Fireblade - revisiting the hybrid project

Suspect the Express was a little more Hands On than would be appreciated today!

Just an example, probably work taking the finished boat around the clubs, allow people to try, if they like it, get a batch of a dozen buyers, sell them boat in kit form.

You could probably do that with a boat like the Farr, which is a self build more often than not, but this is a bit more sophisticated hull construction. Maybe buy the hulls but decide on various rig and fit out kits and self assemble them could be a possibility.

It could also give small sail lofts an option to buy, kit out, sell and campaign the boat. Sort of a restricted class built around one hull but open rig options.

Buy the boat semi complete windsurf style and rig it to sail size guide lines

Edited by iGRF - 01 Nov 20 at 6:46pm

Originally posted by iGRF It could also give small sail lofts an option to buy, kit out, sell and campaign the boat. Sort of a restricted class built around one hull but open rig options.

Well, had my first 'go' in it today although in typical fashion the moment the hull kissed the water surface the wind buggered off and we were left with 0 - 3 mph which initially had me circling a couple of chums in lasers and racing away, then we had a little race in which every time I started to come from behind I discovered just how deep the plate was and found myself hooked up on the island we race round. My point of proving the best PY for it would be the same as the Laser was proven but not entirely accepted as the occasional puff would see it gather momentum quite quickly, but in all seriousness it was just a sunny jolly, marginally better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, a feel around. It's definitely a boat that's going to work best bolt upright and it's going to be tricky to keep it that way, very very sensitive to position, I didn't really even get to sit on the side, I don't think those winglets are far enough forward, but again too early to say, I also think he's over cooked the raking of the rig, in a quick sum up, great boat, not great rig and God knows where the sail came from but it's got to go.



Edited by iGRF - 04 Nov 20 at 5:43pm