Does the Code-0 calculation include setting the (downwind) spi area to 0? This would suggest an enourmous speed potential in the "useable" wind ranges.

Anyhow, going back to the subject of this post, although the T class rules perfectly permit using a code 0, it clearly is against the principle of equality inherent to olympics. A nice read goes here: http://www.olympic.org/common/asp/download_report.asp?file=en_report_700.pdf&id=700
I wonder if using such a sail (if a code 0 equipped boat say gets a medal) would not produce a very negative reaction from the IOC towards the Tornado, multihulls and even sailing in general? We will be giving the perfect argument to the people against sailing in the olympics. Shure you may say the equipment we propose is strictly one design, but how strict can a set of class rules be?

Yes and no.

These rating systems were developped to accurately rate optimized sloop rigs, this assumes an optimal interaction between jib and mainsail. However you can't maintain the latter when adding a code-0. Sure the performance will increase some by adding the code-0 but it is really doubtful whether it will be by the amount these rating system predict.

Compare it to this. I can also add a 40 sq. mtr. spinnaker to a Tornado (old worrell 1000 style) and the rating systems will duly predict a proportional performance increase. However, we have all learned since then that a 25 sq. mtr spinnaker is faster then this monster spi even though it is significantly smaller. The same can be said for replacing the current jibs by a monster jib called a code-0.

Wouter

What you have is two different configurations both of which satisfy the rule. Who's to say that one is more legitimate than the other. How is one clearly against the principal of equality while the other is not. I'm not even sure it's a problem. Sailors pick their weapon and live with it. If conditions change the advantage shifts. It’s an added dimension (not that our sport is short on dimensions) and has made me more, not less interested.

I know this is probably a stupid question: What does that term "Code 0" mean and where did it come from?

Mary, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinnaker

Dan, the point is not that one configuration is more equal than other, but that the two very different configurations (essentialy two different rigs!) in the same fleet provide a big disequality in equipment. This certainly is not the initial idea about fleet racing in the olympics. Will the IOC like that "added dimension"?

White = Genoa
Blue = Full Asymmetrical
Red = Code Zero



Doyle's Code Zero is a hybrid spinnaker-genoa that measures with a minimum midgirth of 75% of the foot length and a leech length of not greater than 95% of the luff. The sail is uniquely shaped to sail at close apparent wind angles from 30 - 55 AWA.

Code 0 was a term that came about to identify a sail that was outside the "normal" sail wardrobe. For example big boats classify sails G or J 1,2,3,4,5 and A Kites as A 1,2,3,4. The J or G 1 being your light air jib or genoa and the A1 being your VMG kite (less cloth in the shoulders smaller girths etc).

These reaching sails that try to beat the design rules as a high reaching sail generally get slapped with a Code0 or A0 designation. For example the TP 52 had a huge genoa that they classified as a Code 0 until the class made them legal for distance racing, which at that time they became known as Masthead Genoas.

Anywhere else in the world the RED sail above would be classified as a A0.

There doesn't seem to be a clear uniform definition for these sails. In this thread we call them code-0's because that is how the monohull oriented sailing press call them. However according to Andrew Scott definitions (Doyle) we cat sailors actually call Code-0's assymmetric spinnakers or just plain spinnakers (75%-95% mid girth measurement) and the Booth sail is actually a Genoa.

Other names fro these sails are : reachers, hooters, screachers, furling spis and some others I have forgotten.

Wouter

I call my spinnaker "GET IN THE DAMN SNUFFER YOU POC"!

Then i throuw my harness at the tramp. spout out more profanities, and then i crawl out on the bow and untangle the spagatti from all over.

I had to try every trick in the book (soak in holmenkol, lube all poles, release the tack 1', dump the travler, head almost dead down wind... buy her flowers), but on sunday, the 2 times i snuffed it behaved much better and i was happier (and curesed much less)


Oh yea, about the Doyle info.. that was from their site and i dont think it was directed to catamaran sails.. don't know if it should matter.. but thought it was interesting data.

I get your point and I suspect you’re right that the IOC will not like this development.

I could not have said that better.
Thanks.

What's going to happen, throw the T's out of the next games?
Oh, that already happened! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

From Charlie's blog...

