Projection 762 Help please?

i agree with the larger kite and smaller headsail for irc racing. this is our plan if we get the money to do it!

if this change was not made, ie keep the same sails then i believe added weight is the answer. this is because the amount of speed lost downwind would be very small considering the boat only planes downwind in upwards of force 3-4. windward performance would be improved, more so in waves with the added hull weight.

Simon

irc displacment is based on the number of crew and equipment required on board.

i think most the boats have this 'larger keel'. there is definately a difference with them.

simon

I have read the assorted views regarding ratings and optimisation versus speed. Having won Sail East Class 2, Ramsgate Week and various other Regattas in a 762 I do no believe that the rating is at all uncompetetive.

With any 'sport boat' you will blitz any conventional displacement boat in a breeze, the moment that you start to plane or surf you will be sailing way above the rating. In a breeze the 762 comes alive upwind as well as down - we used to pass Sigma 38's upwind in a breeze - higher and faster.

In the light stuff it is a bit more tricky but given that the 762 is more manoevereable and can tack and accelerate quicker, you can sail to the rating if you sail well and don't make any howlers.

The hardest conditions are the medium breezes - 8 to 15 knots when you have the waterline of a 25' displacement yacht and a rating of a 30-40' yacht.

It is therefore quite simple that to maximise the boats best conditions in light and heavy, weight needs to come out and sail area needs to go on. Forget the rating completely. Re weigh without the cushions, floorboards, steps, battery etc etc. Full size main, 150% genoa, and largeish (but still efficient) spinnakers. The boat will be quicker in the light, surf and plane earlier/faster in the breezy stuff (A masthead kite will pull the rig out). Assymetric should be the size of the runner and will be good in all conditions. Sail 5 up.

You will still have trouble in the medium breezes but the difficult wind range will be smaller.

The rating office is wise to artificially altering the LWP and overhangs - they will take the figures, increase the hull factor and the rating will stay the same (i've tried it).

That is my theory anyway.

Nigel ,

Those sound like good words to me ! Thanks for passing them on ,

I'm cosidering trying sailing 6 up at times , I have some pretty lightweight  young ladies as crew and I suspect she will sail better up wind with as much weight on the rail as poss ?

A 45m assy kite then?  what length of pole , am presently using 3.2m ,

Thanks ,

Doug .

Six up ok when it's windy - All those young ladies - how do you concentrate!!!

Our spin area was 41.5 on a 3.08 pole - I guess that somewhere between 40 and 45 for the assy will be fine. The assy is more efficient size for size up to 160 degrees apparrent according testing by Quantum in USA which may partly explain why AC boats sail windward leeward courses with Assymetric kites. We often used to use it with the pole squared back altrhough it was heavier cloth than the runner.