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Post by timaa@hotmail.com on May 22, 2002 13:01:22 GMT -5
My wife and myself are fairly light (300 lbs together) and we are interested in the new F18HT. Does anyone have recommendations of sails for our crew weight? Should we go with the factory sail for our boat and ask for a flatter one? Should we go to one of our local sailmakers and have him cut one for us?
I have been told that Smyth Spinnakers are the best and basically the class standard. What are the thoughts on this?
Tim Arrington
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Post by tbohan@strato.net on May 22, 2002 13:42:55 GMT -5
The Italian mainsail is already pretty flat, especially at the top. Randy Smyth has made a couple of mains (his and WF's) that are a more full cut. The good thing about this class is you can get what you want, from whoever you want, as long as it measures in, but Randy has lots of experience on this boat and TONS of experience on everything else! You should call him and talk to him about it. You do not have to get the maximum size main either, you can get something a little smaller if you are worried about being too light and it will measure in as the limit is a maximum, not a minimum. His web site is www.smythteam.com Check that out. My son (crew) and I are about 315 and we have the factory main. We have sailed in 17 knots true and were not overpowered. As he grows and as I get better at high wind sailing, I will get the fuller Smyth sail too. I have asked Randy to design a 17 sqm sail for me to sail solo with, when it's blowing and my crew is in school. Can't wait for that! Take care. Tim Bohan, USA 5 |
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Post by turfclubroad on Jul 22, 2002 14:18:31 GMT -5
Tim,
I live in SIngapore and am considering buying a Bimare. Most of the time I will be sailing the boat solo though and I (weighing 176-180 lbs) am worried to be over powered.
I understand you single hand your F18HT, what are your experiences in terms of being overpowered? I saw that you ordered a "solo" main with Randy, have you received it and how is that working out?
Wiebe Bouman
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Post by Tim Bohan on Jul 23, 2002 8:57:35 GMT -5
;D Wiebe...I do not yet have the little main for the HT. The wind has gone light for the summer but I will get one for the fall and winter sailing, when it usually blows a little harder. I was out single handed just yesterday and I flew the spinnaker too. As I sail it more I am able to depower it better and handle it in more wind, as is the case with any new boat. I weigh about what you do. I feel confident in taking it out alone up to around 10-15 at most at this point, and as long as you are not racing you can always alter your course it a big puff comes along, which happens all the time on the lake I sail. Now, I don't have to deal with big waves or any of that being on a lake, so I guess it depends on where you will be sailing it most of the time. I just flatten out the main as much as possible and ease the traveler down in a big puff while going upwind. Downwind is a blast with the spinnaker solo. You need a snuffer to take it down alone though. It is easier to go downwind alone than upwind, even with the spinnaker up, because it will outrun the puff! You just keep bearing off in the big puffs and go fast! I caught up to a puff from behind yesterday, sailed into it from a reach from behind it, then took off downwind, sailed out the front of it and almost stopped until it caught up with me again, then took off again. Once you get used to it, it is great! You can easily control the hull flying by raising the boards more. With them all the way up it is very stable downwind even in a big puff. Tim
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