2018-19 PNs

(the Blaze) ....  but it was not a quick tacking boat so was hard to sail to potential on a shifty gravel pit.

I can't really agree....The boat really is easy enough to sail, surprisingly so for many newbies.  However you cannot simply use the same sailing style as works in say a Laser and expect to win much, if anything, within the class or on handicap.  The class has few similar classes to be compared with ....  The critical last 1-2% of performance comes with a lot of practice and adaption of basic techniques, particularly the basic transitions of tacking and gybing.  If you try and bully it around a tight course such as modest small gravel pit ones, a la Laser,  it will very soon find you out !  Always always always look very carefully at what the faster helms are doing, where they sit and so on and if you can attend class training events.   No substitute exists to attending the training events and class opens imo if you are 'new'.  Subtle changes in approach can and do make massive differences.... particularly so with the Blaze.

and there are many other classes where exactly the same approach applies.  Instant success rarely comes with a switch of class ...

Originally posted by Sam.Spoons My mate has had considerable success racing a Supernova at the club. 'Cos of a knee injury he swapped it for a Blaze last autumn. Since then he has not managed better than 10th. I know there's an element of learning the boat but he has a recent (and fully refurbished by Hartleys) Mk3 Blaze with a carbon stick and new sail, set up to the same numbers as the top guys. I find it hard to believe the setup makes that much difference and his pedigree suggests he should be doing better. I suspect the reason is that Blaze likes to stretch it's legs and small lakes are not it's natural habitat.

Originally posted by 423zero Topper 11 points, that's 11 points for Minisail at my club, Sprint will run away with races in a decent wind.

Are you really using the Topper number, or just linked to it? 1225 seems to be getting me similar results to the Lightning on 1170, with slightly different wind strengths for success. Topper on 2017 numbers in a blow I've been winning by a couple of minutes in a 50 minute race. Light winds, the lard gets in the way, as do creaky legs, but if I was 15 again with decent skills and tactics, it would be a real bandit. Add 2 feet and 2 sqm of sail, plus a seat and I might start thinking like a Phantom sailor 5 years ago - sailing god!

Originally posted by 423zero Topper 11 points, that's 11 points for Minisail at my club, Sprint will run away with races in a decent wind.

Topper 11 points, that's 11 points for Minisail at my club, Sprint will run away with races in a decent wind.