TAS
7 posts
Well,well
With all the F18 designs that are available is anyone suprised that one of the "older" designs took out 1st and 2nd? What does this mean for some of the other manufactures in the world? Are all the variations worth the money spent on developing them, does it purely come down to the sailor in the end?
NSW
45 posts
Don't think that the Tiger has and still is going through little development. Biggest gains at the monent are coming through the rigs.
Ant to respond to "does it purely come down to the sailor in the end?"........ You hit the nail on the head. All the top boats are in first class condition and well tuned. After that, it is the sailor that are posting the results. It was no supprise that the 2 best pro teams at the event will be battling it out at the end (both team Hobie Cat) and both are big breeze specialists which we saw all regatta.
That said, the previous World Champs on the Capricorn were forced to return home days before the event when the Skippers wife fell ill. The top Capricorn was Steve Brewin in 8th, and was also the first of the non pro teams. Top effort. The Nacras also showed great speed with their pros filling in top spots also (best 3rd). There is trully nothing between the different makes.
Without disrespecting the other teams up there, this event was always likely to be won by Mitch or Bundy and it came to a final match race between the 2 long time Olympic rivals in the final race before the result was known. It was truly breathtaking watching sailors of such a high calibur rip the fleet apart like they did in the final race.
42 posts
No offence to tiger sailors but from a f18 point a veiw they are slow. Hobie has almost no interest in being an f18 anymore and i think will stop updating the tiger and make it a one design class only.
In the end it does come down to the sailor, but the nacra infusion is really making average sailors look good. Its hull shape, gybing daggerboards and wing mast is whats hot at the moment. The nacra is even converting loyal hobie and capricorn sailors.
tornadoalive i must agree it was always going to be bundy or booth. But those guys really are freaks, i think they would still win even on a sabot! Bundys boat was by no means special, it was actually quite average, the rope size on his jib sheets and main sheet was very amusing. He really does do it all on talent and the fact he gets paid $70 000 by hobie.
