Posted by Chris Titcomb on December 20, 19102 at 07:26:15:
In Reply to: Attn: All 20' boat owners posted by Barry on December 13, 19102 at 13:22:08:
I like the idea of formula racing and think that we potentially have a strong forum of sailors that would enjoy and do well by this racing format. As a 6.0 class we discussed the F20 idea two years ago at a NE 6.0 class meeting and came to the conclussion that we did not find the benefit of racing in this format to out weigh the cost of designing and purchasing new sails to fit the F20 specs as a class. As I understood it, the N6.0 would need a smaller spin from the NE class kite and a smaller jib to fit specs, at which point a larger main would certianly be needed to be competitive. Barry, from your post it would sound like we could sail our boats in the current design with the NE class kite under the F20 unbrella? Have the rules for the F20 class been modified?
I personally am enthusiastic about racing the 6.0 with a spin around the bouys and I believe that F20 would be a good way to do this, especially as more 6.0 owners become more comfortable with the extra sail area. F20 would give the 6.0 spin sailors competition at certain races each year without dividing the 6.0 class into spin and non-spin entities.
I would like to hear more feedback on the issue as I am just one opinion. I am planning to have my boat available for anyone who may want to try the 6.0 with snuffer and NE one design spin throughout the early spring... I am always looking for an excuse to go sailing!
respectfully,
Chris
: I have some comments on the ruling on the spinnaker issue. I know that you are protecting the one design class and that is a good thing. There are more options that I want the 6.0 owners to think about. The possibility of the first active F20 class in North America would be a step in the right direction. It seems that most of the racing in the future will be formula except for the Hobie 16. Not to say that all of the 6.0’s would convert to F20 but possibility at selected Regattas. This would add another dimension to the boat. You could race the boat as a one-design (no spinnaker), One design with spinnaker or in an F20 class. The class could include N-20, N6.0, Fox and Hobie 20’s.
: The goal is to have the boats be as equal as possible. There has not been enough data as of yet to see if they are equal. The actual results from last year haven’t been a good test. None of the 6.0’s that have raced with a spinnaker last year have a lot of experience racing buoys under spinnaker. As the knowledge grows, I think you will see the gap between the N20 and 6.0 narrow and hopefully disappear. With different designs you will see different boats do better in different conditions. This is true in the F18 class but there is a feeling that any boat can win on a different day. This would be a goal of the F20 class. We have added 2 to 3 boats to our fleet this winter. This brings us up to 6-7 active sailors with a few more I am working on.
: Do you think a 20 plus boat, F20 (spinnakers) fleet would make an impression? I think it would.
: We need to get data as well as having spinnaker-handling seminars to get people up to speed. If one boat dominates, we would have to make a change to the rules that we sail by. That could mean one boat adding weight, reducing sail area, increasing sail area or decreasing a boat weight.
: The current NE N20 sailors are open to sailing F20. It may not work in the long run but I feel we must give it a shot as it may ensure the existence of all classes involved.
: I am interested to hear any comments on this. Please sign you name, as I will delete any posts attacking any person in a negative light.
: Thanks
: Barry