would bother if we had to trudge up the mountain each time to do it.      The trouble with upwind tows is that the wind keeps moving around where as the mountains stay in the same place making building the infrastructure easier ... I believe some kitesurfing guys go in for long downwinds and just get a mate to collect them all in a van further down the coast ... bit easier when you can put all your kit in a big bag ... Perhaps the inflatable dinghy has legs after all ...

I fondly remember the days of doing a 4 mile downwind reach on boards. However I used to sail it upwind and would have gladly excepted a lift instead.

Originally posted by yellowwelly Originally posted by 2547 Originally posted by yellowwelly An entire industry is built in the Alps on lifts and cable cars to take people up the hill.  Much as it's great fun to ski or board back down again, not many of us would bother if we had to trudge up the mountain each time to do it.      The trouble with upwind tows is that the wind keeps moving around where as the mountains stay in the same place making building the infrastructure easier ... I believe some kitesurfing guys go in for long downwinds and just get a mate to collect them all in a van further down the coast ... bit easier when you can put all your kit in a big bag ... Perhaps the inflatable dinghy has legs after all ... or here's another solution- enough power to weight to make the uphill (almost) as much fun    (just need to add stabilisers for muppets)

Originally posted by yellowwelly An entire industry is built in the Alps on lifts and cable cars to take people up the hill.  Much as it's great fun to ski or board back down again, not many of us would bother if we had to trudge up the mountain each time to do it.