Single-handers

1)  Every Blaze has a Centreboard - always has.
2)  Some Blazes have tried a 'second' sail - unlikely to be adopted.

3)  We are however working with a sailmaker and are choosing a taller mast, possibly in carbon and possibly rotating to produce a 'big guys' large rig derivative.  Current boat does 70-95 kg very nicely indeed - and there are notable exceptions who are above and below this band who can shine as well note.

4)  If  it all comes together a new  'big  blokes' class will be launched in the Autumn.  It will not be a Blaze and will not race directly with the Blaze class.  BUT the use of a common hull, (now revised and in epoxy) wings and boom (and a lot of demand for Blazes in the market) takes a lot of the risk away from starting a new class aimed at larger guys - 95 - 115+kg - i.e. if it were to fail the bulk of the cost can be recycled (sold !) into a growing class where there is demand - so less risk for all involved.

5) We will be running the wings slightly narrower than in the Blaze - the aim is not to make an especially fast Blaze - our aim is to really make a modern alternative 'big guys class'.  One that does not necessarily make it 'easy' for mere 80/90kg blokes to make off with all the chocolates too much of the time.  So a bit less leverage and about 15-20% more sail (square head) on a taller mast (7.0m in place of 6.5m) should help the cause.

6) Yes - it is being aimed beyond the UK - and not just because of Norbert's assertion ...but if enough demand becomes apparent here who knows !  

7) We have no name for the creation - yet !  Anyone got any ideas ?

8) Lastly - anyone think it would/could work here ?  We really are listening and need more input from a few of those who it might suit.

Mike L  - aka Cirrus Raceboats   

So if a Blaze were fitted with a spinnaker and the racks made compatible
with trapezing, how different would the performance be compared to the
MPS?

It would certainly be more suitable to our launch recovery issues.

I assume it has a kick up rudder as well.

Originally posted by GarethT Originally posted by winging it I had an OK.  For me it was not a pleasant sailing experience - the boom is ridiculously low (and this is coming from a contender sailor) and the boat weighed a ton.  The hiking position was not exactly comfy either. That being said, they do have decent competition, including in Europe. I had a Europe once too - same problem with the boom, the other difficulty being I was too fat. The boom isn't low .... maybe your head was too high! It may be close to the deck, but the cockpit gives you plenty of room under the boom. And at 72kg isn't the OK significantly lighter than the Contender?

 

The OK is a great boat, i loved mine.  The boom isnt actually that low because the cockpit is so deep! My boat wasnt heavy either in fact it was quite light in compassion to things like contenders and my old boat was 2 kg over weight!!

Hi all,

2 put in my 2p as an ex Blaze sailor and a current 8.1 sailor (sorry Mike).

The Blaze is a great boat, it is relatively easy to sail but difficult to sail well.

As for the comment made about assymetrics and trapezing believe me once the boats gets going you really dont want any more sail unless you are doing windward leeward courses all the time. Get a Blaze on a reach and it will cream pretty much anything else in the same class (Phantom, 8.1). With the wide racks it is also a joy to sail, lots of room and when i was fully out on the racks in mine I was pretty much trapezing off the edge of the hull (people were very wary of getting upwind of me).

All in all a great boat.

So why you might ask did I get rid of it. Simple like TT and his Musto I just don't have the time to dedicate to getting the perfomance out of it as it does reward tme in the boat. I know with a Laser i can pretty much jump in to it and be competitive at club level. The 8.1 just adds an extra twist for handicap races where I stand a chance against the local Phantoms where in the lighter stuff the Blaze was slightly outclassed.

Good luck with the new venture Mike, the bonus is that the 'heavier' people coul convert by buying the new righ and racks and then stick the standard stuff back on for Opens and Nationals.

That is what i do with the Laser so i get the best of both worlds (we still have a class start for the Laser).

Paul

Originally posted by G.R.F So that's that then, still nothing exciting yet do able for lightweight single handers with a job and TOW limitations looking for a bit more excitement than dull as ditchwater laser sailing at coastal venues with launching problems.

You could always sail somewhere else. I heard that there are quite a few of
these sailing club places around the coast....