MK 4 OSPREY

ok, maybe you are right, i admit the osprey sailers a kielder are very good, and come to think of it, the design of the boat does suit the conditions that we experiance up here a little better than the skiffs (not blaming weather on our losses here - just an observation. ). I am looking forward to seeing them out on the water though.

Originally posted by redback his feet were easily over half a metre from the gunwhale of his boat - giving him catamaran like righting forces - way more than could be achieved with a trapeze.

Sounds a bit like what would happen if you trapezed of a wing ... except you are not as mobile.

Rick

And you can sit in the halfway position without wrecking your knees, leaving your arm more energy to gesiculate at the trap boats you pass.

Here we go chaps.  A new Mk4 Osprey on the water (5th Feb)  Lucky old Ken that's all I can say    Coutesy of  Ken Carroll (owner) and Will Odling (happy snapper).

Originally posted by Guest#260 Originally posted by redback his feet were easily over half a metre from the gunwhale of his boat - giving him catamaran like righting forces - way more than could be achieved with a trapeze.  Sounds a bit like what would happen if you trapezed of a wing ... except you are not as mobile. Rick

There's a twin-plank class called the Skate in Australia that tried to allow traps and racks. They set the rack width so the centre of gravity was theoretically in the same place on the trap and rack boat as it was on the plank boat (where the skipper has a short plank and the forward hand has a 10 footer).

Apparently the rack and trap boats were uncompetitive until the width was increased once more. I assume the reason is the drag of the lower rack and the fact that the weight of the plank adds weight on the right side of the boat. That's the reason the guy who owns the fastest small course-racing sailboat (C Class Cogito) is also a fan of planks.

They're not necessarily better than wires, but they certainly have their advantages.