I was able to out point most other boats with my H17, but I don't see this with the F16 uni. Seems to point about equally with the sloop.

I disagree Pete. A uni rig F16 is a high aspect ratio rig. When sailing against uni f16 I will try my best to stay out of there windward side on the start because I have found myself being luffed by them.

Plus when I raced my blade uni I can usually out point sloops (i 20, H20s etc).

But were you getting to the weather mark before the sloops?

Here's my problem: when I started sailing the Blade, I sailed to weather like on my old H17. The Blade would go into irons without any warning and I was always last to the weather mark. It seems the lower and faster I sail the better vmg I have.

When I sailed the Blade I was racing against hot shot sailors. Usually I20s Tornadoes etc. ON a few occasions yes I did get to the weather mark before them.

If you are going into irons, I dont think it has to do with the rig, I would say its more like a wind shift. The biggest thing that I think has improved my sailing is paying attention to wind shifts.

You are going into Irons while sailing up wind? Sounds like the boat is set up wrong or you are letting go of the tiller!!!

Pete,

I agree with you that uni the Blade sails the same upwind angle as sloop.
Next weekend (Dutch nationals) I'll compare my angle to the one of Hans :-)
One team at our club sailing an Infusion is a great reference for us. Sailing sloop we sail about the same angle and speed. Uni I also had the best result by sailing about the same angle as them. When I sailed uni together with them they were double trapping. Maybe with a bit less wind it's possible to point a little higher...

I CAN sail very high with the Blade. It just doesn't seem to pay off. Lower, faster seems to yield a better vmg. At least for me.

I think you need to power up by sailing lower and dig the bows in (when conditions allow). The Blade hull design allows the leeward hull to act like another daggerboard and provides lift - especially with the low aspect boards on the early models.

It'll feel like footing, but you'll get speed and lift and viola, at the A mark earlier.

Just be careful when comparing to the F18s. When we where testing the VIPER last summer we where doing some straight line speed testing against the CAPRICORN and in 12-15 knots the VIPER sloop was no slower but it pointed higher and therefore had a greater VMG. We basically put this down to the extra weight on the CAP and the fact that you have to get the nose down wind it up like a freight train.

In general the same boat/rig will sail higher uni rigged than sloop rigged. As a matter of fact the power to weight ratio on an F16 uni should have it pointing higher than almost anything (including F16 sloop rigs) and if it not you should be looking at you rig set-up. The irons problem shouldn't happen, period. wind shifts are the only real explanation for that.

Almost anything = A-Cats. They'll nail you.....spin envy!

What is your trim upwind?
And how does your boat feel, if you sail upwind?
Does the boat shows a lot of wether helm?
Is the boat rocking even in small waves?
How does the wake of the boat look like?
Sort of understanding what your boat is telling you and knowing how to react.

Going upwind, everything should be smooth, you should be able to helm with two fingers only. Keep your weight forward, hold the boat flat, just one hull out of the water. Have the right tell tales on the sail and use them accordingly. Don't cleat the main and so on.

Cheers,

Klaus

I think it has a lot to do with the jib changing the apparent wind?

Doug