Carbon Topmast for the Radial

I didn't say it was as powerfull i said it was nicer to sail with.

I know many people who would say the opposite and that the radial rig is infact a much nicer rig to sail with as it fits the boat better.

[should really read over my posts before clicking post]

Edited by Calum_Reid

I think the probelm with the 4.7 is that then the sail is absolutely tiny compared to hte boat and you just dont go anywhere unless it is honking.

I think Rick is right, us light people would like to get upwind when it is windy and still speed downwind.  A previous person is right abou tthe hull wieght, when it is really light it is trickly to roll tack well as you have to have such extreme body movements if you dont weigh much, but I cant see what can be done about that and am sure that it has a great deal to do with good technique!

There are no europe fleet around, so the carbon mast makes the radial much better.  And remember all these problems with being light also apply to the small olympic competitors, a small chinese woman wanting to go to the olympics in a single hander cant just "go sail a europe"!

I think it is the affect on the club level racing where I have the problem with the change. When I switched from a Europe to a Radial, i was told it was nice to see someone winning in a boat which was the same as everyone else's (rather than my fully sorted Europe). At grass roots a change in mast is a massive change.

And Rick, has your wife considered a 4.7? It is still a Laser which many forget for the lightweights irrespective of the fact it is also a 'junior' class.

 

Originally posted by Guest#260 But changing the top mast to carbon dosn't impact the strict one-design concept; it's still one design but with different components; just like the XD.

At club level, not everyone is going to change. So it does dilute the OD concept.The OD concept also includes not having to spend money to keep up with changes to the boat. It's a far more radical change than the kicker arrangement.

Isn't a topmast with different bend characteristics also going to mean a different sail as well? 

I have no view or any particular interest in whether this is a good or a bad change (although as a former Europe sailor I find it quite amusing) but I don't see how you can argue it is a minor change.