Uninvented classes

'if they choose the Snipe I think I need to find a
new sport!'

says a lot about the Y&Y office...  Call me a cynic but the sailing press these days seem only to be interested in promoting their major advertisers classes rather than reflecting the very diverse sport that is dinghy sailiing in the UK (one of the reasons I stopped buying it years ago).  Along similar lines, I can never quite shake the feeling that the continuing popularity of the development and traditional classes is something of an embarrassment to the RYA who'd probably prefer us to have the European 'Olympic and training classes' dinghy scene.

Ironically it's probably from these two sources (press and governing body) that the impetus to control the proliferation of classes needs to come.  The myriad traditional boats are not the problem, they provide a bargain bucket entry to the sport and provide plenty of enjoyment to those who sail them.  It's the manufacturers who need to be controlled as it's the continual ripping off and dumbing down of already successful development/established classes and then the duplication of other manufacturers successful ODs thats putting so many failed classes into the mix.

Ideally there'd be a set of development classes (the present set with maybe one or two new ones to fill any obvious niches) to push the sport forward and refine new concepts.  When an significant benchmark had been reached in one of these classes then the governing body would comission  a manufacturer to produce a one design version for those who feel they need a OD.  Both types of sailor are then catered for and the present depressing situation of each year bringing yet more unneccessary new designs with little substance, just huge marketing splurges would be eliminated.

The sailing press needs to produce a more balanced output and not peddle the present 'one-designs uber alles' line (However this would need those in the press to have a wider experience of the sport than presently seems to be the case).

The Formula idea has merit and would be a way of combining the development classes and the manufacturers in a positive rather than antagonistic relationship (the spur of  competition might cause the manufacturers to produce boats that handle well rather than like buses, maybe a cat sailor whose done a bit of F18 can comment on how it compares to the pure OD cat classes in this regard?).

Oops sorry, another essay....!

PS sailor girl, maybe rather than waiting for a 39er to appear you could go get yourself a cherub right now?!

I'd agree that the 505 and the 800 are very good boats but I'm rather less convinced that the 400 and 4000 could be described as wonderful.  Popular maybe (although the main drain on 4000 numbers has been the 800) but wonderful might be pushing it a bit! 

Your two questions are pretty broad in scope.  Firstly it depends on how you define development which is something that occupies plenty of time on such classes forums!!!   Is development changing the rules to add new kites, traps etc. or is the aim of development to create a faster boat within the present rules.  Its certainly the radical development that gets publicised so perhaps thats where your impression comes from.  Whatever you sail, it's easy to appreciate just how awesome what the Moths are presently doing is!

 However at the oppposite end of the spectrum there's plenty going on in National 12s, both in experimenting with ideas from the faster classes (hydrofoils, canting rigs etc.) and the more conventional evolution of hull designs: There have been 10 different designs that have scored in the top 10 at the nationals over the past couple of years. Very healthy and in many ways what development racing is about: evenly competitive boats but with different strengths and weaknesses.  Presently two hulls to a new Phil Morrison design; Big Issue 2 are in build for the new season (one of which will be mine, scary thought!! ) 

So I guess the answer with the first one is no as there is development going on throughout, not just in the high performance classes.

On the second, well I guess dinghy sailing in general is moving that way, towards more automatic rigs that winsurfers have developed.  I guess the inspiration for canting rigs on dinghies (and the ORMA 60s) also comes from this source?

T

Not really sure about the 400 being much faster than the Merlin, on a reach granted but the merlin is much faster upwind, and has the added advantage that it can also sail dead downwind.

If anything I would say the modern Merlin is a much more specialised boat than the 400.

I am sure the Merlin will be being sailed well after the 400 has been replaced by something else.

It is funny how many 400 sailors come to the merlin stand at the dinghy show and drool over our carbon rigs, raking systems and lets face it beautiful boats.

Long live the 12, the  Merlin and all development boats. And before you go down the cheque book route you can buy a year or two old merlin fully carboned up that is perfectly good enough to win the champs for less than the price of a new 400.

Originally posted by 3600Matrix Not really sure about the 400 being much faster than the Merlin, on a reach granted but the merlin is much faster upwind, and has the added advantage that it can also sail dead downwind. If anything I would say the modern Merlin is a much more specialised boat than the 400. I am sure the Merlin will be being sailed well after the 400 has been replaced by something else. It is funny how many 400 sailors come to the merlin stand at the dinghy show and drool over our carbon rigs, raking systems and lets face it beautiful boats. Long live the 12, the  Merlin and all development boats. And before you go down the cheque book route you can buy a year or two old merlin fully carboned up that is perfectly good enough to win the champs for less than the price of a new 400.

But the point of the RS400 is that it's a productionised version of a Merlin, with everything softened to appeal to a greater number of sailors and remove the specialisation. Sure 400 sailors will come and look at merlins in the same way people look at sports cars, but in the real world most people want a Mondeo/Astra/Passat not a GT40/Elise. You can pick up sports/muscle cars that are a few years old cheaper than a new Passat but that just proves they depreciate faster.

It would be a sad development class if it didn't evolve to be better than a production class given time.

Merlins and RS400s are both great (I've sailed both) but you can't compare them like for like. Our mythical 'Top Trumps' game might have headings like 'Hours of Maintenance required' and 'Choice of builders/suppliers'!

Both approches to dinghy design are valid and vital. The development classes drive innovation and the production classes soak up new ideas and package them in a way the greatest number of people can use them. I don't see why this argument keeps cropping up, it isn't winnable for either side!

Edited by Matt Jackson

I have to agree but the point needed airing.  Now to just cloud the water there are some boats which lie somewhere in between.  The Scorpion (and many of these older boats) allow some development in rigs and internal layout plus you can play with the hull shape within tolerances.  This suits wooden boats well.  I sail a strict one design because having "developed" 2 Scorpions in the past I found I could no longer spend the time and the money.  Glass fibre boats do not allow any change in hull shape (unless you change it completely) and its also very difficult to move the fittings around.  You have to admit that glass fibre boats are easier to maintain - hence the popularity of strict one designs.  On the other hand strict one designs do go out of fashion quickly if they are at the high performance end of the spectrum (as has already been pointed out).

We all have to make choices according to our circumstances at the time.  Let's face it we all partake in one of the most interesting sports and we should support each other and learn from each other.