Out95

Don't hold back, Presuming Ed. We'd love to know what you really think!

Seriously, I thought it was the sort of bigger boat likely to be purchased by those who really, really enjoy sailing a Laser EPS. 

Because you can race one-design in both a Dart and a Contender, and Contenders plane. This thing gets it's speed from using multi-type thinking - using a long, narrow, low-wave-making hull. But then they blow it, because rather than just building a multi, they add lead and design draggy, high-windage, inefficient float/wing things.

This thing is just a line honours w&*k machine - and not a very good one at that, because of the added lead and draggy wings. So when they go to the Swiss lakes, and get beaten by the Decision 35s, I guess they'll be happy because they'll have won the "line honours for multihulls with crap floats and added lead" prize. Woo hoo. Next time I'm going racing, I'm going to tie one hand behind my back so that I can say I've won the "first prize for those sailing with one hand tied behind my back."

If you want to build a no-rules line honours w&*k machine, fine. But do it properly. People have known for a very long time that the fastest boats around the course are multihulls. To build a mono that's desperately trying not to be a tri is the action of someone who spends just a bit too long on his own looking at the mirrors stuck to his bedroom ceiling.

Originally posted by Isis Those wings are nothing like the racks on a skiff... look at the tank testing photos, they have obviously been designed with what happens when they touch the water in mind. Besides, who cares whether it works when it looks as cool as this?

They may have tested it in a tank, but when the wing goes in the water the drag will increase and that is ignoring what would happen in choppy seas, i.e. big surface area and  turbulent flow!

I'm with Sumo and Presuming Ed...  Because of the wings it has to be sailed virtually flat, which means that very little righting moment is gained from the lead on the keel, so you're just dragging a dead weight around for nothing.  All a bit puzzling really.

Mike