RS aero

Only the Icon seems to get anywhere near that from my own recent experience.

The Tasar is a nice boat to sail and is undoubtedly quick but not Fireball quick (IMO).

I would take it as a compliment, essentially no one is questioning the Blaze's ability to show you its heels upwind in a decent breeze.  It is the obvious reference point from the POV of a singlehanded hiking boat and upwind planing.   I certainly don't recall anyone claiming the RS300 planes upwind...  even in big breeze.

When another manufacturer launches a product will similar claims, and, on here at least, we're talking VMG optimised planing to a windward mark, e.g. a 420/470 in F4-5, barber-haul the jib, knock off a few degrees and get planing, not reaching around like a windyplanker sailing a cross-off beach keeping 'upwind' a bit.... some folks on this forum are going to question it.  

It's a bold claim... 'upwind planing'.  As a potential owner of a D-Zero, I would never anticipate it would 'plane upwind' as I understand it.  I would also expect to out-sailed by a Blaze over the water- especially in any wind worth considering.  I also note that neither Dan nor Rodney have not made such a claim either- less hype, more reality check maybe.  Alternatively we're just talking different markets, as sailboat racer I'd concern myself over VMG and weather marks.... as an RS Aero beach sailor, I just want to stay upwind enough to get back to my trolley without tacking.  (Assuming of course if I've needed one after carrying it from the carpark, one handed...)

With Go Pros and Youtube being such an inexpensive option, I'm really surprised not to see any evidence to support this upwind planing claim from RS... yet.  In the videos I've seen it seems to bash away like any other small sailboat.    Even Martin W's questioned it on SA if anyone cares the thread dredge over there.  But here it is again, under discussion, questions raised with correlating eyebrows.  'It's advertising' according to Blue One, no it's false advertising if it's a load of b**locks mate.

It probably is fair to say that it is a real handicap to a start up class if the PY is too optimistic, I am pretty sure that it doomed the Tasar start up, because nobody could accept that a non-trap non-spi boat was ever going to sail as fast as a Fireball, even iif on occassion it could.

We'd be delighted to have you come to the Medway Regatta on 18 & 19th July 2015.  Six Blazes will mean class prizes within the Medium Handicap, 12 Blazes get their own start  

There, that's this thread well and truly hijacked.

I was only referring to the Blaze, Mike, in response to Simon's comment:

But yes, the WSC is a bit of a Blaze hot spot at present.  We have six who are pretty regular, about to be joined by another, plus three occasionals.  We'd like to see them become a fleet and get their own start, but for the moment they prefer to stay in the Medium Fleet which they dominate if neither of our hot Mk4 Wayfarers is out (in which case they rend their garments in frustration over the Wayfarer PY!)