HALO (and 'Fire') ....

Like a D One but without the kite? · Originally posted by Medway Maniac

Hi Rupert

We made a classic mistake by going for a different mast (longer) for the
original Halo sail - We sold approx 30 of them and then sales dropped to a
trickle.  For the vast majority it was too expensive with the requirement
for a second mast and it is always a hassle to store the 'other' one somewhere
- and when you wanted to switch the ‘other’ mast was inevitably at home or
'back at the club' etc.  We also hated the idea of a mast extender
for  host of other reasons .....  

In hindsight the original decision looked plain stupid so we did something
about it.  The new objective  was
for 'sail only' switching.   This also allows a lot of new people into the
class very economically as all that is needed is to find an existing hull and add either the ‘large’
or ‘small’ sail.  This makes a lot more
sense as we are looking to attract more from groups that would otherwise find
the Blaze rig ‘too much’ or ‘too little’  

We worked on the Fire and Halo2 sails in background for over a year ... because
as you suggest it is more demanding when you  deal with a range and 'fix'
the spar element.  Fire was however comparatively quick and simple to
achieve but Halo2 must have gone through about 10+ iterations, battening
changes (more/less/short/long/full width)  and re-cuts (anyway we lost
count !).  The only rig change across the range required is to switch the
mast rake for Halo2 ... it is simply set more upright and takes no more than 5
minutes.  Fire and Blaze switching does not even require this.

Drop into Burghfield again some time and have a go yourself – if it
is breezy .. or if it light- it does not matter.  

Mike L.