Rate and Speed Optimization
This is always fun. Finding that edge for a handicap race is always a challenge. One needs a good idea of what to expect on the race course. Racing for as long as I have all over the world and having a great understand of weather, I have a good idea of what to expect where and when the regatta is to happen. From there I would look at the boats strengths and weaknesses and build an idea with what to work on. Managing the sail inventory along with the goal of conditions to be strong in is very important.
I have sailed under (showing my age here or should I say experiences) CCA, IOR, IMS, CHS, IRC, ORR, TP 52, ORC, Volvo and America’s Cup rules. I have seen it all. I understand what makes boats go faster in setup for rating and if the boat will be fast enough to make a change that will help or hurt. Sometimes it is a new sail, other times it is making sails bigger or smaller. Of course the rig and boat set up for measurement is very important.
People spend all kinds of money for new sails and they can get that type of performance increase all the time with good rating work for much less money…
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