R Speculation

Originally posted by kneewrecker cranking upwind at Garda...

Edited by L123456 - 21 May 14 at 6:10pm

I've just returned from 8 days of training on Lake Garda and was in the Campione area on Saturday, where I observed the demo RS Aero being test sailed. To be fair, the punter concerned wasn't exactly Sir Ben, but his attempt to sail the boat upwind wasn't pretty, presumably due in part to the lack of weight.

When I had the D-Zero prototype for a month last year it was a pleasure to accurately drive the boat upwind in a precise manner, across a substantial range of wind strengths.

I really think that RS need to get some upwind footage online in order to counter the observations and speculation outlined in this thread.

Co-incidentally I saw Robert Scheidt playing with a foiling Laser yesterday, also a boat that seems to appeal if you like to reach around.

Originally posted by kneewrecker A guy at Haversham said you had to dig a chine in to carve it upwind

Sounds like [umm lets rephrase that] That sounds like advice I would be very wary of bearing in mind the relative efficiency of daggerboards and chines at creating lift and the way modern hull shapes dislike being sailed heeled.

Edited by JimC - 22 May 14 at 11:05am

The previous aero prototype went upwind fine there was no special technique. I can only imagine that reduced weight would only really affect momentum and have any impact when the wind was very very light and there were waves to stop it. However there would be a benefit downwind.

I sailed the Aero 9 at Easter in a decent breeze, as Maxi will tell you I am no superstar but she felt fine to me. I was just disappointed nothing else was out to compare it too.
Very light so easy to stop into chop, seemed to be lacking freeboard at the bow but I was on board at 110kg plus.