The RS400 Rumours thread.

Well, the design is some years old now. It was also designed to be fairly simple to sail, and not too expensive to build. It never was the bleeding edge of spendology.

If you were designing a hiking asymmetric boat now, you would have to think quite hard about your target audience. I suppose there is not much else between the B14 and the RS200?

There was some discussion in the class yahoo group a couple of years ago about tweaking the design, but that was only subtle changes, mostly beefing up areas where older boats show stress first.

One thing to be aware of is that it would not take very many votes to get major changes through an AGM, as association membership is low in relation to the 900 (800? whatever) or so potentially competitve boats in the UK.

If that happened, could there be an offshoot 'old rules' class association?

Originally posted by blaze720 Spinnaker? Oh no it comes from CirrusSpinnakerfreeworld.com Oh dear here we go again ...... ICON is not aimed at you Greame !    We are hopefully addressing a gap in the market - a market that is also positively littered with 15 years of 'new' asymetrics and it is not our objective for this boat to join them for sound commercial reasons.  BTW some of these asymetrics are really very good indeed (and some don't really hit the mark as real asymetics despite the kit on the bow !).   You know which are which by now don't you .... you don't ?     Mike L.

.... if you feed it, it will only grow

I think its a great boat as it is. one of the few SMODS
that deserves to keep going.

And I don't agree with all the spinnaker is to small
arguments. Its perfect as it is.

Just a great all round boat, just wish the misses and I
were big enough to sail one.

Ian

Originally posted by RS400atC 900 (800? whatever) or so potentially competitve boats in the UK

Steady on, they've only made about 950... I would bet that well over half of those will be sufficiently tired that they couldn't be brought up to decent spec (good as new ropes, gear, sails) without spending more money than a better second hand one would cost anyway.

Personally, and I've sailed the things a good deal at club level, I'd have a smaller main, bigger kite and plastic stick - oh and better mainsheet system: its ridiculously heavy.

Were it a major makeover involving the deck mould I'd shorten the jib foot, change the jib sheeting and junk the gybing pole. The limiting factor on kite size will be hoists and drops: they're easy and low friction now (provided blocks aren't tired) which you wouldn't want to change. That affects both luff length (=extra pull) and area (=fit down chute). That means the kite can't go very much bigger, but hopefully enough for a bit of oomph when it sets.

Originally posted by ifoxwell I think its a great boat as it is. one of the few SMODS that deserves to keep going. And I don't agree with all the spinnaker is to small arguments. Its perfect as it is. Just a great all round boat, just wish the misses and I were big enough to sail one. Ian

How light/small are you?

Many fairly light couples do sail 400's.

The circuit seems to be dominated by two bloke teams at the moment, but the Nationals have been won by lightish female crews and lightish male helms for the last two years.

Any crew choosing a boat needs to think about how much wind they really want to sail in. There is the RS200 which gives great racing for a good range of sizes.