On May 3, 12:09=A0am, James <d0ugl...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Starboard's Formula One Design looks cool, and I think it could work.
> Although I agree with Jeff that the boom might be the weak link. =A0I
> used to use a Chinook aluminum boom for my 10.6 formula sail and it
> worked ok, but not great. =A0The FOD sails have a recessed clew, though,
> so that may lessen the problem.
>
> It makes good sense to me to use a popular, proven board and racing
> format for the Olympics. =A0Basically anything but hybrid, which never
> became a popular racing class outside of Olympic competition.
>
> It's a tough call between formula and longboard, because you've got
> the most exciting performance with the former, but guaranteed
> competition (even in very light winds) with the latter. =A0Of course, 6
> knots isn't too hard to come by in most places that would host a
> sailing regatta, at least not over the course of a few days. =A0I think
> total skunkings would be rare.
There's much good within Starboard's proposal -especially in that it
is a one-design class system. The big problem is one of
"raceability". Olympic venues are not selected based on wind velocity
or consistency in any way, while racing venues are always picked based
on wind as a primary element. The flaw in Starboard's six-knot
arguement is the supposition that a future venue will have decent
wind. Sure, Weymouth likely will, but China likely will not. It's
huge gamble to rely on such a wind minumum.
As Jeff has said in previous posts about the functional speed of FW
vs. keel boats, it is the inconsistency of the wind that makes FW a
bit of a gamble. For example, a 6 knot wind average might mean lulls
to 3 knots and gusts to 10. In terms of actual wind power, 3 knots is
only 1/3 the wind power as 6 knots. There is no planing in 3 knots,
for sure. If some racers catch the gusts, they are gone. Of course,
that's racing. But the only real Formula racing is when planing, and
non-planing Formula racing is worse than watching paint dry. It may
be tactical, but you can't finish the race in the alloted time, so the
race is abandoned. No score, nothing. That's the risk of a planing
hull Olympic class.
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