Qingdao, China - August 13, 2008 - The first race day for the Tornado Class in the Olympic Games is almost upon us. Tomorrow we sail a practice race and then on Friday we line up on Course A, the inshore race course right off the harbour breakwater and spectator grandstand, for the start of Race One. Two races are scheduled.

For everyone who wants to see Tornado Racing on television, the races on Friday will be your only opportunity before the Medal Race at the end of the series. NBC-TV will feature our racing live in a two-hour web-TV segment between 1:00 am and 3:00 am Eastern on Friday morning at http://www.nbcolympics.com/sailing/index.html. After that the footage will be archived and available for play-on-demand.

We completed our boat and sail measurements over the last couple of days, including the successful measuring in of our radical Chupacabra Code Zero gennaker. With the sail measured in and officially accepted, the only remaining decision was whether to employ it or stick with a standard gennaker during the series. We can’t have both. It was a tough and risky call. We know the sail will power us up in really light conditions going to windward, but in any breeze over 11 knots we’ll only be able to use it downwind and we’ll risk being outgunned by boats with standard gennakers. After carefully weighing the odds, we decided to press ahead and use it.

This versatile undersized gennaker which allows us to power to windward through a chop in really light airs has been considered by several teams since our development work became public about five weeks ago. We know for sure that our Dutch training partners Mitch Booth and Pim Nieuwenhuis have elected to go with a similar sail. We don’t know about others.

The sail has attracted a great deal of media attention and even questions about its legality. Everyone has an opinion but the simple truth is we have tweaked our sails for light air. In the Tornado Class every team has worked exceptionally hard to gain an edge and optimize every facet of their boat, rig and sails. Everyone has made their own choices on sail materials and special sail designs and shapes for the expected conditions. We did the same as everyone else, except that we designed and built a smaller sail that would be more adaptable in the four to eight knot wind range that we expect to predominate in the coming days.


Read more at Johnny and Charlie's blog at www.t-squaredracing.com

Get 'em, boys. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

So only John/Charlie and Mitch/Pim went for the Code 0.
Let's wait and see how it will perform in the light and medium conditions (the forecast for the first two races is 15-20 knots). There is a general consensus that it may be an handicap in 11 to 18 knots, but over it may be again competitive.
This is an excerpt from today The Dailysail:
QUOTE
The forecast is critical to the call, with much fresher winds expected at the weekend. One Chinese forecast predicted 20 knots on Saturday and, accurate or not, this could still validate the Code 0 choice. Opinions differ about the gennaker’s precise optimum operating range, but 5-11 knots upwind seems to be the consensus. After that the Code 0 is short of grunt downwind, until the wind increases to the late teens when the small 18sqm gennaker boats can sail as fast as Tornadoes carrying conventional full-sized 25sqm spinnakers.
UNQUOTE

I still believe the conventional assymmetric will point lower in 18+ winds then the Code-0. So same speed maybe but at a higher angle. By definition almost the code-0 will have a rather flat entry (luff of the sail) and that will require the angle of attackt to be smaller then with a conventional spinnaker where the luff is significantly more rounded.

I have yet to experience being overpowered under spinnaker to such an extent that I had to flog the conventional speed because I couldn't steer any lower. So I dont think the smaller size of the code-0 is any advantage here. In theory the Code-0 can sustain higher downwind speeds because it won't collapse till a much higher apparent windspeed angle but I'm not at all convinced that the associated water surface condition will ever allow these speeds barring really unique situations with really flat water and very strong winds.

Of course I can be totally wrong but I really do see the Code-0 as step closed to a reaching sail then the assymmetric spinnaker. That means it has all the disadvantages that come with it as well, most notibly : less pointing upwind and less pointing downwind. In all conditions the old rig was nicely powered up the code-0 will be at a disadvantages and this includes 18+ wind in my opinion.

So now that my cards are on the table, lets see if reality strokes with the models ! Let the racing begin.

Wouter

Only Charlie and John, will be going 0, Mitch has selected his normal kite.

linky

Whow! What a gamble they are doing. Talk about throwing the dice..

US measured in 2 code zero's...... Talk about shutting down your options.

They will either be heros or zeros come next week.

Does this link work from abroad?: http://os2008.nos.nl/live/index/kanaal/4
(MS SilverLight required, better use IE).
Here's where the T's racing will be live tommorow morning (7:00 overhere).