Solo techniques.

David have you ever used a cumulus? 
I ask as I thought exactly the same as you, I had a new winder 2, D+ etc etc and sold it as its was second boat and replaced it with a much older mk1 which i've restored from a bit of a wreck. If anything I think the  2000AD Mk1/Cumulus/Milanes foils is faster. Its feels much, much smoother. And I wasn't slow in the mk2.

Edited by Paramedic - 10 Jul 20 at 9:27pm

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Paramedic Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 929	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paramedic Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Solo techniques. Posted: 10 Jul 20 at 9:26pm
	David have you ever used a cumulus? I ask as I thought exactly the same as you, I had a new winder 2, D+ etc etc and sold it as its was second boat and replaced it with a much older mk1 which i've restored from a bit of a wreck. If anything I think the 2000AD Mk1/Cumulus/Milanes foils is faster. Its feels much, much smoother. And I wasn't slow in the mk2. Edited by Paramedic - 10 Jul 20 at 9:27pm

davidyacht Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1345	Post Options Post Reply Quote davidyacht Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jul 20 at 7:32am
	Yes, had two Winder 1 Solos with Cumulus (side weld) and Milanes board, and a selection of North SM8 and Hunt sails. Bearing in mind we are discussing pretty small differences in a one design class, here are some thoughts. I now sail a Winder 2, I think it is marginally easier to sail than a Winder 1. With more rocker it is easier to tack. The Winder 1 seems to plane marginally earlier. The Cumulus is probably as good if not better than the D+ rig in F0 - F3. It is stiffer and is good for heavyweights. The set up is quite different as it doesn’t respond to sailing with the traveller down in the same way as the D+ rig, so one tends to sail with a bit more twist. My reservation about the Cumulus is that because it is so stiff fore and aft I reached a point (I am 83kg) where it seemed impossible to de power and it had poor gust response. Also the side weld Cumulus required a different cut sail, then to go this route is to carve a lonely furrow. However if you are heavier, and sail on sheltered flat water the Cumulus might have more going for it in my opinion. I have no idea how the more recent front taper Cumulus masts perform.
	Happily living in the past

Paramedic Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 929	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paramedic Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jul 20 at 8:30am
	Interesting........... Mine is a side tapered mast, possibly original to the boat. I'm a bit heavier (certainly post lockdown!), and I am sailing on sheltered flat water. I put a lot of the different "feel" of the boat down to the board. The other thing that stuck enemy mind was that a "stiff" cumulus is almost as stiff as an Alto according to some GP and Fireball sailors so I wondered if a "soft" one might be about the same as a D+, though on paper the numbers are the same. Downgrading the boat was a real sticking point and I wasn't keen on doing it, but apart from the smoother feel I haven't noticed a significant difference - though it must be pointed out that i've yet to race it properly. Edited by Paramedic - 11 Jul 20 at 8:35am

davidyacht Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1345	Post Options Post Reply Quote davidyacht Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jul 20 at 9:58am
	As if a bar chat ... I would suggest that you probably tick some of the boxes as to why the Cumulus would be a good mast for you. I had a Milanes “flexi tip” centreboard which seemed quite special on three boats back ... I should have kept it!
	Happily living in the past