New Development Classes

However, the 400 could be a hell of alot quicker without changing any key dimensions. It's almost been "de-tuned", as a compromise more polarised towards easier sailing over speed (the downfall of the SMOD). You couldn't expect this to happen in a dev class, where everyone will be seeking pure speed. And the Tasars seem to manage to plane upwind without traps, and I wouldn't call them an extreme design. More of an "efficient" design.

Well yes, I believe people do try design and build boats to be as fast possible within their particular rule set. As CMRS said, speed is all relative. The NS/MR/N12 does have more moderate speeds than an I14 Skiff etc., but someone designing a NS/MR/N12 will, I feel sure, try to design it to be as fast as possible. Which, at this stage of development, is going to be pushing the boundries.

Sure, I was assuming that (like other formula classes) CMRS' class would have something like a rise of floor or waterline beam measurement, to give it the 400-style stability he was looking for instead of MR-style twitchiness.

It could be a good thing to control - some of the development classes seem to have been losing a bit of steam as they get a bit tippier. Something like a sailing version of a fast-but-comfy sports sedan, rather a hot hatch or sportscar or V8, may be popular.

EDIT-

CMRS, there's been some long-term family hassles keeping me away from it. I've been plowing through some ideas and hitting the calculator to try to find out how to identify a skiff (turns out the "real" Skiffs stick out like sore thumbs in some ratios). Interview with a PSIOCD (Prominent Skiff, International and Olympic Class Designer.......) is scheduled Thursday. I've sent chapters to a couple of other big design names, and next week I'm going to go away to the country and can interview them too.

But it's slow going; so many little niggly bits to sort out, so easy to get on the net and seek distraction!    :-p

Edited by Chris 249

Fair point. What I should have said is that is the downfall "in my honest opinion". This obviously isn't the opinion of the majoirity of the sailing world.

I like to know that I'm sailing the boat that is as fast as it could possibly be. Other people have different priorities.

Edited by Strawberry

Although as much speed as possible within the rule is a goal of pretty much every sailor (otherwise you wouldn't get tuning guides for SMODs), absolute speed is, logically, not a priority of *any* rule, because most rule limitations serve to make boats slower to gain other advantages.

The point of a formula rule for a class like this (and I think that's a better phrase than development rule) would be to try and combine some of the advantages of open rule boats to a mass market, but maintain some of the advantages of a SMOD too.

Extreme boats are never popular - shortage of extreme people. Ideally you would want the formula to produce boats where major manufacturers could feel confident that they wren't going to be out designed and yet those who like some fiddling have the opportunity.

I do wonder if the presence of professional works teams in the F18 aids stability. As the fastest sailors then they'll normally beat amateur sailors with faster boats. That way the maufacturer boats always look quick, so people who buy them aren't discouraged by thinking thery are being out boatspeeded...