RS aero

Originally posted by Old Timer Originally posted by SimonW99 I can absolutely testify that an aero 9 in flat water and a decent clean corridor of breeze can be made to plane 'upwind' because I have done it on a couple of occasions. I have no idea ... I suspect what you experienced wasn't planing upwind but more a nice turn of speed "upwind" i.e. a fetch  ... the physics of this design would not support that unless you are some super human specimen who is very very very tall and can hike like a loon ...

Those the Gods wish to destroy ... they made mad first !

Seriously both *ero's look to be fine and all the sniping,' tub-thumping' and 'bull' on here and on other forums ain't going to make a jot of difference as to which one prevails in the longer term.  Both sets of owners and would-be owners might find it very interesting to review current contributions on threads and comments like this in say a couple of years.... 'eye of the beholder' stuff surely ?

In the meantime since many seemingly find the Blaze irresistible as some sort of  benchmark (why?- It is VERY different in so many ways) I, with my own obvious preference, might humbly suggest you also try or revisit  the Blaze .. or Fire .. or Halo.  Not necessarily 'better' at all whatever that is, just different.  

Whatever you sail ...or want to ..... just enjoy it and don't fret too much when others get satisfaction with something different.  Be pleased you have a choice - Jeffers take on this is about right in my book.

Mike L.

Of course it's worth celebrating. Even more so as the performance improvement is so big. What would not be worth celebrating would be factually incorrect statements about a dinghy design supported by the manufacturer on a forum concerned with with dinghy development. Not that we have necessarily have that, but you suggested we did.

Originally posted by Daniel Holman The blaze is over a metre wider than the aero. A Smith and Wesson generally beats two aces. Even that leverage would struggle to make 12kts (planing) with true wind fwd of Mid ships. As mentioned elsewhere, I overtook a 9 on a close reach in a f4 and I was definitely not planing.

Edited by SimonW99 - 31 Oct 14 at 9:24am

Re reading the article, it is a quiote by an enthusiastic Chelmarsh member after a trial sail in an article written by Chelmarsh SC. Not to be taken as gospel, I'd say. But if that is the amount of enthusiasm being shown by lots of club members for a new boat - so much so they have an instant fleet - then I'd say both boat and club are going to do well.