Halo

Rather than continue to 'pollute' other threads it only seemed right to start one covering the HALO rigged version of the Blaze.  It has been around for a couple of seasons but required a longer mast than the regular Blaze rig and a fair bit more sail (11.6m compared to the Blazes 10.4m).

This need for a second mast has held numbers in the few dozen category and as an 'occasional' rig for regular Blaze racers.  Having been lobbied again (!) we are developing a revised Halo sail that can be set on a regular 'bog-standard' Blaze mast - cutting 'entry' costs by 60%.  The difference ?  It is 11.5m and the mast is set up to be more vertical than being distinctly raked as on the Blaze - coupled to a wider (blading -off) head it looks very similar but equally distinctive.

Definately one mostly for the larger helms then  ... we reckon you might enjoy blasting around below 95kg BUT you will rarely be competitive unless you are 95kg or more more !! 

 

Looks good, and should get a better take up, maybe even from lighter people who usually sail in light wind venues. Won't it be confusing to call it the Halo as well, though?

Will it sit on the tin or carb mast?

Both ...  The Blaze carbon mast was (unusually) developed so that the pre-existing standard North Blaze sail worked well with it as well as on an M7 - it was not available 'off the shelf' and is moderately stiff for a carbon one.   This was the basic requirement for the CA to accept it alongside the old M7 when proposed for the Blaze prior to the vote in 2012.   Normally it is the sail that follows the mast  - however this CA requirement means that further sails developed for either can also work on both.  

The photos do show a carbon mast rig - but 20 minutes later the same sail in the photos was set on an alloy M7.  On both masts the results were similar and North are tweaking the luff curve a tad further next... but it is pretty close now and we do expect to 'sign off' very soon.

Mike L.

Thanks Mike- and good to know a little more about the carb section too.

It is a Halo ...  

There is no official PY but clubs have been using local handicaps ranging from 1027 down to 1015 - in time club returns will end up determining a reliable or general handicap number.

Mike L.