RS aero

Come on Dan that's not a fair statement. You in a boat you have designed and sailed for 5+ years against someone in the boat for the 3rd time, albeit similar ability. Racing was boat on boat and he also got past you a number of times. I can absolutely testify that an aero 9 in flat water and a decent clean corridor of breeze can be made to plane 'upwind' because I have done it on a couple of occasions. I have no idea if the 7 or 5 can do the same trick. I still believe its 'upwind' planing is far enough off upwind to be a good deal slower than pointing properly on a VMG basis, but as said elsewhere, it's still quite a neat trick for a small boat without racks. If you say your boat planes on the same basis, I would not doubt it. As said repeatedly, these boats will end up with very similar PY's and will have edge over each other in different conditions and angles.

No one really cares, they are both great boats and I would have either boat over the current clutch of boats, dependent on location provided a fleet could be established because they are both a step forward in design and construction. The boats are different enough in other areas to give people a nice choice, but boat on boat performance is now almost irrelevant as they are so close, I guess within 10 points of each other. I think a far more interesting discussion us to understand what drove your and Jo's hull shapes which then end up with similar performance.

That's said a 60 boat solo fleet at HISC would sway me, but I would have to wear a fake beard and sunnies!!