Performance step changes.

Originally posted by 423zero Foiling and weight reduction, are these the final steps for dinghy sailing? Have we reached maturity?

No, not by a long chalk, but I think we need to quantify what we mean by performance, performance in terms of speed? Or performance in close quarter tactical dinghy racing in which the helm can just focus on the racing, not wrestling with an uncontrollable old hulk which falls over, leaks, bits break off, has a restriction on controls, requires a crane to launch and recover and which user manual was written in 1953?

To me the best things recently have been the D0 and Aero, but such a pity there were near misses of that ultimate goal. Had the Aero just been 20 cm longer, with a retracting cb and the D0 rig. Had the D Zero had some grip upfront, a retracting cb, a bit more nose (or tail)rocker and some better self baling solution.

I've sailed lots of stuff now in my quest for perfection and still it eludes me, but maybe that's part of the attraction?



Edited by iGRF - 02 Nov 21 at 2:52pm

Foiling and weight reduction, are these the final steps for dinghy sailing? Have we reached maturity?

Firstly I thought this topic was about Performance step changes not cost or ability's . But if john80 can race Slingsby at only 5-10 percent performance deficit in an older foiling Moth you must be some sailor.  

And I thought sailing for the masses ended with the package holiday. 26k compared to motor sport looks like a drop in the ocean but you can have a lot of fun for nearly 20k less than quoted. and 120 boats at the world was not to bad.

Originally posted by Sailerf Those bits the Moth class stuck on the bottom of there foils seam to have been a bit of a step change that has been brilliant to watch. So there is at least one good development since the 70s I think.