TOPIC:

There is a heated debate on the Yachts & Yachting website about the winner of the £3,000 prize for the "Sailjuice Warmup" which was a series of the 3 big winter handicap events (Bloody Mary etc)
Allegations are being made that the winners sailed with an experimental sail which was not measured & illegal under current Merlin rules. It appears the race committee were not informed of these facts.
There is also heated debate on the Merlin website also.

Hi I think actually its a £300 prize and well done to them I think we should leave this debate to the other forums as its quite a tetchy subject.
At least we dont have this prob in the Alb class, actually the Aerowing sails look really good why dont we try them on the Alb imagine a set on Marks new toy or even better on my all varnished boat Whats the view here on laminate sails

I see from Y & Y forum tonight that they have done the decent thing & decided to retire from the event

grahamd wrote:

... Whats the view here on laminate sails

HERETIC - BURN HIM!!!!

They sailed extremely well and all credit to them but they were not "class legal" and therefore the right conclusion has been reached.

I regard to laminate sails in the Albacore class I'm afraid you'd have to put me on the fire aswell as it is the way to go!

3DL anyone?

I don't understand these debates. We sail a boat called an Albacore which is defined by a set of rules. If you do something to make the boat 'better' you effectively create something different i.e. not an Albacore. If it is better, then you have an unfair advantage and everybody else has to follow. If you want to sail a faster boat; go to another class. The objective is to go faster within the same rules as everybody else. Change the rules; change the boat; all spend more money, end up in the same place. What's the point.
End of rant!
discuss

Trevor wrote:

End of rant!
discuss

Sails: Cotton was replaced by dacron and windows were introduced.
Spars: Wood was replaced by alloy and struts, flyaway poles etc are continuously evolving.
Fittings: Compare a block or cleat from today from one produced in 1980 let alone to one from 1960?

I am sure that at the time these developments occured there were opponents to the new technology and there is a valid argument to maintain the traditional feel of the class to this day. Our predecessors have treated the class well and with good taste embraced certain technological advancements in a timely manner, it would be a shame to spoil it but progress is progress.

A few other class examples which have evolved over time:

International Moth
12 metre class
Merlin rocket
Tornado
I14
18ft skiff
505
Fireball
Osprey
Flying Fifteen

The list is endless and unfortunately, so to is this debate there will always be people with different views and feelings on how they want the class of boat they sail to go forward. I guess thats what makes us all human!?

Hugh

Fairy nuff! but the things you mention would fall within the rules although I'm not old enought to have witnessed the move from wood to alloy (I'm only 65). And yes, there are real issues such as the fact that it is difficult to buy a cleat that doesn't have 'exotic' material in it, so yes, things will evolve but the fundementals such as hull shape, weight, sail plan etc remain and define the class. A few years back one of our number won with a deck stepped mast - it was banned or the alternative would have been that we all would do it.
I don't know how classes such as N12 get by with older wooden boats not able to compete against the modern carbon fibre wonders. I don't think we want cheque book sailing.
As you say, change is inevitable, but not so that older boats are made redundant overnight just because a few opportunists spend to gain places. Places should be won by skill, not money.

I personally believe that carbon tiller extensions are no sin but a carbon mast would be.
Interesting subject,
Trevor

Trevor

Completley agree with you,, if it ain't broke don't try fixing it.... More new boat sales in the past 2 years... increasing attendances at opens and nationals.... real interest in the class & demand for 2nd hand boats... Long may it continue.

Regards

TSF

The Merlin Rocket is a development class remember, with more flexible rules so development should continue. The modern ones have almost become one-design with the Winder Canterbury Tales design due to both success and the economics of scale of manufacture in "plastic". Wood was so much more individual - our 1968 Merlin Rocket is one of only two made to that design and led the way for newer designs.

There's a huge interest in their old boats, especially on the Thames and to keep things competitive there are a set of age related PY adjustments published on the MR website, something I believe more classes should do to encourage older boats.

Hi all

Not sure how this topic has got to this stage or even why we are worrying about "other" classes. For those of you that think you have been around for a long time I will just say one word.... Kingsfield .... an Albacore that does not measure is not an Albacore, unless the RYA is convinced that it is not a speed enhancing issue. Oh yes and the boat builder is out of business. The resulting issues almost killed the Albacore Class. The whole story can be read elsewhere.

My only real comment is "no cheque book" sailing, and "no making old boats obsolete" but 100% we need to stay within the rules.

Derek
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