D-Zero

Originally posted by kneewrecker about 200,000 others to race against around the globe.... that is, and always will be, the achilles heel of any boat in this market space.

I kind of agree with that, its why I bought a Laser when I returned to the sport in 2012. There is a but, though! At GWSC we're finding that folk who wont touch a Laser with a barge pole, or previously owned one couldn't tolerate it and got into something else entirely different, are moving into the D-Zero as they really want a simple single hander. If we can keep up the momentum so far the size of the D-Zero fleet could be significantly larger than the Laser fleet ever was due the points summarised above by Medway Maniac. To get there though we will likely need a used market with a price point to suit a broader range of pockets so its going to take a little time.

So, compared to the Laser, the D-Zero is:

Dear All,

The Ovington Inlands were held at Grafham last weekend, on Sunday The Phantoms had the pleasure of racing off the same start as the D-Zero fleet, In race 1 we started with very little (none) breeze and the greater sail area & waterline length of the phantom appeared slightly faster. The second race started in a little more wind 4-7 mph a couple of the D-zero sailors shot off the start-line and held the lead on the water at times. This was helped as the course was nearly a perfect square, giving a good length run (the Phantoms hate running as the shrouds prevent the boom getting square) whereas the unstayed rig on the D-zero allows running by the lee etc. Therefore if you assume the leading Phantoms are at least sailing to handicap (1002-1008 depending on whom you believe) then the leading D-zero will be sailing to a handicap of <1010. There is another point that few are bringing up… The Phantom handicap didn’t start at 1002 we moved over a great number of years from around 1050, some of that is due to modern materials but a percentage is due to improved techniques and rig set up. I know the phantom is partially a development class and the D-Zero is a one design, but so is / was the laser and the good guys in the laser just kept on getting faster & faster (ok I accept they became professional, but the kit is essentially the same). Most of you guys have had your boats a few weeks, trust me, the fleet will be going even faster in a year’s time when you work out how to set the thing up properly. But please stop complaining about a handicap of 1050, its going to be much faster than that.

Regards

The Rat Man

Originally posted by Null It's the traveller line Rupert.  It's important to keep it tight, bar tight. But as you tension you can move the traveler turn ring which means your traveller is longer one tack then the other.  So rule of thumb is tension and centre

So you have a traveller but don't use it? Or do you drop it down when it blows, but have to centre it in the light stuff?

Disappointed now, partly because travellers are banned in the Lightning, but also because I was hoping it was some special piece of kit unique to the 0.

It's the traveller line Rupert.  It's important to keep it tight, bar tight. But as you tension you can move the traveler turn ring which means your traveller is longer one tack then the other.  So rule of thumb is tension and centre