All I can tell you is that the "Sunfast 36" is slower than my former 24 footer.

I've raced keelboats for 20+ years and never had a polar for any of them. If you can get the kite up, gybed and down without getting into a ******'s muddle, then you are well on the way to beating most of the people who charter that fleet.

Yes MUCH slower than a 40.7.

Have you checked whether they dip-pole or end-for-end gybe? They are right at the size point where they might do either, whereas I presume a 40.7 is dip-pole.

From what I've heard from people I know who have chartered them, you might want to give the boat a good check before racing. You might also be well advised not to assume that everyone chartering the other boats has a full grasp of the racing rules, unless you know who they are. The Sunsail fleet has a certain reputation in the Solent.

End-to-end on that size of boat is different to dinghies because you use lazy sheets and guys (same as dip-pole). This is in order that when the bowman is reattaching the pole, the kite is flying off what is to become the lazy sheet rather than the new guy and therefore the pole is easy to reattach. The new guy should be completely loose (not even round a winch) until the pole is attached, and easing a few inches of pole uphaul often helps. The lazy sheet and jibsheet should be over the end of the pole. I will leave working out why as a exercise for the reader.....If the breeze is light, you can dispense with the lazies, which avoids some faff.

Solent tides are strong and complicated, so if the boat doesn't already have one, one of the tide slides you can get at local chandlers might come in handy.

The breeze is usually fairly steady unless it is somewhere between WNW and ENE, in which case play the big shifts coming off the mainland shore. Beware of going very close into the island shore to cheat the tide, as you tend to lose the wind. 

Thanks again Stefan, our bow shouldn't have too many problems because they used to sail Elan 33s but the local knowledge has proved very helpful, thanks again.

Dennis

I would not worry about polors as we are only given number 3 jibs not number 1's so the polors would be well of the mark.

See you on the water I am helming solent uni's 2nd boat

is will helming for you lot?

Which Will? There is a Will helming one of our boats but it's not Will who sails a 14. Hope we can give you a run for your money! Looks like it will be a good event.

little Will rogers I know him from musto skiffs. Is he doing them?

Forgot Will broom started down there.  Should be good for a laugh looking forward to it.

See you on the water