X1 Dinghy

Originally posted by G.R.F. I'm not sure the sail plan and narrowness of the hull will take well to the more gusty stuff you get on Rivers like the Thames (yes I've also sailed the Thames thanks) where the buildings produce some nasty viscious 'tumbling' gusts, but I still hope it's successful even though they have been in my mind a tad silly. Theoretically one should applaud an honest approach, but the term 'commercially naive' so often becomes the epitaph to idealistic ventures.

man slightly upset that two-hander is not a single hander. World unrocked.

As far as single/twin poles go- why not make it something that can be chosen by owners to suit- as you say, there are Merlin sailors that stick to single pole. If it it really is something with no clear performance benifit either way, then don't be prescriptive?

Especially the twin Spiro version used on 5o5's now, they look really simple and quick to use.  We will be switching in a few months.

Originally posted by ChrisI Appreciate the comments re twin poles. With any one-design, the issue is always how strict to be, and I think we'll decide this one by the time of the Dinghy Show

Ultimately won't that be up to your Class Association once you have one, unless you intend to be very prescriptive and keep a firm power of veto over rule changes?

Good though the Merlin system might be to use, my observation of seeing it, especially off the water, is that it must add something in the order of 300 quid to the price of the boat, and appears to be a son-of-a-bitch to set up and rig/derig from travelling. In that respect there's an awful lot to be said for a single pole/keyhole system that you don't need a detailed instruction manual to understand.

Comments via rig height beam etc: I would have thought that a high aspect ratio/tall rig and narrow beam was the right way to go in gusty inland conditions, because a narrow boat won't self steer as dramatically when heeling suddenly, and a taller rig is easier to design for gust response.