RS aero

And will almost never work on a small lake as there will be far too many lifts that the people pointing higher will pick up and tack onwhile the others plane off into oblivion.

At least the Blaze really does have wings, so you needn't worry about being taken to sued!

It has always been said that Tasar would plane upwind. On the cards it should, efficient rig, very light wide boat, but we never saw it lake sailing. For us pointing is always king and there is no way of achieving it unless you crack off a few points and miss the mark.

What will really matter once the boats start to race in big fleets is VMG - if you only have to crack off a few degrees to go much faster and get to the mark sooner when it is blowing, then the boat can be said to plane upwind. If you have to crack off onto a fine reach and end up well behind at the top mark, then really it can't be said to do so.

Which doesn't mean it wouldn't be fun when either you aren't racing or you've over stood the mark!

Originally posted by Null I guess ignoring the sniping for one moment.  It all depends entirely how you define upwind and planing.   By some of the examples used above where people talk about freeing off, means that you are reducing your VMG and as such moving closer and closer to a fine reach.  So actually planing upwind can be a very, very broad description.  I certainly wouldnt consider any footing off upwind 'Planing' as even remotely similar to what goes on with high performance boats such as fireballs 505, international 14's.   Should be a good thread in its own right. Away from all the sh*t flinging.