RS aero

Hi! I am in!
 
Well done to Chunky for setting up a lovely forum, thanks.
 
I did Barts Bash on Sunday after the Battle of the Classes race in
1003. Great days sailing with some full on planing in the spiky gusts. That was just my 3rd time out and I spent most of the first race trying to work out the best sail settings. My main challenge there seemed how much kicker to use.
 
In the Bash I got away on the shifty/fluky first beat and actually finished 4th on the water behind Osprey/505/RS300. Cant draw too many conclusions from that considering the patchy conditions (offshore wind under cruse ship and boat show) but I did find the Aero9 very agile, being able to throw a couple of scramblie roll tacks as the wind went crazy underneath the cruise ship. 

Now, I don't know if my memory is playing tricks on me, but I did think I saw Mr Holman beating this RS Aero in the results, and given they both started at the same time, surely this would have put the D-Zero ahead of the Aero across the water....???  

pretty much my opinion on it- except I don't have a D-Zero yet.

Graeme i have to admit i did think that, but actually i think you are just disillusioned with dinghy sailing as a whole.  We all get like that from time to time.  Sometimes i find its best to have a break.  I'm not sure you want or need advice from a bloke nearly half your age.  But im going to give it anyway.  I was told by one of the countries top sailors that sailing is all about compromise.  From sail cuts to hull shapes things need to work across a multitude of conditions, waters, sailing types etc.  There is NO perfect boat for every situation.  much like there is not a perfect mountain bike (as i found out as my collection grows) The secret is to find a boat that best fits you, and where you sail/type of sailing you do most.  Then stick at it and it will come!  To my mind you should be sailing a streaker or dare i say it a D-Zero.  The PY is kind of irrelevant, the system will catch up and give you a benchmark to improve upon.  You have a huge amount of tactical experience, so sticking with one class and learning yourself and from others about how the boat should work and you could be a great dinghy sailor.  All i see you do at the moment is swap and moan, because you have either allowed yourself to be sold or bought yourself into the wrong boat.  i spent so many years chasing what i thought was what i wanted from sailing.  it wasn't, it just slowly eroded my love for a great sport.  I hope sailing the Graduate and the D-Zero rekindles the spark.  It looks set to.  if it doesn't then it maybe time for me to hangup the hikers for a few more years.

Perhaps it is a bit soon, but the Gurnard guys will have to keep us going for now.