Published Hull Weights

and a Ferrari FF is £250k.... one looks a lot more sellable to the 'Mrs collective' as a mid life crisis to me 

I thought you need a heavy wind and light wind mast/sail combo for a Finn?  That's what one of the Finn boys was saying around our way not so long ago...

Originally posted by Thunder Road £15K should bring you a new state of the art piece of Finn kit, but this level of consistency should be available in all classes, surely this level of engineering is not an unreasonable ambition for any boat since the dug out canoe stopped being the norm. It is a case of pride and controlled workmanship & engineering.

Originally posted by scotsfinn I'd agree with TR and disagree with Jim C. The pleasure of a Finn is that the rules are so well controlled that most owners, who are not of course Olympians, can enjoy really close competion in a variety of ages of boats knowing they are as close in terms of weights and balance as any class in the world. Even better they get a great mag telling what is happening, but really never have to get involved in class politics. In my view the Finn Class should be a model for all ......... That should extract a few more posts I'll bet ....

All very laudable, right up until the bit where they hang a bit of old lancaster bomber wing down the middle of it, with the foil shape ground out of it to fit in the slot... Oh and to double the weight by the sound of it.

Originally posted by Thunder Road I think you find a mast you like and keep it, two masts can be measured in at regattas but most people go with their favourite in all weathers and keep the other as a spare. The problem with two is the confusion with settings and getting caught out with weather changes on the water, better to know how to adjust the rig to suit the conditions. It is bad enough having to nurse a fragile lightweight sail round the course if the wind comes up without throwing an unsuitable mast at the problem as well. I made the mistake of selling my best mast years ago, thought I could do better, well I couldn't

Edited by pondmonkey - 22 Apr 13 at 4:51pm

I recall the DWSC Finn fleet when I was a nipper in the mid 70's.  It really was a sight to behold with great turnouts and competiton EVERY weekend (and it wasn't just big guys - there were lots of normal size people (admittedly wearing weight jackets).  My recollection was that Mike Astley was the reason that happened - he put so much effort into building the fleet (loaning his spare boat, coaching, organising personal handicap racing (sail the first beat, wait at the first mark for X seconds and then return to the race), even to clearing the weed using a serrated drag and his jag X12).  I benefited as well as he did a lot to enthuse the youngsters in the club - certainly can still remember him teaching me to gybe down a slalom course in a F5 that (of course) he installed.

The growth of the laser may have had something to do with the slow decline of the Finn at DWSC, but I think it was probably Mike finally getting too old in his late 60s to sail a Finn to the standard he wanted.

Best way to build a fleet - find a Mike Astley.

Mark


Edited by marke - 22 Apr 13 at 5:03pm