I think that it is somewhat ironic that this weeks Amercias’ Cup really looked like the big brother of the little Americas’ cup. I think it was great to finally have what is supposed to be the technical pinnacle of the sport, finally be the actual technical pinnacle of the sport. Now we just need to keep it that way, an just have an anything goes box rule, it just needs to be done without all the legal bullshit.
I also noticed this morning that there is a discussion on the UK moth mailing list asking the question ‘Could a wing sail be made for a moth?’.
I’d be lying if we all didn’t dream of plugging in a wing and being heaps faster than everyone else, but there is something to consider.
Wings aren’t new. They have been around for ages, and the one class that sails them is almost dead. The main thing that I hear about wings essentially boils down to being great to sail on the water, but a logistical nightmare off.
So if you are considering that a wing for your moth might be a good idea, maybe you should just consider building a C-class instead, because that is the amount of work and logistics you have ahead of you.
I’m warming to the wing, thought of it before (12 years ago when yellow pages was smokin) but now with technology always progressing… I think the time may be coming.
One thing bothers me, ‘That’ A class wing. The guy is a pro builder, had good help, but came 30 out of 100, and admitted he’d be 10 places higher with the old rig. Then a note was made that a highly developed wing mast set up, which the A cats have, is just as efficient. I believe he tried it a quite few times and got G. Ashby to tune it etc, so it wasn’t a case of the ‘brand new idea, last minute but then put in a box to be forgotten about’… bothering me, not sure if I want to spend all that time on something that may not ba such an improvement over my wing mast, or a pocket luff for that matter.
My latest whimsical thought is to go for a wing sail that is inflatable, its tough – for capsizes (think about the platforms that boast wing rigs) and flexible, packs easily. Whack it on a scow hull, its stable, perhaps lower aero drag than a skiff, put it all on foils….winner. Talk about upsetting the Mach 2 program! Then again, could be a dog ..but what a dog!
I tell you what though, I’m really thinking about building a new scow (bunyip 9) for old times sake – something to sail with the kids. Scows are great, ask John Mac & Ian Sim.