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haha, thats exactly what I said! Not sure you'd stand much chance of beating Ian Porter on handicap in any weather!

Easier to sail in lighter winds as you have a lot more power to play with.... not as much fun when it's blowing its nuts off though as you have a lot more to deal with up top!

Originally posted by m_liddell Originally posted by CT249 Andy, why are the big rigs easier to sail than the '97 boats? Less capsizing to windward (like the R Class found when they put on bigger but lower rigs)?? The 14 guys I've spoken to find the new 'fat head' mains easier since they reckon it gives better gust response by twisting off easily.

 

Thats excatly it! The big sails make it easier due to actually having some power, in 13 knots of wind my crew can just jump out onto the wire after a tack pulling in the main as he goes (we managed 16knots of boat speed) - This rig helps, due to knowing there is power so that he doesnt get wet! Also leads to mega fast tacks, when they go right. When the wind does pipe up - we had a massive squwal come through, the top two battens where flicking off - exactly how they should, so the boat was still driving hard and fast with us twining upwind, but just the tip flicking to leeward.

If we were in 97 mode, the kite was too small - any slight lull and you had to shove it up and come in off the wire at times, and a gust didnt make much difference. with the big kites, lulls dont make much difference, just a little flutter on the rudder, and gusts just lets the boat go deeper and faster with ease. & upwind, espec in twin wire mode - there jus really wasnt enough power unless it was a 30 knot wind against tide, then it was just blaintant fun!

Originally posted by Medway Maniac Originally posted by andy_cherub To the last two comments - to be honest ive neva been beaten by a wayfarer on PY Then either your PY is wrong or you're not meeting the right Wayfarers

maybe I have met the right wayfarer sailors but I have been beaten over the water by a number of wayfarers.

I think you are being a bit negative on the 97 rules rig it was about right for single wiring, and you could still get up and go down wind in lighter stuff than a 29er or a 4000

Originally posted by CT249 Thanks for the info. Was the current rig brought about (encouraged or demanded) by the extra power of twin strings?

Basicaly Yes.

If the twin string had not happened I think we would have gone for bigger spinikers but the upwind sail was good for the weight range in the class with single string.