Ok, let me go out on a limb abit here. Here are the numbers for the most common boats here in the US as we talk today all data is directly from the company's websites so don't shoot me if its wrong call them up and chew on them. <br> <br>Boat <br>I20 390 lbs, 193sq ft main, 53 sq ft Jib, 270sq ft spin. total sq ft 516 <br> <br>N6.0 na (worrell rig) 420 lbs, main&jib 264, 340sq ft spin, total sq ft. 604 <br> <br>Hobie 20 400 lbs, main & jib 250sq ft. Total sq 250 <br> <br>Hobie Fox 419 lbs, main 194 sq ft, jib 52 sq ft, spinnaker 269 sq ft, total sq ft. 515 <br> <br>P19MX 385 lbs, main and jib 247, total sail area 247. <br> <br> <br>As you can see the N60 na worrell rig has the most sailarea. Now basic logic would say that this boat has to be the fastest boat. Is some cases it is in most it is not. Here is the real meat in the formula issue. <br> <br>What I propose is in a basic manner. We say weigh everything for combined weight. Lets figure that 350 is a fair crew weight (I got there from alot of post saying we weigh 390-420 plus and dividing it by the list of 325 and under crews. Plug middle is 366.4 but for the sake of arguement and the fact that the light weight guys are really afraid of this I'll call it 350) Take that with the average of the boat weights at 402.8 (we all know they lie about it so lets call it 410) so you get a combined weight of 760 lbs. <br> <br>Ok combined weight 760 lbs all up (weigh everything including safety gear, vests, and harnesses) No camelbacks, or other "variable" ballast to be weighed but if your thirsty carry it! <br> <br>Now for the weird part --- total sail area. HMMMM! Lets call it 550sq ft. (measure everything main, jib, spin/genn) for this number. Before all you guys start to go nuts about measurements. Here is how we tackle this. Everything stock is assumed to be "factory class legal" and will get a NAF 20 sticker affixed to it with the class legal sail size written on the sticker. Now for every new sail we have the sailmaker affix a NAF 20 sticker on it with the sailarea written on it by the sailmaker, the owner of the sail must provide an invoice if protested that the sail is as stickered. At protest the committee can measure the sail and if it is not the sailor is fined and the sticker removed from the sail. Remember we are suppose to be "honorable" about what we sail (every class rules assumes this honor) <br> <br>SO if you walk by the boat it will have a NAF 20 sticker saying that it weighs XXX (from the manufacturer). You have the crew weigh in full gear ( the regatta officials write that weight in) and you have basic math. <br> <br>Hobie 20 used as example boat <br>weight of boat 410 <br>Crew weight 350 <br> <br>Total weight 760lbs <br> <br>Sails <br> <br>Aftermarket Main and stock Jib Totaling 265 sqft (15 sq ft over stock) <br> <br>Spinnaker 285 sq ft. <br> <br>Total sail area 550 sq ft. <br> <br>Easy format, enough sail area for power against the I 20 and a basically even format. New mast? Nope total cost of upgrade? About 1500 - 2000 dollars (includes main, spinnaker, spin pole sheets, blocks, and misc hardware-- remember a stock 20 is not a spin boat). This is if you wanted to go full tilt boogie. Personally, I'd take a hit in the spin area and put on a 210-230 sq ft gennaker and pray for moderate air. Remember in light air we'd all be equal, Moderate air we'd be experiencing our own mods, and I'd be praying for the ability to sail the gen up and down the course. <br> <br>You notice that in this formula the I 20 can get away from snuffer and sail a bigger chute. Would make it stronger in distance races. Even the NA 6.0 gets the benefits of a different main and a smaller chute. God knows it would be easier to handle for medium and smaller crews. <br> <br>I feel that this is very equal and only people who feel that more is better are forced to go that way. How many days have you sailed with the spinnaker still in the bag? I know I have alot. So with that out of the equation the boats would be more equal all the way around the course. Not just a bigger spin for heavier crews (which I think is moronic). But, gives you more all the way around. <br> <br>Thanks for the forum. <br> <br>Steve<br><br>
