Cirrus Icon Development

Peaky

I think there is a great opportunity to test that out. Presumably you will
be able to retrofit your boat with one of these taller masts, and they can
be tested boat on boat, and see if the extra expense is worth it.
Must admit I would prefer a dagger too, until I lent it to someone, then
would be nervous till it returned in one piece. If it is to have wide appeal,
especially with the less experienced guys then simplicity of use is
everything.
I think the same thing can be said for the wing mast, I really want to try it
out, and if it does start to peal off by straightening the mast, looks a
great option. I am not sure that the general sailing public will see it as
simple as Mike described it to me on sunday, but time will tell. I suspect
if you had 2 lined up side to side, most punters would take the one with
the centerboard and carbon stick mast every day.
One thing i do agree with is the carbon boom, they just hurt so much
less, and before anyone asks why, the kinetic energy is proportional to
weight of the boom when it hits you, assuming velocity pretty similar.
And thats before the performance advantage in light winds and heavy
wind gybes.

Andy

Hi Nathan

Yes. It'll be lighter, more responsive, faster in all winds, fully self
draining and more suitable for UK sailing. The mast is simpler to use
(doesn't need locking in place), the cockpit is more spacious, the
carbon boom hurts less and you don't have the complexity of the
traveller. As fine a boat as the Tasar is, it is a 35 year old design and
things have moved on a lot in that time. I think the Icon will be as far
removed from a Tasar as a RS200 is from a Lark. They share a
heritage, but that is all.

Peaky

I think thats what I said, it seems very simple, but when you market a
product, it has to be aimed at the lowest common denominator. I can just
see all seadogs at all the clubs scratching their chins and saying ooh, you
dont wanna do it like that, we tried em on fireflies back in the 50's, and
putting guys off because "it done look quite right"
I would prefer a wing mast, dagger board, thwart, more rocker and less
wetted surface area at the stern, and a T foil rudder, identical to the one
on my upcoming 12, and add in the trim tab on the back of the dagger
too. But few of them actually make the boat more marketable for the
complexity and cost incurred.
Talking to Mike on sunday, what he wants is a product that is fast, fun,
forgiving and appeals to jo public who like simplicity, and what they
understand. If the wing mast is a huge benefit then it should stay, but
you will get a lot of scratching of chins and shaking of heads.

Andy (another Devils advocate)

Edited by andymck

see Icons finishing ahead of Fireballs though

I think we are getting a bit carried away there. Icon will be fast for sure but that is not the only objective and Fireball speed is very very unlikely with a modest 2-sail plan. .... nobody knows yet and the specification is very fluid at the moment

I'm making no claims whatsoever before we complete the full testing with the final specification.   I'd be very happy indeed with something approaching the lightwind pace of a Phantom etc while retaining at least the speed of a good Tasar in breeze. 

Mike L.  

So what we're saying here is that the dinghy sailing world is full of luddites, and in order to make a new product commercially viable, it has to be "dumbed-down" t a level that the luddites will accept.

God help us all.