2 Man Boat for Fatties

Originally posted by Shingle We are going to experiment with the Trapeze option. It's not going to drastically improve the boats speed, but may give it another dimension upwind. Downwind legs may be no different, as going deep may pay off. There's three 59ers in our club and if this makes them sail more or stops them selling then it can only be for the good from a local point of view. If we can go out in a blow without hurting afterwards then fine! Russell, respect to your daughter hoisting and dropping the kite. Though the self tacker makes things simple.

Shingle when are you planning to first sail it with the trap option?

You won't regret it. It certainly does improve upwind performance - plus your legs don't hurt as much. My experience with going downwind is that you go faster & Deeper due to the apparent wind affect. This is the most surprising change since our conversion. In the 10 -15 knots range I don't think there would be many boats that would be faster downwind. If we are level with a 505 at the top mark we are 300 metres ahead by the time we round the leeward mark.  

Russell, I agree. A hundred acre lake, your daughter and a trapeze are probably not a good combination!  

She's not been in it yet - I'm too mean to buy her a drysuit while she is still growing, so she is waiting for warmer weather.  I have sailed with a novice crew though and I have done the drop myself.  Not sure if this will work when its windy, but we probably won't be out when its windy until she has got the hang of it. 

I was really suprised at the apparent wind effect, I didn't notice it nearly so much in the RS400.  I have been at one end of the lake thinking great I can go the full width (widest dimension) with the kite up only to get a gust and have to bear away 90 degrees almost.  The bank rushes towards you alarmngly at this point an one perfects the art of getting the kite promptly early on in the learning curve!

You haven't seen where I sail - 100 acres is pretty small in 59er and my daughter is not very experienced.  If I was on the sea it would be a different matter.

Its not going trap as a class in the UK, its just an enhancement that some aussie guys are playing with as I understand it. I checked with Dave Hall before buying mine - I specifically wanted a non-trap boat also

So where do cherub sailors get help for their epoxy and other chemical addictions lol surely they must become attached to the smell of resin eventually