Megabyte handicap

'xactly so Rupert.

As for trial numbers, a paper exercise to give a useful starting point is probably to make a list of reasonably similar classes in order of handicap number and seeing where you think the chosen craft is likely to fit in. That will probably get you in the right area until you have some race results.

Sail areas are one of those things that get pushed around the forum ...  The Blaze / Phantom areas have been compared in the past and some indeed do think the Blaze sail is larger than the Phantom.

I'd be very happy to have the same area as a Phantom on my Blaze  .... Why you ask ?   Should not be a surprise really as the TOTAL SURFACE AREAS are in reality as follows:

Phantom - 11.07m or 11.08m    (Source - North One Design)
Blaze - 10.42m         (Source - North One Design)

I make that giving the Phantom a  2/3 rds of a metre advantage.   (and if you want to know the total surface area of the Halo rig it is 11.73m  ... about 2/3rds of a metre larger than the Phantom - not surprising as we designed it that way). 

Anyway as I said before I like both and have raced both classes.  I am in no way 'Phantom bashing' here and I think they are getting a particularly rough ride on the PN's as well.   We seem to be sharing more and more meetings and of course there may be a bit or rivalry but banter is always good natured.   

However I prefer the one I'm associated with but mainly because after a couple of mis-spend decades racing boards (when more yoofful) I prefer the one that is if anything more optimised towards higher winds and waves.

Mike L.

In fairness Jim, I think the accusations about manufacturers playing to the advantages of the PY system is coming from an isolated corner of Kent with a malevolent shore-dump; pertains to old classes getting the 'lipstick treatment' rather than new classes per say and above all, neglects the concept that anyone tarting up an older design really has his mind set on cleaning up on the class circuit, where folks actually spend money on competitive advantage, not the handicap racing every other summer Tuesday night at the Royston Vasey Sailboat Club.

Edited by pondmonkey - 11 Mar 13 at 5:10pm

Originally posted by pondmonkey .... But outside of that, how does a manufacturer recommend a number... simple, don't do it, I wouldn't, not without a bit of paper with an RYA logo endorsing your assessment.

Why on earth would anyone buy a boat that the manufacturer had not tested and developed enough to have a pretty good idea of how fast it is?

Which is of course not the same thing as knowing how the spreadsheet botherers will treat it.

Originally posted by Wetabix Well that would explain quite a lot. Why is the Phantom's sail area always quoted as 9.8  I wonder? The Megabyte has 9.2 which is a whole 1.2 sq m less than a Blaze - say 30 or 40 on the PY, given the lack of racks. 1074 looks a bit generous but not  unreasonable. George Morris Weta 117

It's not just about sail area though - the megabyte is a fair bit heavier than the Blaze and the Phantom, which does make it slower.  It's also an unstayed mast with quite a flexible rig, in my mind this means its not always easy to keep power in the rig, but I am quite possibly wrong on this.