We race a projection 762 in inan irc flrrt which ranges from a dehler 37 to a modified x79. the racing is predominantly around the cans in strong tidal conditions.

The problem we encounter is that no matter how well we sail we do noy get close to our handicap and therefore are always the wrong side of the results. I know in tidal conditions that water line length is important however we have many melges 24 in the fleet who manage very well.

Has anyone made modifications to the rig/hull/keel to improve the performance of this stiff little yacht? our current irc is .971.

Any help/comments will be welcome.

Have you had a look at the thread next to this one?

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2423&PN=1 - http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2 423&PN=1

Plenty of discussions on optomisation of Projections.

Whereabouts do you have your boat?

Thanks for the reply, we sail in Guernsey, there used to be 4 here but we are the only ones left. The boat is very simple with an oversized pole and kite. We are unable to compete against X332 and x362 but try our best. What do you think about taking lead out of the keel as the boat is too stiff we carry no1 in 20knots?

great sea boat, it doeas get very rough here but we only seem competitive when it is blowing 20knots plus.

Have you played with the rig? what are your settings?

Regards Peter

if anything keep the weight in the keel, reduce your pole length and spinnaker size (about 40m2) and reduce headsail sizethen get re-rated.  this and more is all said in the thread tim has pointed out, unfortunately your gonna have to play catch up and read the whole thing to to get the best bits of info.

hope it all helps.

Since you don't take any penalty in IRC for stability, that isn't a route to IRC optimisation. There's really no such thing as "too stiff" in IRC. 

Stephan

The objective is to have more boat speed, the summer breezes are predoninantly 10-15 knots. I was wondering what the effect of taking 100-200 kilos out of the keel rather than the bulb at the bottom.

This would help us not stick in the light stuff and get us planing earlier but i think would not effect the rating too much.

Do you find it difficult to compete with larger yachts on handicap?

Peter

Taking weight out will increase your rating (assuming you report it, which you should). I very much doubt it is a good idea in IRC. As others have said, optimising the sailplan is more likely to be successful.

I don't own a 762, although I have sailed on one. I have raced other sportsboat types in IRC and it is normally hard to beat larger boats in medium conditions.

Having recently consulted a sailmaker (of no little repute) here on the east coast, and comissioned him to suplly new sails; we have now measured the boat and compared what can fit against the very old sails that came with the boat (seems that they had srunk over the ten years since they were made (albeit they have only been used for about 5 years) Our 2007 rating came about due to the very short luff of the jib measured at easter. No doubt we will see a revised IRC certicate number more in line with every other 762 once the new sails are made and measured.  I shall be asking the rating office to recalculate once I know the numbers myself......