The RS100 Owners Thread

Originally posted by RS400atC In some ways, free choice of rig size was a USP for the class, to change that after people have bought their boats is a drawback of joining a new class where the rules are not well defined.

no point splitting the Blaze fleet yet... not until they sort out their supplier issues and can masts to the folks who've ordered them.  Good job Graeme's not sailing them still... it would be Praestalor the Second!

It's only a proposal chaps, primarily trying to address the scoring in a mixed fleet - a conundrum with no right answer. Personally, I don't think the wording is quite right (it ignores the 7.2 sail for one thing) - i am canvassing that it goes back for redrafting.

Hi Ruscoe

A bit of background info might help understand what was decided ... The Blaze class has debated at AGMs and internally for well over a decade on the adoption or not of carbon masts.  It was not a new issue at all - after all if the boat had been launched any later than 1996 it would alsmost certainly have had them from day one - like virtually everything that came after it.  Also the carbon boom was adopted over a decade ago etc etc very successfully.  We are if anything a one-design that allows careful change in the long term....

A spinnaker would never have got a 'yes' vote ... ever !  and had never seriously been considered. (and you have plenty of choice out there already for that style of racing)   A change in mast material did go through ... but after only after over 10 years of debate.  The class went 'late' but benefits now from all the obvious and less obvious lessons learnt from earlier 'switchers'. 

The AGM vote in 2012 took us as builders by surprise as well.  However this was not passed on a miserable turnout at the AGM by a small majority - it was an overwhelming 'Yes' both at the well attended AGM meeting and via the large postal vote.   We expected it to be deferred for yet another 3 years frankly.

I'm was in favour for the long term myself but commercially and in the short term was happy enough to keep to alloy.  Sure carbon masts was always likely to  be difficult in the short term as such votes are unlikely ever to get a 100% vote .... just like for for anything else.  However the carbon mast is 'one-design' and is also attracting more than a few 'newbies' to the class. ... ones who would not have ever considered a Blaze with our histororic 'scaffold pole' M7 .. (effectively a stiff Fireball / 470 section with characteristics to match)   It opens up the already excellent high wind potential of the Blaze to more of the fleet for more of the time.

We fully understand and appreciate the views of those who did not want to adopt the carbon option.   Their views are also logical and as strongly held as those who voted 'yes'  ..   but we cannot ignore a clear majority, particularly an overwhelming one.

Mike Lyons (Cirrus)

PS - AS builders we can see that there will be an increasing number of redundant Blaze M7's in the seasons to come - so we have decided to develop a new use them in a new  format ... HALO the big rig version of the Blaze will continue to use alloy for a further 5+ years at least (as long as they want but for at least this time period) .    The M7's in this format can be set more upright (like the current Halo mast)  and will carry a  redesigned Halo sail... The exact sail area is subject to 'proving' later this year (but like the current Halo rig will be approx 10-12% larger than the Blaze) ...             


 

Mike,