Just sailed a F16 Stealth

Cheers Dermot. Looking forward to seeing you in the Shadow when it arrives.

Spent a lot of time when rigging to convert from 2-up to 1-up racer. Not really needed as the downhaul was left at absolute minimum all weekend.

First race got a great start and was able to tack accross the entire fleet to be 3rd at the top mark. Lost time downwind all race trying to decide where to put myself for best boat speed. Eventually concluded that by the mast, weather-side was best but by then too late.

Second race. Had sailed to a discreet area to undo harness leg straps, take a quick dip and get rid of some excess Lucozade. Thus missed the entire starting sequence and crossed the line almost a minute late. Caught up well but then stuffed a tack while threading two Tigers and ended in irons for about another minute. Lets move on.

Third race. Good start at pin end of line. Tacked early and dipped one starboarder but was otherwise clear. A very fluky windshift then meant I was on the layline for the top mark and I was first at that point. Should have gybed straight away but didn't. Still had good speed as the wind died even further and was still in it at the bottom mark. Shortened course so only one lap. My best race.

I think most were impressed with the boat's speed and I know I sailed my heart out. But what has possibly put the kibosh on me buying one is finding out its cat-rig handicap. 0.98 is harsh, very harsh. I could compete at 1.02 if I worked on it and I think that 1.03 is OK. The very still conditions work against the flat bottom of the hulls and I might be faster in average and above winds when the boat could start planing.

On a positive note, bystanders thought mine was the sexiest looking cat there with its grey hulls. The hardest thing about the weekend was adapting my H59 road trailer, with its deep cups to take a flat bottomed boat.

Thanks again to Pete for lending me the boat and Adrian for lending me his 2yr old Discovery for getting the boat down there ( I own the only 3 yr old Honda Accord diesel that has ever broken down -  hope to get it back today now that they have rebuilt the engine!).

one and 2 up flexability is the key to F16 ing.

OK, with Neil struck down with gut rot I needed a single hander for Sunday and sweet-talked Pete and Dee into sailing my Hurricane while I took the Stealth.

I jury rigged extra blocks for the spinni sheets and stiffened the tiller with a garden stake from B&Q. I taped up one set of trapese lines and adjusted the other to keep me at the right height to the boat. Spanner adjustment and downhaul were still useless but I figured I'd manage.

As I launched a huge squall blew through and racing was postponed while I blasted back and forth. The wind then died almost completely for a race in a drifter and then got back up to a decent F3-4 as I crossed the finished. So I then went for a blast.

Like it, like it a lot! Like most lightwight boats you have to be on the wire to get the beast working properly. But once the kite was up and me on the wire the Stealth was fast and controllable. I didn't need to be too far aft to keep the nose out either.

The only negative thing was that having lead the race for the first two marks (5 kts/F1) which were downwind, I then got mullered upwind. Partly because I was down to just the one sail so my power to weight ratio was not so good, and also because I suspect the the flat hull profile makes it a bit sticky in the really light stuff.

But yes, if I had to sail alone, I can't think of a better cat for the job. However, I'm happy enough with my Hurri for the time being.

Thanks Scooby. Both your ratchets are further aft than on the one I sailed. Also your spanner is at mast-foot whereas "mine" (don't get any ideas - I haven't got the money or the inclination at the mo) is just below the boom. There's something different about the downhaul as well - I'll compare you photo with the boat next time I am at the club - which will be this afternoon to put an extra rope round my Hurri - storms are coming to NI.

Red line is spinnaker halyard?

PM me with more pics if convenient. This boat is essentially set up as a double hander and the owner far prefers his Spitfire so doesn't spend much time on tuning the Stealth.

Thanks for feedback. I have no current intention of moving on from a 5.9SX. However, the appeal of a SH with kite is obvious.  I have an arrangement with the boat's owners that the next time my crew cannot sail and the wind isn't too great (they have an all-up weight of 17/18 stones so they're not going to sail a H59 in 20kts) we'll swap and they can take my Hurri. As it's not my boat the mods I can do are limited and will have to be quick and reversable. The trapese adjustment on my Hurri is as per a Tiger (those that I have seen), ie 2:1 and elasticated. If I could put that on the Stealth and get the tiller stiffened (the rubber UJ's I can live with) then things will be OK.

Scooby, where do you mount your second set of spinnaker blocks? The auto-ratchets are at the ends of the main beam.

And what about the boards? Apparently JP says its alright to leave them down at all times but I felt they were tripping the boat a bit downhill.