Class folks,
I agree with Sandra. If dacron is faster and better then only idiots will
waste money on other sails. This will limit their spending cash on other
items (if they have limits). A few other very important points on this
matter if it is decided to go this route.Dacron is trademarked to Dupont
which means only their fibers can be used if this terminology is used. If
you review cloth weaved from some manufacturers there are Allied Signal
fibers (of polyester)or others mixed with Dupont fibers. Check cloth
manufaturers specs. Also, there have been coatings put on some sails
which shorten life (flex) but increase stiffness. The cross-cut mains of
today will go tri-radial tomorrow with added cost. On a side note of
saving $ I noticed a carbon fiber boom listed on Splash Tango's inventory
list. I'm sure it was half the cost of aluminum.
I also noticed 5 1999 sails and other 1998 and 1997 sails. I thought
for one design there was a limit on sail purchases per year. How does
this work?
Phil Kaufmann
On Tue, 4 Apr 2000 09:04:45 -0700 (PDT) Sandra Distefano
<distef@dairiki.org> writes:
> Here are my $0.02 worth. People with money and drive to win will
> spend
> money on these Olson's and will spend more than the people without
> as much
> money no matter how many rules you come up with. Their boats will
> then be
> better prepared (no matter how many rules you come up with) due to
> this
> extra money, and, since they have a well funded campaign and a well
> prepared boat, will attract (and probably hold on to) a larger
> percentage
> of the most experienced racers to crew, and will thus win regattas
> more
> often than the other guys.
>
> In other words, if you restrict the number of sails and the type of
> sails
> people can buy, the ones with money will still find something to
> spend
> it on and it will still make a difference.
>
> Also, if dacron mains are:
>
> a) faster
> 2) cheaper
> iii) don't blow out after one regatta
>
> than you don't need a rule to get people to buy them.
>
> Finally, the fleet is changing. In the last 3 years (and especially
> the
> last 3 months) there has been a wholesale change in the who's owning
> and
> campaigning these boats. Why don't we wait and see what happens
> when the
> fog clears before we start writing up a bunch of rules.
>
>
> Thanks for listening
>
> Sandra
> late of Surfer Girl
>