has the hurricane 5.9 comitee shot itself in the foot by allowing hurricane sx's to join the classic hurricane tt circuit?

will the two sail hurricane die out and is the sx version strong enough to carry on in its place

As a previous 5.9 owner, I think not.  the 2 sail boat was a fantastic machine.  The 3 sail boat looks even better.  I think it will bring more people into the class as it's a cracking bit of kit.

Shot them selves in the foot.  No.  A good decision IMO.

Yes the move is a risk but i can see why it was done

the problem for the class was they were still getting high numbers at events and at the nationals (50 boats) but new boat sales had dried up

the sx has seen new boats ordered and I believe close to 50 boats have converted to the sx

the hurricane is a great boat and i believe the sx makes it into something really special as there is the choice of two completely different rigs on a smashing boat!

well there is still a 2 sail nationals, and to be fair fleet racing in 2 sail is great because you are sailing evenly matched boats, in mixed the 2 sail boat is dead in the water unless you use and sx rig.

oh and dont get me started on the py of a 5.9!!

1, The SX does rate the same as the Std 5.9; this as you say is because the Jib is smaller (Old tornado size) and a few more lbs were added for the kite kit etc.

2, The boat (when it's windy is faster with the smaller Jib, when was sailing them there was actually discussions in reducing the size of the Jib to (old) Tornado size as overall the boat is quicker wirh the smaller sail.

3, Yes, there is a loss of upwind speed as you have all the extra string flapping around the mast and the pole in the way.

4, Re std Beating the SX, was this W/L courses?  I'd be surprised if so as unless it's survival time I would always want a kite to drive lower - also, where the crews of similar skills?

5, The old (bagged) kite was too full (I Had one and went for the flattest possible).

6, As for the comparisons with the Tornado, and the F18.  Consider, the Sx rates the same as the current F18 rating and is 2 feet longer - yes it's heavier, but generally I'd go for the extra length every time  

7, Finally, yes, you don't need to spend loads to have one. 

Dennis, Apols if the above came over agressive or having a go at you (today has not ben a good day).  Just wanted to state some facts ina  hurry. 

I think this is going to be a good thing for the 5.9; hopefully will re-vitalise the boat, get some new orders in (last time I spoke to Andy Webb The White's had agreed to build one set of hulls at a time, with Andy to fit them out etc).

If I had a spare 3K I would buy one just for long distance racing !

No need to apol to denis he talks a pile of pants sometimes .

I know the sx he speaks off rather well , it went so badly that 2 sail 5.9  sailor converted to sport mode with chute and is  now fully sxed up the rest at denis's club didn't and floundered in the sx's/sports wake ! .After the same sx's performance at Loch lomond and many sx's domination at Loch Ness there has been a prolifiration of sx's in Scotland and chute carring kite flying cats .

I don't recollect the sx getting beaten by two sails at Denis's club !,

The reason bagged spinnakers on 5.9s sports weren't popular was that they were a pain in the erse to get up and down - slow and not worth time penalty so weren't used on short course , but long course definately and faster !!!!!!

Once good chutes became available - only way to go !

Sx jib is actually substantialy smaller than a tornado jib , and over a 25 mile beat only proved to be 2 mins slower than a standard 5.9 , mega faster offwind !

Morale don't believe everything you read in forums ! , unless its from the horses mouth !!

The Sx is the "Dogs Bollox" and for one design spinnakered cat racing hard to beat , only spitfire can compete in that respect , but there oodles of cheap 5.9s about and still competitive.

Try one !

think you are all getting away from the point a little. which started off by asking if the tt circuit would suffer by having the 2 modes sailing against each other. also to reply te some of the other posts new boats being order is one thing(if they ever get built )but it only tells half the story what about the regular hurricane sailors that have put there boats up for sale and are leaving the fleet and if the sx was only two minutes behind the leading hurriane at loch ness after the beat they must have missed him of the timmings at the windward mark.

have tried one but there are better 3 sail cats around.

2 sail for fleet racing 3 sails for handicapp events count me in. 3 v 2 mixed for tt events count me and many others out.

IMO it is the fact that many boats have been converted and that the Ctte was feeling that there was room for both on the circuit.  Maybe with a view for eventually the 5.9 to become the SX.....

I think this happened at the beginning when the F18 arrived in force / the Tornado went to 3 sails.  This may not be so true now.

yes this has happened with a few sailors but you can win them all

and to think the germans almost stopped the tornado having a carbon mast this i believe would have been a death nail for the tornado as an olympic boat!