Sprint DX

[Bob Carter]

Hi Duncan,
Yes that is right. The last PY we used for the Sting was 860. It is a long time since one competed in one of our events. I took it out of our event guidelines some years ago.
Cheers
Bob

PS I'm told that the Sting had to have a Dart 18 section mast because of frightful bend on the Dart 15 mast section with the bigger more powerful rig. I doubt that the DX rig has that much power but lengthening the forestay and shortening the bridle will increase the stress on the bow sections of the hulls - only time will tell if they can take it. It may need a spreader pole like the Dart 16.

[Andrew Hannah]

Now that Laser Centre is no longer involved with Dart 18s, will there be a re-branding? eg Sprint 18.

Just curious.

[Robert]

From what I understand, the rig works very well with a standard jib, which gives a slot effect where it seems to be needed. I carry my jib about an inch lower than the standard setup because I don't want to backwind the main or stall the sail with a too-tight leech. As the DX jib is being redesigned, I'm wondering if it might be possible to make it so that the luff fits between the hound and the bridle shackle, without lowering the height of the bridle itself. This would make the rig slightly more interchangeable with standard una and sprint rigs whilst not putting undue extra strain on the bridle plates.

[Steve Willis]

Thanks for the PY info Duncan and Bob.

In the RYA YR2 book for 2001 and 2005 the Sting is given as 888 but if the association class it as 860 so be it.

That helps !

Steve

[Bob Carter]

In the RYA YR2 book for 2001 and 2005 the Sting is given as 888 but if the association class it as 860 so be it.

Steve

Hi Steve,
It must have been an error on the RYA part. In 2001-2005 no Stings were being raced competitatively so I would not have even looked at the RYA listing. As the RYA do not keep history files posted there is no to find out what happened.
When the Sting was first launched it was at PY91 when the Dart 15 was 97, the Dart 15 Sprint mode was 93 and the Dart 18 was 84. When the numbering system was revised the Sting became 860 and the Dart 15 916, etc. We used 860 for the Sting until it dropped off the end.
It is worrying if for some reason the RYA changed it so much, but then as no one races them anymore I guess it does not really matter.
Cheers
Bob

[grahamcollett]

Back on the subject of the sail itself, would the new sail be good for those of us who like to sail una rig?

On a note of caution when the fireball fleet introduced the new mylar sail there was a development phase to get the cloth chosen correct.

At Draycote currently we are trialling a similar development on a new sail in the RS300 fleet and the fleet are trying to get as many hours sailing on it as possible to prove its longevity.

How about one of these sails is loaned to Draycote or Graffham for the club sailors to put some hours on it and see what the longer term performance is like.

I know the guys at Draycote would like to get some hours on this new sail to see how it performs.

Graham Collett
1941

[ray.gall]

Thanks everyone, wonderful to see discussion on DX, clearly project has captured some interest and raised many questions some of which I at this moment in time do not have the answers.

Taken on board your comments / concerns re: hull & mast stress

Sailcloth longevity and suitability for purpose is obviously of concern to us all and why at the project inception a great deal of research was undertaken to give this project which is on a limited budget the best initial chance of success, there are no guarantees other than time / hours of DX on the water.

As the final sail area has not yet been fully detemined due to on-going development unable to give you an approx handicap, however, I have arranged at Carsington to race the coming season off the Sting handicap of 860, because we sail against the catamaran handicap fleet all my results at the end of each series will be scratched but the data collated will invaluable.

Loan sails? great idea and would really help us all to evaluate DX project, however, the real issue here is funding!!!

More news on DX project in next eddition of NewSprint.

Watch this space, not long to wait for DX

[grahamcollett]

I would be prepared to make a contribution towards a further test sail for club racing use if something could be worked out.Could maybe sail the club summer series on sail we time our handicap so could be gathering some good data. I would be monosailing though as this is my preferred format.



Graham Collett

[Ben]

loan for sails i do think a halifax boy may test this out for u maybe a few of them that will shake the cobwebs off it and see if it can withstand the wild winds of the north! who see if it can deal with the same kinda stuff as mine has had to go through and the new sail is it still easy to dump the power with it been a new design im sure u will have planned this been a lightweight (still strong wind sailor) it is often useful to let everything go if required. is this DX just a expensive experiment tho personally im unsure of its future please set me straight wud this be yet anouther PY in the events as three types of boats may make cetain people (apprentice wage) have doubts as they wuld be less likely to be able to buy all this new rigging.

[Charles]

Ben

I think the mainstay of the fleet will remain the standard rig & by the time the product is out on the open market I suspect you will be a fully fledged member of the workforce, whether you like it on not!!

To all other readers: Ben can't help it, he can only type in text-speak, with a Yorkshire accent! I struggled to de-code it too...

[ray.gall]

DX proven in combat

Thanks for all of your interest in the DX Project, testing this last week has gone extremely well, DX has been sailed in wind conditions ranging from 7 - 20 knots.

Sunday 15th March DX Sport raced in competion for the first time.

It has been a long time since I have beaten my son Tom Gall on the water without him capsizing, yesterday I had such a moment Tom racing standard Sprint Sport and I DX, clearly I had an advantage but all of you will appreciate the significance of this result. Tom and I switched cats for the second race and basically it was all over too soon Tom was over the horizon before the end of lap one, Tom had had his revenge.

Geroge Love & Robert England were active combatents and witness to the efficency of the DX sails.

Yesterday also gave us an insight as to further development opportunities for further increased effiency or the DX sail.

Development is still on-going but it is hoped soon that I can give you more information on DX sail prices and marketing

YaHoo!

[Charles]

Ray

Do you think you're going to have to change your boat name to

Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo....

or perhaps

Ya-this-is-flippin-fast-hoo

or maybe just

SPLAT!

?

[mr.magoo]

Hi All, Adrian (1874) here from "rite up north".

I just felt I wanted to put my "two penneth" in on the DX rig.

Firstly, looks. I think the rig looks great and really modern. I showed it to the young upstarts in our club and they said I should dump my Dart 15 and "get one of those". They didn't even realise it was the same boat!

I think that the rig could attract new sailors to the fold!

On performance, we are tidal in Amble (2 hours either side of high tide).We regularly push this to the limit and regularly I find that I have to be towed back in when the winds are light as I can't make way against the tide. If the new rig can give some extra "ooomph" in light winds, it would be great for us.

I will keep an eye out as I was thinking of replacing my sails but I think I will hang on now to see how the DX develops and look forward to seeing costs! Cheers, Adrian

[Robert]

Good point Adrian. I agree about the appeal to youngsters too.

Happy tide fighting...

Robert