Rooster 8.1

   Now that it's been around for a while what do people think of the 8.1? Any pleasant surprises or disappointments?

Edited by julianstephens

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Delicious Digg Facebook Furl Google MySpace Newsvine reddit StumbleUpon Translate Twitter Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
julianstephens Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 02 Jun 07 Location: Crowthorne Online Status: Offline Posts: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote julianstephens Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Rooster 8.1 Posted: 16 Jun 10 at 9:50pm
	Now that it's been around for a while what do people think of the 8.1? Any pleasant surprises or disappointments? Edited by julianstephens

pondscum Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 06 Nov 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 99	Post Options Post Reply Quote pondscum Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jun 10 at 10:16pm
	bandit on a pond in an absolute drifter, great fun to roll tack. Bit of a b**tard in F4+, gets stuck in irons, sails backwards v. fast and on my gusty pond (Frensham) I'm not skilful enough to hook up with the gusts - have to dump so much. But overall a great tool in F1 to F3 for handicap races given that we have also good class raced in the Lasers - gives me two boats. Allows me to annoy a better class of sailor.... Tonight gusting F6 so I wimped out and sailed the standard rig

jeffers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048	Post Options Post Reply Quote jeffers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Jun 10 at 9:15am
	I love my 8.1. As for the stuck in irons comment above if it is doing that you need to: 1) Use more cunningham 2) Go through the tack a bit further and release a bit more main to prevent it Aside from that even when the breeze gets up it is surpisingly manageble. I would say however that once a standard rig is planing all the time on the reaches then there is no point to the 8.1 as the standard is faster (for the same reason that a Radial is faster than a standard in mere mortal hands when it gets really windy). For restricted water sailing (ie inland on a small gravel pit) it is very good on handicap, it can even give the (ultimate) bandit a run for it's money (the class names have been removed to protect the guilty and prevent a pointless argument). There are also no adverse affects on the hull, I have an older boat which has been (ab)used for 2 1/2 years with the 8.1 rig with no ill effects to the mast pot area (which was an area of concern). My only criticism is that they do not do the extended bottom section any more just the mast extender. We now have 5 at Hunts with 3 sailing regularly in our Wednesday evening series. It has made for some good entertainment and there is more interest being shown. What we all do as a rule is use the 8.1 for handicap races and then switch back to the standard rig for the afternoon fleet races. If you are around the Cambridge area and want to try one then let me know and you can have a go with mine.
	Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74

GybeFunny Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 Oct 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 403	Post Options Post Reply Quote GybeFunny Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Jun 10 at 1:51pm
	I just got an 8.1 myself a few months ago, I am 70kg but sail on a puddle and it has transformed wednesday evening sailing for me. I am full hiking in 5-8mph. I chickened out (pun not intended) of using it last night as the 15mph would have been a bit hairy (although I would love a go in that much wind but not in a race). My hull is fine but it has taken a toll on my boom and top section. If you look at the tuning guide you pull the main in block to block and then pull on the kicker and this is the loosest you ever have it! This means the mast bends quite a bit which has knackered my mast collar which I needed to re-rivet on the other day, when doing this I noticed a crack round the rivet hole so I now need to end-for-end the mast before it snaps. The boat is 12 years old so I am sure the 8.1 didnt cause this problem but it could be the straw that broke the camels back. I wouldnt say it is a bandit per se but the extra horse power off the line in handicap races gets me out in front of the large Laser pack and then I have clear air and no traffic to contend with which gives me a chance of sailing to yardstick. I say go for it if you sail on a small lake.

rich96 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 20 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 596	Post Options Post Reply Quote rich96 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Jun 10 at 1:54pm
	I agree with most of the above - a great relatively economic way to get a single hander for the larger frame. I think its very good. However, its such a shame that as a class nothing has developed - Rooster do not seem to be pushing it so it remains a club handicap boat. There must have been lots of people about who have outgrown their Laser and would love to do some events without having to buy a Finn or Phantom ?. I guess that it would need someone to really push it a a stand alone class, but I'm sure Rooster could have assisted ?

bawbag Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 23 Feb 10 Location: Uzbekistan Online Status: Offline Posts: 42	Post Options Post Reply Quote bawbag Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Jun 10 at 10:23am
	other shame is lightweight (normal weight ) laser sailors are buying them and winning in light winds , lightweights (relative )also win 8.1 events , so not really an alternative to a finn or phantom for a larger fella wanting to be competitive .

ifoxwell Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 05 Jan 06 Location: Hoo Online Status: Offline Posts: 669	Post Options Post Reply Quote ifoxwell Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Jun 10 at 10:29am
	That is the one area in which the different rig concept falls down... Its to easy for people to just pick their rig to suit the conditions on the day which eliminates the big guys do well in wind, light weights on the quiet days argument to fair fleet racing. Ian
	RS300

bawbag Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 23 Feb 10 Location: Uzbekistan Online Status: Offline Posts: 42	Post Options Post Reply Quote bawbag Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Jun 10 at 11:18am
	2007 8.1 nats winner - Steve cockerill - 8times laser radial winner . 2008 8.1 nats winner - Steve Cockerill 2009 8.1 Nats winner - Jon Emmmett - Laser Radial Nat Champion . disregarding hcap races where folks choose rigs to suit , it would appear that even in class racing 8.1 racing is dominated by lightweight sailors , dont see phantom /finn weight sailors having a look in . God help the phantom class if Steve turns his attentions to them , with a specialist carbon mast and crafty cut sail , guess he could cause a stir there , perhaps classes touted at heavy weights should have min helm weights and Lead correctors Edited by bawbag

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Jun 10 at 12:57pm
	Looking at some of the names in the Phantom class, I don't think they would be unduly worried by another big name coming to play. The winners in the 8.1 probebly says as much about the use of the boat - ie mainly club level Laser sailors - as it does about the weight carrying ability.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Neptune Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jun 09 Location: Berkshire United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1314	Post Options Post Reply Quote Neptune Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Jun 10 at 1:02pm
	that and the last couple of nationals have probably been light wind affairs!