Multi-rig racing

I'm delighted that you're enjoying your boat Washy, and the *eros will hopefully persuade some lapsed Laser sailors back on to the water, but don't forget that there's plenty of us that have no interest in them.

Your post also reads as if carbon fibre has only just been used for boats, whereas I14s, Moths, Cherubs, Finns, Europes and countless other "things designed four decades ago" or more have been using "exotic materials" for what, 2 decades? On that subject, I can think of very few classes of boats that are still as they were 40 years ago (aside from the obvious SMODS). Even my '97 Finn is a world away from a mid-80's boat...

Perhaps your non-sailing mates are paying more attention because of your obvious enthusiasm for your class, rather than the boat itself? Is this boat going to make them take up sailing? If so, I'd suggest they wouldn't stick with the boat long, as these are *sweeping generalisation alert* people that will spend a fortune on a new set of Mavics or a new groupset that is 15g lighter, whilst ignoring the 3Kg of gut and lovehandles that they're carrying around. They won't be able to pimp, love and fettle their SMOD so will soon lose interest, either dropping out of the sport or moving class to one that allows them to personalise and optimise, the way they do with their bikes.

The *eros are great, but they're not the answer to life, the universe and everything (42). I'm looking forward to racing against them in my Finn on handicap (and we shouldn't be that far apart on the racecourse - how much difference with over 70 years between the designs?) as the more the more the merrier on the water.

Edited by Bootscooter - 14 Mar 15 at 9:22pm

I think it requires a stubborn git mentality to refuse to consider a laser again..... No way I'd borrow the club laser, just think what would happen if I liked it?!????!!!??

Originally posted by jeffers There are many more that would change to the Zero too if they could get a boat within their budget. Most dinghy sailors I know prefer to pay outright for their boat rather than have it on finance.

Here's a thought... at Draycote the Laser fleet has grown a lot over the last 5 or so years.  It's clearly the most active fleet, and I can't help but wonder if all the Aero and Zero talk might end up just being 'Emperor's New Clothes'.

There do appear to be several threads running through this - one is whether 2 entries to a series count for one series result or 2, and I think the answer "its up to the club" kind of covers most of the viewpoints.

The other, in some ways more interesting part is that of single class racing with multiple rigs, which is where Chris249 has experience and a strong viewpoint. Given what happened to the 18 footers back in the 80s, and the vast cost reduction programme they had to go to to keep things viable, I can see what the problems are. But a small singlehander with a choice of rigs wouldn't cost the earth, and might producesome great racing. The Aero really isn't the boat to do it with, though, is it? The concept was to keep the thing as simple as possible.

A hydrofoiling class where you could swap rigs would make a lot of sense. Wind drops below what you can foil with a certain size rig, bung a bigger one on. And there would be real advantages to a smaller rig when the wind got up, as it would actually pay, rather than hanging on to the rig upwind for the extra speed down. Next step for the Moths?