Port Stephens - Hull Shapes

[Glenn AUS 719]

Not sure why you are worried Paul, after all Jesus built your hot rod ;)and I can vouch that it is quick. You will be made once the hiking decks are modified.
Looking forward to seeing the red and yellow machine up front giving every one a scare. ;D

[Ok Dinghy]

Just my two bobs worth.
I have sailed two hull types a Botterill and a Delf, I enjoyed both. Never sailed an icebreaker, but have seen many go past me. I think that the amount of sailing/practice has the most to do with downwind speed.
Most people when they train, sail hard upwind then rest downwind, it should be the other way round. The biggest gains can be made downwind, especially in big fleets such as the worlds. Passing 10 boats upwind is hard work, but can be achieved easily downwind by sailing high or low, and catching every wave.
At the Finn's last January, Ben Ainslie was wearing a heart monitor, which was set to warn him when he reach 180 beats per minute, to slow down, which it did downwind. He said that he always looks forward to a rest upwind.
Maybe this is why some are fast downwind, a lot of concentration is also required downwind, to make sure you catch every wave.

So don't give up, do some sailing and capsizing practice, if someone is catching you look at their setup, maybe you have too much or not enough vang. Or you have your sail setup wrong. I have passed many downwind whose centreboard was all the way down, they just forgot.
You will also find that some people are magnets downwind, don't get stuck near them, once you get caught near them everyone will pass you.

[Deleted]

Well I have sailed a lot of different hull shapes over the years and think there are definately some that are faster than others. the slowest i ever sailed downwind was a botterill. But having said that Peter gale was not slow (but light and kind of good). The delfs has strengths in that it takes weight well. I don't think it gets on the plane earlier than other boats though. It likes light bobbly stuff. The icebreaker is very good and planes at full speed faster than a delfs but needs to driven harder in waves to get it going and can be a bit sticky in the light. The skipper hull is very quick allround and especially on tighter reaches. It also goes fastest when just steered and not worked too hard which is bit like the delfs.
The main ingredient as far as I can tell for being fast is good steering. Trim is important as well but if you can't steer down the waves it makes no difference what your vang tension is. Roger and Andre are both very good at this and in Andre's case this more than makes up for his size.
Practise is the best method of going faster. the more you do it the better. Just try to get a bit of flow in the waves and keep the bow going down the waves and through the gaps to the next one. Also try to enjoy it and relax and the speed will come.

[aus738]

the slowest i ever sailed downwind was a botterill

Don't say that Greg - Glenn will be off ordering a new Jason King hull and won't be able to afford to finish his house! ;D

[Deleted]

This is an interesting topic but not one that should cause extreme concern.

The OK Dinghy hull is the most expensive but probably the least important part of the whole package! Yes, it needs to measure as an OK Dinghy, it needs to be on minimum weight and it must be of sound construction and have a good external finish. Other than that the hull then becomes only the platform for the rig, the foils and the driver. These are far more important factors in the overall performance of the boat than the slight differences in various hull designs.

Enjoy the boat you have and learn to use it to the best of your ability. Upgrade equipment when you can afford to do so. Time in the boat is everything!

[aus694]

Very well said Bill. I think you are recommending that all this chatter about hull shape should fall on 'delf' ears.
regards

[aus716]

I've heard it said that 30 degree wind shifts may be helpful too.