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Daniel Holman View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 17 Nov 08
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Posts: 997 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Daniel Holman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: D-Zero
    Posted: 23 Nov 14 at 3:56pm
Yep its tough to be all things to all men, and 6'6" is starting to get close to the extreme of the bell curve!
Knuckle pressed in upwind sounds fine - won't be any flare immersed unless there is a lot of heel. Right up to front of cockpit is spot on.
My 110kg mate pinched me out upwind in 12 - 15kts! He enjoyed his sail - its fine with weight from a flotation perspective.
I annihilated him downwind though! Smile
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rb_stretch View Drop Down
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Really should get out more


Joined: 23 Aug 10
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Posts: 742 		Post Options Post Options   Quote rb_stretch Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 14 at 3:51pm
Hi Dan, I can imagine the boom becoming less of a problem, certainly as it gets windier. In very light winds any shift backwards to get round the mainsheet dipped the stern, hence why I was getting caught in the block trying to stay forward.

On the toestraps that sounds like a viable solution. I simply had the single strap on my shins, which seemed to work, unlike a Laser. Must be down to the superior ergonomics - I was very comfortable.

90kg was a bit of a guess. What I noticed was that with my weight the bow was immersed quite a lot, meaning a lot of the flare gets immersed as well. I would be sitting pretty much with my feet just behind the mainsheet tower, just before the straps start proper, to give a nice clean wake.

Anyway all of this does not take away the fact you have designed a very nice boat. I'm just have to accept that there aren't many dinghes that stretch to us larger folk.
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Daniel Holman View Drop Down
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Posts: 997 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Daniel Holman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 14 at 3:16pm
Hi - my previous go by for size was a pal at 110kg on a skinny day and 6'5" - he was fun with boom height which I suspect is a technique type thing.
He wanted shorter legs for the hiking - now the rules are pretty open re toestraps. There are terminations p&s for the single strap - this was intended to improve the ergonomics of the single strap esp at the front end, but there is no reason why you couldn't have 2 straps p&s, meaning you use the leeward one which probably has the effect of taking 2 or 3" off your inside leg measurement.
I would wager that the boat takes 90 comfortably competitively over the wind range, and perhaps a little more.
Dan
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rb_stretch View Drop Down
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Really should get out more


Joined: 23 Aug 10
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Posts: 742 		Post Options Post Options   Quote rb_stretch Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 14 at 1:23pm
Had another go in slightly more wind this morning and even managed to hike a bit. The surprise was that it wasn't too small to hike and was in fact very comfortable. In a bit more breeze I could stay further back to tack which meant the boom was less of a problem (no block there).

Being able to hike I could see how low the nose was in water going upwind. Reckon 90kg would be the max to be competitive. If it wasn't for me being too big (size and weight wise ) I would seriously think about one.
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rb_stretch View Drop Down
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Really should get out more


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Posts: 742 		Post Options Post Options   Quote rb_stretch Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Nov 14 at 9:17pm
Not enough wind for hiking, but I suspect that is the second area where I will struggle. Unfortunately when you are tall you need some width to be able to hike without falling out of the boat, unless of course you have Olympian fitness legs. 
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Null View Drop Down
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Really should get out more


Joined: 11 May 14
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Posts: 745 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Null Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Nov 14 at 7:13pm
Ha ha! Bigger then your average bear then! That's one of the things I like.  No real kneeling, it's a very comfy boat to hike from as well, but then I guess it has been designed with those kind of limitations in mind.

Glad you liked it stretch. Sorry there wasn't more wind for you! The perils of our sport I guess 
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rb_stretch View Drop Down
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Really should get out more


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Posts: 742 		Post Options Post Options   Quote rb_stretch Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Nov 14 at 7:07pm
Yes 6'6" and 97kg so a little above average  Smile

What I did like was that fact that the side tanks were not far off the centre which meant you could still perch on them in light winds. On a Phantom you would be on your knees cause the tanks are a fair bit off the centre.
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Null View Drop Down
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Really should get out more


Joined: 11 May 14
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Posts: 745 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Null Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Nov 14 at 5:29pm
I seem to remeber reading Stretch was well over 6ft!!!!  I am 5'9 and have absolutely no problem with boom height!
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Thunder Road View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 24 Jun 10
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 372 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Thunder Road Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Nov 14 at 4:34pm
Originally posted by rb_stretch

I had my first go in a D-Zero last weekend, unfortunately only light winds. Very nice feel to the boat, very easily driven low drag hull and could just about carry my weight. Big downside for me was bugger all space under the boom, with the main sheet block getting caught on my BA on every tack. The only technique that I could get to work was to take the sheet straight off the boom and hold it well forward by the kicker, so that I could virtually lie down to then get under the boom. Not graceful, but at least I could avoid getting caught in the main sheet block and not sinking the stern.

Bit like airline seats, they work up to a certain size and beyond that become impossible.

Otherwise I liked it.

I am 6ft. and 100kg., I am ok with the boom height, are you much larger, I lack agility due age and a long rugby career Wink ?
Finn GBR16 Thunder Road.
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Guests View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Nov 14 at 10:34am
Stretch
Was it one of the original demo boats? If so, the boom is lower than on the production ones. I think by a few cms but not sure. The style of PFD can make a big difference. My old one used to catch on booms quite a lot, but I now use a zhik one and have no problems, I think Gill also do a good one albeit you look like you are in a superhero costume ...

In an unstayed boat like that you must release the mainsheet through the tack, so the mast goes upright and the boom then clears. On the d-one and finn they are sailed with the boom almost touching the wings and deck respectively, but release the main, mast straightens and you can get under the boom easily.  
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