Formula VS Trimaran. Inexpensive high performance sailing

[Uffe]

I follow a windsurfing / kiting forum in Sweden and there has been quite the discussion on how "expensive" the formula equippment is compare to other windsurfing gear. Especially if you are going to have the latest and greatest gear. Well in comparison to what you get performance wise it is NOT very expensive. Here is an example of a several year old comparison of a Formula sailor matching up with what I am sure is a 100 times (if not 1000 times) more expensie high performance sailing. Pretty cool comparison.

Formula vs. Trimaran.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD-rjGbNNsE

Enjoy,
Uffe
USWE 22

[steveb]

OK the race is on.
47.2 knots and even more money.
The first time I saw this it blew my mind
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jCuP-XHefTo

[JRN]

Dudes, didn't a KITER recently break the top w/surfer speed record? I'd guess the average kite set-up costs even less, especially compared to hi-test formula gear. Let's see: Kite: $1250; Board:$750= $ 2 G's.... WS: Sail $850; Mast: $750; Board: $1500; Fin: $350; Base & u-joint $200, Carbon Boom: $750= $4400. I know I'm quoting premium gear, but I think I'm pretty close to the mark....Twice as much for WS vs.Kite. EEEK! My retirement fund just sold at the swap for pennies on the Dollar!
BTW: You can go to Hi-tempo & buy a Hobie tri-foil for $7 G's.

[Tom L]

The Tri-maran & the Formula are cool but that hydrofoil takes the cake. What a smooth ride. The main is totally reefed, too.

I would think a little milfoil would spoil the ride on that Hobie Tri-maran, Where can you sail a hdrofoil locally?

[JRN]

ONE of the guys from hi-tempo used to flog his across WBL in a regular basis. It planed up on the hydro-foils in zero flat & jibed on a dime. Of course, I never considered the mil foil effect! That tri-maran/h-foil looked like a fighter plane with a mast. If my French is correct, I think they said," Holy f#(%, we are flying now!" Dang, I thought my kite vs. w-srf comments would stir up some controversy!

[steveb]

within the budget of most of us, a international moth, 11ft long.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuSrSoqC8k4

[SteveJ]

Steve when you get one of those I would like to try it.

[steveb]

Steve, I've sailed an international moth before they started using the foils, it had the wings for hiking but still used a displaced hull.
The hull is only roughly 2.5 feet wide and it was very hard keeping the boat up right. It felt like balencing on a knife edge. I was used to Finns, OKs and Lasers,on a reach one technique is to roll the boat towards you, this helps the boat bear off the wind, while pulling in the mainsail to create leverage against the wind, pumping the boat. I sent off from the dock on a reach , pumped the sail/boat and it just rolled right over the top of me and put me in for a swim. I didn't get 30 feet off the dock.
Having learned that lesson I stayed upright for a while but I can't say it was comfy sailing.
Here's one of people leearning to sail them.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=M6eEcIBwLE4

[anne of willmar]

are there different sails for different weights of sailors???i need one of these, where to try///buy????

[steveb]

Anne, not with moths. If I remember rightly they have a 90 sq ft mainsail.
A single handed dinghy that does have 2 different size mainsails is the Laser, they have a 90 and 75 they call the radial. They treat the different size sails as classes so lighter people can race against one another and visa versa.
For some reason in the states dinghy sailings not really caught on except in San Diego, Annapolis and San Francisco, in the rest of the western world it's huge.Designs have really moved towards skiffs which are wild to sail. I used to own and race an International 14 skiff, the association T shirt was "14's the best laxative known to man" .
It's a shame there's not more dinghies around here as Milly would be a great racing lake.
Here's some14's http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgtpp8C5ZGM 14's

[chanrider]

I have been toying with the notion of picking up a small sailboat for a couple of years... this would be a good way to get the kids started sailing when they are old enough I think.

Lake Minnetonka Yacht Club has a school and a lot of options to learn how to sail dinghy class boats for adults and kids. There are several other clubs on the lake that I'm sure could get people started as well. Waconia has a small catamaran racing club also. My biggest issue is where to park the dang thing cuz our little motor boat already takes up the space next to the garage. But I usually can find a way to stash gear, so I will figure this out eventually!

[Tom L]

Mark,

Both my kids have neen through LMYC program. My son is leasing an Opti for a 2 week program this season, and they store it for you, on racks. The program is now run by local sailing legend, Gordy Bowers. It's a great sailing school, the kids love it. At least the kids learn how to sail, until you figure out where to keep a boat.

Website: http://www.lmss.us/ or call me @ six one two 963 three nine one nine.

[steveb]

This is fun..the aussie pro circuit. 18 ft skiff

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YxRgaJJ86_8

[anne of willmar]

i've had a laser, not fun enough, truly would like to try the moth....

[steveb]

I guess some guys aracing them in the states.
http://www.int-moth.us/index.php?option ... &Itemid=42

[chanrider]

This looks a little more realistic for someone like me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBLhw4wsKLY

I will never sail that well I'm sure, but it might just be affordable. Sunfish, baby, Sunfish!

[steveb]

Wow Anne I can honestly say I never got bored racing Lasers, get em in a blow and they're a riot.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=g2qBxax-W1Y
Though tough to beat sunfish as a putz and futz boat, I got one for Nancy for her to learn to sail, she had a lot of fun with it for a couple of years