Multi-rig racing

Such a shame that innovation is sometimes seen as a problem, how much fresher and cleaner the air would feel if it could be embraced as an enabling step forward.

 

It's a pretty ancient "innovation".  The very first popular racing centreboarder, the Canoes of the 19th century, ended up with multiple rigs, and according to contemporary sources the expense and hassle of such rigs was one of the things that killed the sailing canoe as a popular type.  Skiffs, of course, have used multiple rigs since the 1800s, as have Raceboard and Slalom windsurfers which were once probably the most popular racing classes ever seen in the sport of sailing..... and like the other multiple rig classes they are now much less popular partly because of the hassle and expense involved.

 

 

 

The innovation I was referring to is more specifically the two new XXros in making lightweight hulls accessible to mainstream sailors that seem to perform happily under a range of rigs and crew weights 

 

For example, a skilled 75kg Laser sailor may be (at a wild guess) 90 seconds faster on the water if they swap from full rig to Radial in winds over 20 knots.  If (at another wild guess) you get sustained 20 knots every fifth race in a fairly windy location where you normally do 60 minute races, the "multi rig" Laser yardstick should drop to 1080. So Richie Rich gets to swap to a Radial when he wants, and Joe Poor gets an 18 second advantage in the majority of races when they are both using big rigs.

 

Of course, one can understand the point of view of those who say "don't worry about being fair, make it fun" - as long as everyone gets similar concessions. For example, boats that aren't fun to tack should get right of way. Boats that don't have spinnakers or traps should be allowed to use them without handicap adjustment.  People who don't think it's fun to beat all the way to the windward mark should be allowed to cut the race short.....Oh, brave new world, that has such rules in it.