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Fastest dinghy? |
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AlanWT
Newbie Joined: 30 Sep 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1 |
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Topic: Fastest dinghy? Posted: 30 Sep 04 at 9:05am |
Just been reading an old book about dinghy racing, and it refers to a Jollyboat being timed at over 17 knots at (I think) Edgbaston Reservoir in the '50s or '60s. Timed outright speed isn't something that appears in modern boat reviews, but I'm sure that the modern style of lightweight dinghies with their high power to weight ratios must be able to beat that figure. Anyone know for sure? - what is the fastest current or recent production monohull dinghy? Could be a bit of fun to be had finding out! Alan |
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6648 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 04 at 10:09am |
I know of no boats that have been timed properly over a 500m course, which is what counts. Lots of people make lots of noise, mostly based around rough estimates or maybe peak speeds under GPS.
The very fastest boats are going to be those that combine modern hull shapes and very light weight with moderate sail area, because dinghies are not efficient enough to achieve high wind speed/boat speed ratios, so its going to take a fair bit of wind. If you've got very big rags you just aren't going to be able to carry anough apparent to get a decent speed in 25knots plus. That could mean that the boats capable of the highest top speed are not what you might expect. My guess would be that Cherubs and 29ers have got to be in the frame. I reckon that the sails on the 14s and 49er are just too big for really high speed in a lot of wind, no matter how fast they are in the moderate stuff. My guesstimate is that a 500m average figure in the low 20s ought to be achievable fairly readily, but I don't know how much higher. Its so dependant on wind and wave condtions though. |
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Phil eltringham
Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: England/Hitchin Online Status: Offline Posts: 1105 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 04 at 10:38am |
I think you are right, its the same reason why windsurfers held a lot of speed records not that long ago. It was simply because they could go out in far windier conditions than a dinghy and so despite being less efficient could reach higher speeds. Also on the plane with the asymmetric up the speed differences will not be too large, suffice to say that all of the classes you mentioned have probably hit the better side of 25 knots but keeping that held over a 500m course is unlikely. It would be quite cool to have in a boat test, problem is you cant draw a comparrison unless every test is done in the same conditions and I doubt that people like RS and Laser will have done full speed polar plots for their designs, let alone make them public. |
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FLAT IS FAST!
Shifts Happen |
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Matt Jackson
Really should get out more Joined: 21 Sep 04 Location: Darlington Online Status: Offline Posts: 962 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 04 at 12:21pm |
Not that you're biased at all Jim |
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Laser 203001, Harrier (H+) 36
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Granite
Far too distracted from work Joined: 12 May 04 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 476 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 04 at 1:30pm |
The foiling Moths could probably have a good go at it |
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Doctor Clifford
Far too distracted from work Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 243 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 04 at 3:13pm |
two hulls good, one hull bad !!!!!
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regards
Dr. Clifford take two tablets twice daily |
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Lucy Lee
Far too distracted from work Joined: 17 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 276 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 04 at 3:16pm |
Well now, Weymouth Speed Week is coming up very soon. Apparently it costs about £50 to enter for the day so if anyone can get the day off...
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Fly Cherub!
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redback
Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: Tunbridge Wells Online Status: Offline Posts: 1502 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 04 at 4:47pm |
The Laser 4000 loves a lot of wind, mainly because it doesn't have a huge sail area - on the other hand its a bit heavy - but an excess of 20knots is claimed. The 49er has too much sail area to cope with really strong winds unless its sailed by olympians! I wouldn't mind betting a RS 800 would be fastest in about 30knots at somewhere just under wind speed. Surely the 18 foot skiff is the answer? However all these boats are assymetrics and they are optimised for upwind/downwind sailing and they handle badly when 2 sail reaching.
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Phil eltringham
Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: England/Hitchin Online Status: Offline Posts: 1105 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 04 at 6:55pm |
I have heard a story about some guys trying something like this in an 18. It involved the biggest wind they could find and blasting accross a harbour with the big rig with a rib following them. The basic Idea was to launch, pop the kite, go as fast as possible to the other side and drop the kite, land the boat with the trailer brought round by car. Don't know where, when, and who by so could be a bit spun, but the story comes from a mate of mine in the 18 fleet so i trust the authenticity. Anyway the chase RIB clocked them at 47 knots which is not far off world record speed and probably a fair bit faster than most of us have ever been.
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FLAT IS FAST!
Shifts Happen |
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Bruce Starbuck
Posting king Joined: 14 Sep 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 124 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 04 at 7:08pm |
hmm, i reckon a 420 2 sail reaching with a 15 stone crew in 50 knots of breeze would be right up there!!!
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