If no ones answered this one by this coming weekend (and Andy turns up at Elvington, and there's a decent wind) I'll measure one up for you. I think Andy has a full arsenal of X-sail and Blokart sails for every occasion.

Cheers Col

Hiko said...

Is there someone who can give me the dimensions of a 5.5sq M Blokart sail ?
I would like to compare it with a Class 5 sail

they would almost lay over each other, but the blokart sail is a much lighter build and alot fuller.
yes you can run a 5,5 on a LLM
chook raced with a 6.2m recut on the weekend on a galpipe LLM no less!!!!!!. i believe we could call that a successful experiment

What is the point of running a less efficient sail?? Paul you suggested I put heavier battens into the Razors Sail which I did and It now has more "Surge in it's Suit" (Gees! I kill me) So unless you have nothing else what is the point??

As I see it is you were totally off of the Planet you could run a Sail off a Ocean Racer on a Class 5, however I would say that if the Breeze was more than a Burp you would be in trouble.
Ron

OK Bud,
I was being a little facetious about the Racing Sail, I will admit. I have done a similar thing with an 11mtr sail which I deliberately cut down to around 7mtr. For light conditions Can't see why it shouldn't work, just hope there are no sudden gusts ,

Ron

Thanks Col I hope to try it in the next week or two with a suitable mast

Hiko, I would suggest using the longest windsurfer mast you can find, I think they go to 5.1, get another for an internal support and suck on thatpossibly softer battens with a "hookey front". vic has sailed his mini with an off the shelf NZ made class 5 sail so it does work just fine

Thanks guys thats pretty much what I had in mind
Finding the mast at the right price may involve a bit of a wait I also thought I might try extending the bottom of one I already have

aus715 said...

So Col,

How do you stack up against the Blowie for speed? I had to ask...

Nice yacht BTW. Very nice.

I wish it was mine! (And the skill to go with it). That's Mike Bawden, current Class 5 UK National Champion. Still using the clubs Seagull MC2 myself till I finally get my project sorted.

Cheers Col

aus715 said...

So Col,

How do you stack up against the Blowie for speed? I had to ask...

Nice yacht BTW. Very nice.

The experiment was done at Yeppoon back in 2009 I think it was. LLF Mini definitely has the edge. However it was in moderate to strong winds with an ally mast in the Mini and 4m sails on both.

Light airs could be a different story.

Gizmo,
Yes we are all talking masts and having an idea what the mast will do under certain conditions is well worth knowing, for many reasons.
Mine are for the reason that if a stiff Alloy Mast is hit by a strong gust the first effort is to tip the yacht and if sustained will either drive you faster of tip you on your side depending on your reactions which can be to lean out against the tipping effort to gain more stability and hence higher speed or to let the Sheet out and steer away from the tipping effort loosing speed and tipping effort these reactions can depend on the area you are sailing like the Strip I use. Usually one gains high speed over half way down , in some winds which if allowed to continue would finish up in disaster so sheeting out is the only option. If you are out on Lefroy or Gillies one can tighten up and "Lean into It Baby" and accelerate exponentially[}:)] Shattering the Speed of Light given enough energy there other options of slowing of course but I don't fancy Burning Out my Boot Heals.
Ron

"Horses for Courses"

A stiff mast gives me a stiff.