Aero 7
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13449
Printed Date: 29 Jun 25 at 12:42am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Aero 7
Posted By: H2
Subject: Aero 7
Date Posted: 29 Oct 19 at 9:24am
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Feels like the Aero fleet is starting to focus mostly on the Aero 7 as the option that most people race. The recent inlands had a small number of 5 and 9 rigs with the majority racing the 7 rig. Whenever I see the Aero's race in large handicap fleets it does feel that there is little difference in speed over the water for the 7 and 9 rig or certainly less than would justify the PY offset so if you sail an Aero its better to pick the 7 rig as your default as it benefits from the largest fleets and the best compromise on handicap is my impression, but would be good to get views of those from the Aero fleet. Thanks ------------- H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082 |
Replies:
Posted By: ian.r.mcdonald
Date Posted: 29 Oct 19 at 10:18am
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Having three rigs sounds like a great marketing tool but listen to some of the discussions at club level when Lasers swap from radial to full and back again.
One rig and one fleet has huge advantages. Buy a Solo and race everyone! |
Posted By: H2
Date Posted: 29 Oct 19 at 10:39am
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Hi Ian - I did consider a Solo a few years back but it was not for me, did not suit the way I like to sail and ultimately was not a boat that made my heart beat faster. Its great that we have a choice of boats and I am delighted that you love the Solo - just not for me! ------------- H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082 |
Posted By: rb_stretch
Date Posted: 29 Oct 19 at 1:42pm
| The number of 9s really depends on the wind - more wind, less 9s. Looking at the results one of our club sailors always sails a 9, but was on a 7 at the inlands, which suggests it was windy. Both sails have their sweet spots on handicap, so don't think one is better than the other (I own both). |
Posted By: Gordon 1430
Date Posted: 29 Oct 19 at 1:43pm
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We have a few at Lee and I think the benefit I see used most often of the 3 rigs is when people change down when its to windy for them to cope with either the 9 or 7 depending upon there size/ choice originally. For some I think it will give them more confidence in the long run in windy weather. ------------- Gordon Phantom 1430 |
Posted By: zeon
Date Posted: 29 Oct 19 at 3:04pm
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We only have one aero at our club. He has the 7 and the 9 rig. He tends to use the 7 for most of the Sunday series and the 9 is used mostly for Wednesday evenings. |
Posted By: dkr1
Date Posted: 29 Oct 19 at 5:21pm
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The Aero 9 is certainly significantly faster over the water than the 7 in the right hands except when it gets really windy. On handicap, the 9 sailors tend to win at our club, but then they also win when they drop down to sailing 7's so its probably just they they are better.
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Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 29 Oct 19 at 5:37pm
I think it's probably just that  ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: H2
Date Posted: 30 Oct 19 at 8:58am
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I guess its always hard to tell for sure but if I make the assumption that the people that show up at Great Lakes events, POSH, other large handicap events "tend" to be better than average sailors because it takes a certain commitment to head to Draycote, Grafham etc in the middle of Winter then I am always surprised at how the Aero's finish on the water with the 7's and 9's very close to each other accross a range of conditions. I guess my point is that I have a sense that people are gravitating toward the 7 as default not just because its the mid sized rig but because its as competitive as the 9 in most conditions. ------------- H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082 |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 30 Oct 19 at 9:01am
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Speaking to the Aero sailors I know they all say you need 2 rigs either 5/7 or 7/9 (personally I prefer 7 of 9 but thats something completely different....). A guy at our club had a 7 and has gone out and bought a 9. Or you could just buy a D-Zero instead and not need a second rig of course. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: H2
Date Posted: 30 Oct 19 at 9:22am
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Yeah Paul - the problem is that when on starvation rations I am around 90kg and I know you will point to some chap who is 95kg and does ok in your fleet but we all know that being at the top of a boat's weight range is a duff position to be in. The D0 is a lovely boat but it has too little sail and not enough buoyancy for me - the Aero 9 addresses one of those issues even if the hull is too small but my sense is that the boat is more competitive on handicap on the 7 sail and the added PY for the 9 is not warranted so if you sail a 9 you get to sail in a smaller fleet at opens (as compared to 7s or my H2 for that matter) and you get to struggle against an unrealistic PY when at the club. ------------- H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082 |
Posted By: Old bloke
Date Posted: 30 Oct 19 at 9:39am
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I think the problem with the Aero 9 handicap is not that it is wrong , but that the 9s perfomance and results are skewed.The 9 is ridiculously fast in light airs and confined waters, but as the wind increases others catch up.Certainly the 7 seems to go about as fast.
In my case I go from beating 400s and merlins on the water to having trouble staying in front of young guns in Radials in the windy stuff. As a consequence, I think that most submitted results for the 9 are from small ponds, light airs or superheroes. |
Posted By: dkr1
Date Posted: 30 Oct 19 at 10:51am
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To be clear, the 9 is signifcantly faster than the 7 in most conditions. I sail a laser. I will approximately the same speed as the 7's. The 9's are always significantly faster. |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 30 Oct 19 at 1:12pm
Also skewed because many 9 sailors will change to a 7 as the wind gets up, similar to the rooster 8.1 rig vs the std Laser rig. Once the smaller rig can be planing offwind there is very little difference in terms of boat speed and the smaller sail will be faster round the track in the hands of your average club sailor due to the easier manageability of it. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 30 Oct 19 at 2:59pm
Old bloke ... you are a superhero .... but probably less so when you are using your 7 rig  ------------- Happily living in the past |
Posted By: Old bloke
Date Posted: 30 Oct 19 at 3:32pm
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My only superpower is an ability to breathe underwater.
Very useful when sailing aero 9 in a strong wind |