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Fireblade - revisiting the hybrid project |
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Do Different
Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jan 12 Location: North Online Status: Offline Posts: 1312 |
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Topic: Fireblade - revisiting the hybrid project Posted: 11 Jul 21 at 10:28am |
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Respect for managing off boom.
Doubtless some will say I'm doing it wrong but I'm glad of the third hand on the Contender centre turret. Snicking it in and out becomes a reflex; the trick is to fiddle and get the height of the cleat exactly right to flick out easily.
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Do Different
Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jan 12 Location: North Online Status: Offline Posts: 1312 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 10 Jul 21 at 7:38pm | |
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iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 10 Jul 21 at 11:06am | |
Well I managed to finish a 'windy' race on Thursday night, and nearly did myself a mischief getting out on the wire for a couple of beats, not to mention coming close to going down the mine on a couple of steep waves, but also managed not to stack it, so am a little bit pleased with my progress.
It's not easy wiring with off the boom sheeting and nothing to cleat off to, so I think maybe a turret is needed, it's also a total ballache trying to kick out without some sort of kick bar on the deck before getting your foot up onto the side leg bent almost double under then trying to kick up - nightmare. But once up there it's a joy and the speed increase is noticeable if a little more free than I like and cause to totally relearn your tacking angles. Got a picture as I left the beach, I did tune the rig a bit better than that before the actual race. I was however totally knackered, there was talk of reaching for the defrib as I lay on the beach recovering once ashore. Anyway progress is still being made. Edited by iGRF - 10 Jul 21 at 11:07am |
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rich96
Really should get out more Joined: 20 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 596 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 21 at 2:31pm | |
Give it a go
I'm sure it would be a pleasure to sail Im sure that, like the Finn, it could become addictive |
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iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 21 at 1:32pm | |
On inland water yes, but on the sea on water I've been racing on for most of my racing life, it's more often tactical than physical and usually lighter wind and tide or predictable shifts. I've done it in the Eps, even managed once in the Farr, but that was most unfortunate for them going absolutely the wrong way about a situation and lucky for me a little wind filled from a direction I actually wasn't fully expecting, could it have worked in a Europe? Maybe, I couldn't see the Farr beating a Europe in a none trapeze situation it's all it can do to stay ahead of a Streaker in none trapping conditions. Whatever, there's a lot of fun to be had finding out all this stuff and I love every minute of it, even the bad ones. Edited by iGRF - 07 Jul 21 at 1:33pm |
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rich96
Really should get out more Joined: 20 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 596 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 21 at 11:18am | |
To beat 'Contenders, Lasers, Tasers, Blazes etc' on the water at your size you'd need to be sailing a moth, a 300 or maybe an Aero 9 when it was very light
Its just basic physics and leverage |
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iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 21 at 10:54am | |
OK, I shall give one a go, think I might know someone that still has one about.
But... I race against Contenders, Lasers, Tasers and a young quite fit fellow in an Aero 7 plus the odd Blaze and just occasionally I like to win actually over the water, usually when they all go the wrong way or miss my dear old tidal lee bow opportunity which now and again presents itself when the planets align and I can't see a tactical opportunity that would afford that possibility at the speed of a Laser Radial it would get overhauled once they've clocked whats going on which they tend to once it's been demonstrated. Maybe down the lake as an alternative to the Solution which I've currently got working quite well and is on the market (just because I fancy a change). This current boat (the Fireblade/Hybrid whatever) I have on occasion had a couple of over the water bullets at the hands of tidal intelligence advantage, I just can't make it happen yet from the wire mainly because I'm still pretty useless at getting in and out tacking, mainly down to me, but the boat could do with some kick blocks to assist. Edited by iGRF - 07 Jul 21 at 10:55am |
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Bootscooter
Really should get out more Joined: 15 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1094 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 21 at 10:21am | |
45Kg - lovely and light Ninjas in the class tack facing backwards (with a centre mainsheet) - keeps the weight further forward... I'v still not perfected this yet. It responds tremendously to kinetics Boom and controls addressed in previous reply Surfs better than a Laser, but outright speed around the course closer to Radial. It's not what it does, it's how it does it..... lovely upwind and just hilarious fun downwind and reaching in wind and waves...
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Bootscooter
Really should get out more Joined: 15 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1094 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 21 at 10:06am | |
I've kinda kept quiet on this up till now as I've seen the number of classes that Grumph has trashed his way through over the years , but yes, I suspect the Europe would suit him pretty well perfectly (with some reservations that I'll come to).
45Kg so plenty light enough, daggerboard (tick), lifting rudder (tick) (though hinged, not cassette), find a carbon mast and matched sail for your build and weight and you'll have equalised racing through the fleet. Doesn't have lots of controls despite how it looks - Outhaul, Cunningham, Kicker, Inhaul and traveller is it. Very robust and long-lived, despite the light weight - my 33 year old boat is perfectly competitive in the UK fleet. Boom height genuinely isn't a problem if you're appropriately sized and have a sensible, normal, healthy level of flexibility.... I'm 5'9", 83Kg and 52 years old, and I'm fine. Smaller and lighter will find it simple. Oh... and it's bloody fantastic to sail on the sea. There's still boats out there in the back of dinghy parks than can be picked up for a few hundred pounds..... brand new everything will have a boat imported from Winner via Rooster for somewhere in the region of £10.5k ish. Synergy are putting the final touches to their brand new design in the UK, so I suspect that production will start very soon. Idol Composites produced a boat from the Borressen moulds for the Nationals, that looked incredible... rumour is that there could be a production run in the offing. Other stories abound of a new-shape build that could be happening in the UK as well... Grumph will have frustrations with it though..... 1. Current rules don't allow electronic compasses (though there is a vote on this coming up at the Worlds) 2. Current rules don't allow carbon booms 3. It's not (generally) going to beat a Contender on the water... think more Radial type speeds. As with every boat, it has its conditions to shine on handicap - good in very light, not bad in marginal planing (so long as you're not a big lump like me), and it's bloody brilliant when it's howling, due to the superbly controllable rig. I came to the Europe after losing 20kgs when I came out of the Finn, and I don't regret it one bit.... It has the manners of the Finn, with increased responses.... The Finn used to scare me, just through the sheer size of the beast, but this is such a lovely responsive, small, light, controllable boat, as the wind and waves get bigger, so does my grin. There's seriously tight racing, right the way through the fleet, with Olympic sailors (and Steve C) to aim for, and a competitive cadre of 'classic' boats that cost approx £500 each battling it out further back with their alloy masts. I'm almost certain to order a brand new hull this year (still not sure which one yet...) and I know there's others about to do the same, so very good 2nd hand boats will be coming available this winter, and the Class is certain to continue to grow. I'm pretty confident we'll see 75 boats at the Nationals next year. Oh, and I'm thoroughly looking forward to the European Masters (Germany), World Champs (Douanernez, FRA) and the Easter Regatta at Garda next year, when hopefully travel will be easier.... |
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rich96
Really should get out more Joined: 20 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 596 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 21 at 8:56am | |
45kg and apparently durable (lots of older boats still racing)
Get a mast and sail that suits and off you go 50+ boats and the Uk Nationals recently |
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