The race is on then! Who can come up with the sexiest, most aerodynamic, all carbon lifting foil/snuffer? Oh! Keep it under $5k and 1.5 oz.

SNU has some smooth lines, and don't weigh much. At least compared to the factory Hobie hoop.

You guys are great. I mean that. This is such an active site with lots of smart, experienced sailors willing to share their years on the water. I think those F14 guys are on the verge of going postal.

If you are considering windage of the snuffer, then you should consider windage of what you wear on the water too. A person sticking out the side of the hull is a rather blunt instrument.

Did you see the austrians at the 2004 games, with their red jumpsuits? They obviously thought the same thing. Data is inconclusive though as they did not repeat their performance in 2008.

Are beer bellies or swollen heads slow?

Depends on the wind condition. At some point the righting moment of the beer belly and swollen head is going to compensate for the loss in drag.

Following that logic a sailor with a swollen head have a distinct advantage.

Forget the logic a swollen head is only good for one thing.....Impressing the woman you love!

But then we have Mark, lowering the bar:

I dont think I've ever seen Mark LOWERING a bar.

Trying to drink one dry; maybe.....

Why would you lower a bar? No more service if the bar is leveled or beneath the official norm.

Rolf, It's a term that is used to saythe bar will be closing soon (or not)

"The bar will be closing soon" = it's closing
"The bar will be lowering soon" = It's closing
"The bar will be closing soon, but not lowering" = The bar is closed if someone official asks, but in reality we will be open until we decide it is time to lower the bar.

So the "lower" term is from the curtain they lower or close to really shut down serving. Pretty funny term.

That's strange I thought lowering the bar meant lower the standard.
I never realised it had anything to do with a wet bar and more importantly stop tap.

That's what I thought too. I was thinking the same as Mark, so if I'm already at the same level, does the bar actually need lowering?

Karl! Load up! http://www.juanaspagodas.com/RegattaNews.htm

Yes it means lowering the standard. Making it less than it should be. Something most of us don't want.

Doug

I always thought "lowering the bar" was a play on the more popular "raising the bar" as used in track and field meets, where you raise the high jump or pole vault bar as the better atheletes go higher and higher.

I was a pole vaulter in my younger days, so I know something about having them "lower the bar"...when it was my turn!

Or, as my Officer Evaluations used to say back when I was in the Air Force, "Lt. Bohan sets low standards and consistantly fails to achieve them."

So, who is going to invent the retractable spinnaker pole? That's all we need right? Extend it at the A mark and suck it back under the tramp at C mark, it could even double as a righting pole if done right! ;^)

I dont think the retractable pole is allowed under the rules?

Depends if you're the person trying to "step over" the bar.