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Thanks for the offer Graham - I am in Scotland so probably not likely to be in your area soon ! ! but thanks anyway.
Dom - I probably failed in my expanation - normally, the tide is running against the wind so it is in fact (I think) helping the slower boats by increasing their 'over the ground' speed on the windward leg.

Practical experience has shown that when the wind and tide are in the same direction, i.e. the tide is pushing boats backwards on the windward leg, then in the Fireball we whup the Solos, even though they try sneaky little tacks up the bank in the lighter current. If the Fireball is going well, then we are around the windward mark and away well before the Solos.
I must admit, I like the faster boat sailing, and like you say, if I can get clear of the Solos at the start, then I should be in clear air while they argue over inches in dirty air [img]smileys/smiley2.gif[/img]
Great advice - thanks
John

Firstly a faster boat should always beat a slower boat in 'against tide conditions' because it makes ground over the tide at a greater speed. Working on approximate water line lengths and theoretical displacement speeds, the Albacore will be able to sail up wind at approximately 0.4kts faster than the Solo. Therefore it will spend less time on the windward leg and therefor less time in negative tide.



The Albacore will tack quicker than the Fireball and power up quicker depending upon the ability of the Fireball crew/ helm co-ordination. Down wind there is less time spent setting the whisker pole than spinnaker setting and you can get in the groove quicker with the Albacore.



However yardstick numbers are suposed to make for good racing and so a lot will depend upon how well you sail the boat. If the Solos are well sailed they will alweays be hard to beat in river conditions.



Others here may have experience sailing against them in the conditions you describe. I used to sail a Solo at Weston Sailing Club on Southampton Water and have beaten a pretty well sailed Albacore (mid nationals fleet) in favourable Solo conditions. However I would expect the Albacore to be on top most times and I would have been no better than mid Solo fleet.



As to the Kestral ~ well you have a powerful spinnaker to manage in tight conditions and the Enterprise will be sailing boat for boat with the Solos and not in clear air as you should be with the Albacore.

Good luck

Hi John an Alb certainly is the boat for you, We sail at Broadwater SC and regularly race against competitive Solos, depending on course/wind direction the positions come down to the sailors, biggest threat is the wind increasing after weve finished, check out our results page on our website and you will seee the variations, good luck with your search, wgereabouts do you sail ? Broadwater is Northwest London and you would be most welcome to come and have a sail in my boat any time, cheers Graham

And...If you bought yourself a new Ovington Albacore you would be getting a boat from the builder of the Boon Solo's which wipe the floor with all comers...1,2 and 3rd at the pre champs and 5x first places at the Northerns, Albacores are not too bad either.



Incidently, I have no feeling at all in my left knee since a reconstruction, my other knee isn't too good either. I did sail lasers for ten years but I actually damaged my knee pitchpoling a 14...

Hiking is actually good for you if you do it properly and build up the right mussles.

See a good physio to see you right. Chris T2010-07-14 17:32:24