V.Y.C. Yardstick for F16

I saw that John Donaldson (the official handicapper for YV) has just posted that YV yardstick for the F16's Garry, That could be a "hard' yardstick (71) to live up to for a while? You definately need more F16's regularly competing around the country to consolidate it. Still it will keep the class "honest" (even if hard to sail to for a while). I was a little disappointed that he had'nt included the F14 at the same time as I have been in constant contact with him and his indication was that he was working with the results for both the F16 and the F14. I guess we will just have to wait a little longer to see the "official" F14 yardstick.

Hi Darryl,

I have been sailing off 71 same as A's, since I put Altered in the water. I used the A's Yardstick as a starting point that would not be generous, I was tired of criticsm I copped with Mossie Yardstick. It is an achievable number on Windward and Return courses, but Triangles are a big ask especialy for one up, Taipan Sloop with spinnaker comes close to same number using VYC adjustment. Have recently looked at Taipan cat rigged with spinnaker adjustment, it works out just above 74, using 74 makes some of Altered's results look a bit better around triangles or in strong winds without winning. But I have had some wins off 71, in what I now know to be ideal conditions.

Anyway VYC has obviously decided to play it safe which is fair enough at this stage. From what I have seen I would not want to race Top NSW and ACT Taipan sloops with kites on anything less than 71 especialy on A F18 off 70.

Regards Gary.

Interesting.. I thought a T4.9 with kite was a F16?

The "specks" for an F16 and a "standard" Taipan 4.9 - with an F16 spinnaker - are a little different. If a Taipan 4.9 is to compete on an "equal" basis with a fully optimised F16 there are a few changes that can be made that would, arguably improve the Taipans overall performance when it is set up as a "fully optimised F16" i.e. a self tacking jib, the same sized main but with a much larger "square top head" etc.
Garry, I think that the 71 yardstick is "about right" for the F16, at the moment, but with limited numbers of F16's here, (at the moment) competing against each other on a regular basis it is difficult to always "sail up to it".
Until there are several F16's racing each other, week in and week out, no one is very likely to find the "best" points of sail pertinent only to the F16. When you have to compete against other classes of cats, sailing their "best course" it is difficult to sail "your" best course.
When there are greater numbers of F16’s racing each other every week. I think that you will see that 71 yardstick further reduce.

It is. But apparently a rating committee or racing committee has the freedom to look differently at the same situation. Personally however I don't think this is very important. In time all F16 boats will converge on the F16 rating, the other sailors and their protests will make sure of that.

Wouter

The T4.9 has some specs I believe under the F16 rules (based on a failing memory).. At the moment like Mozzies they are grandfathered in the current class rules + kite..
Making changes from the T4.9 rules would mean they would have to conform to ALL the F16 rules.. (what would happen if the T 4.9 class changed its rules?)

So they are either F16 or not *shrugs*.. However this does mean if they arent F16 then they cant vote...

Hi Stewart,

Taipan 4.9's have a existing VYC yardstick for Sloop 73.5 and Cat rig 76.5, as long as they comply with Taipan class rules they can use this yardstick with a spinnaker adjustment of -3.1% which works out to 71.22 and 74.12 respectivley. As soon as they are non class standard ie. F16 width, mainsail etc. they would have to race off F16 VYC of 71, which as you can see is not far different to the sloop yardstick, because F16 mods. would not as Wouter say's make a huge difference.

Up till now they have had no choice except to sail as Taipans with spinnakers as there has been no VYC yardstick for F16. From my experience in NSW and Vic. there are only a few serious about F16 most are more interested in the class racing without spin. and use spin. only at occasional events. If they change rules, for instance going to F16 style mainsail, which is being talked about, I guess it would have to be reviewed when it happens. But I would not see it as a big issue, I think it would just bring us closer together.

Regards Gary.

If you are not aware as yet, at this very moment there is a Blade F16 in its later stages of build here in South Australia (the chap who will own and sail it actually works for us), so it should create a little more interest in F16 when it hits the water. It will also be sailed by an accomplished cat sailer so it should “stand out from the crowd”. There is also a Taipan 4.9 sloop sailer who has ordered a spinnaker for his cat, and when I asked him why he was "going down that road" he said that it wasn't because he wanted to sail as an F16 particularly, but that he was just sick and tired of being passed and beaten over the line by a "little" Alpha F14. This attitude exists in at least one Mosquito sailer here who is adding a spinnaker in time to sail the Goolwa to Milang race early next year (for the same Alpha F14 reasons) Once that happens I am sure that it will induce more sailers to follow their lead.
So you see Gary and Wouter, our Alpha Omega F14 has probably been the best thing that has happened yet for the proliferation of F16’s, at least here in South Australia? You could say that it has been directly responsible for three extra F16’s added to the fleet in less than a year (with potentially many more!

Hi Darryl,

all part of the reason why I want to get over to the hotbed of F16 activity that is S.A. it will happen just when .

Thankyou for your assistance in stirring up interest in spinnaker sailing. There is nothing like some friendly competition from a smaller cat to make bigger cats pull their finger out and get "F"ing going, of whatever size. I have had the same reaction from 18 foot cats when being passed by F16.

Regards Gary.