Multi-rig racing

Originally posted by rb_stretch Assuming we let there be a free for all on rig swapping and let's fast forward a few years. The Aero 5 and 7 rig have handicaps that are very close to the 9 rig because they only get used on strong wind days. As Jeremyc points out they are faster than the full rig in strong wind days so this isn't just a theoretical thing. Anyone who buys an Aero 7 will then find that they are completely uncompetitive with just a 7 rig and can't sail to the handicap. Their only choice is to invest in a quiver of sails to sail to their PY, but they don't have the money to do that, get disillusioned with the supposedly cheap and simple sailing and give up.... Similarly 90kg sailor buys a Aero 9, but finds that nearly everyone else sailing the 9 is far lighter and quicker in up to force 3 and can seemingly sail to the Aero 9 handicap it now has. When it gets to force 4 they change down, but Aero 9 sailor can still only just keep up. At no point does the Aero 9 sailor seem to be competitive....ditto above.

Exactly....

Edited by Jeremyc - 06 Mar 15 at 7:29pm

 Craiggo. Certainly for smaller clubs and turnouts anyway. I guess if you are fielding big fleets there is a case to be made for pedantry.

If you change rig, then you change class. The fire rig is used at our club and in wind it is faster than the standard rig on the water and every time it has been honking it has beaten full rig blazes without handicap adjustment. Admittedly, in light stuff it struggles same as any smaller rig, but how do you set the py for it or any other small rig from any class. I once came second sailing a 4.7 in a blow, beating all other lasers across the water, and trust me, I am not 4.7 sized, but it was only rig available at the time for me to use. If they only get taken out when windy then py should be lower than full rig . I daresay that if I did the same with my d zero, then I would also be faster than the full rig when its honking. Trouble is we all want to sail in all conditions, but it is banditry to put up a small rig when it is honking.
Of course I have no idea what the answer is as we all want to enjoy our sailing in whatever conditions, and not being slammed about on the full rig of whatever class we sail as we get older holds many an attraction.....

To be fair, there is one fire rig owner who is using the rig in every afternoon race whatever the conditions to try to build handicap info and I have huge respect for this, but it does not change the fact that any two rig owner of any class who only changes down in the windy stuff is playing the system , though bet they have a nicer sail than those who are over canvassed.

:-)

Edited by Jeremyc - 07 Mar 15 at 7:45am

So how do you deal with people who reef?

I'm firmly in the sail what you want and score it on helm, but then we don't really have a noticeable fleet of anything. I think club racing needs to be made as attractive as possible.

Originally posted by Rupert I was more thinking that you could swap rigs for the weather, even 1/2 way through. I guess the trouble is that unlike 3 guys on a skiff, the weight differences in an Aero are too big compared to the boat for it not to dominate who does well.Not for normal opens, just for sh*t and giggles and a bottle of something.