Americas cup boats, C-class, A-Class, woulf it be legal on an F-18?
I've never looked at the class rules, but you probably have a max. girth measurement for the mast.
The F18 has never been about being on the bleeding edge, the class is about small incremental changes that won't obsolete a fleet overnight. So, you're not going to see a wing on F18's. Besides the wing has been around for 30 years and been legal on A cat's for some time, how many wings do you see in that fleet.
I'm pretty sure you won't see curved dagger boards in the F18 fleet either.
I quess the no CF rule would make the wing pretty heavy too.
I dont think there is anything in the rules that says you can't have banana boards. The real question is, are they worth the money? because I would be doubtfull they would be fast on f18.
B.1.4. DAGGERBOARDS AND RUDDERS
The platform shall be equipped with a pair of rudders and, if fitted, a pair of dagger boards or centreboards.
The dagger board boxes and the rudders have to be in the vertical plan of the hulls.
All underwater appendages must be symmetrical.
The dagger boards or centreboards and rudders may be made using epoxy resin.
The carbon may be used for the construction of dagger boards, centreboards or rudder blades
Okay let me put it another way, I suspect the class would move quickly to adjust the rule to make them illegal. It wouldn't be the first time the class has done this.
I think you'll have trouble convincing a measurer your curved boards were symmetrical. The rule doesn't say of symmetrical section, it says symmetrical.
The F18 class is all about putting boats of equal performance on the water so that the results is a reflection of the skill of the crew. While manufacturers can tweak hull shapes and rigs a little to claim an edge if you bring into the class something that is new and aimed at a performance gain it will be banned because it undermines the concept of the crews making the difference. They couldn't even get away with bringing in canted boards the bannana boards wouldn't have a hope.
In your opinion...
with all due respect, there has been massive changes to f18 over the years to improve their performance. Don't for get the original f18's had traditional jib sheets (no self takers) pin head sails, and certainly no gybing centerboards!
i don't see the point of banana board on f18 as the drag would outweigh the lifting effect but I wouldn't be surprised if some one tries in on given the vagueness in the rules.
banana boards are asymmetric in section
I think the argument against curved boards would be the ability to put either board in either side of the boat.
This class, though not truely one design, is a really great box rule class and competes like it was a one design, in that the crews make the difference. The boats are the pretty frosting on the substantial cake. This is what has and will help the class grow. That as well as having used boats that are highly competitive. No wing, no curved daggerboards, keep the class alive!
Later,
Dan
What makes a wing competitive over a traditional sail - if so?
The explanation I got was that the laminar flow does not separate from a wing as fast as it does from a soft sail to there is quite a bit more efficiency.
Less drag = more power per sq. foot. Also more controllable.
A wing would be very illegal. The mast is limited to 38 cm perimeter. So you couldn't claim it was a mast. The sails are limited to a small number of sail materials and are required to fit in a normal sized sail bag.
The rules probably prohibit curved boards by requiring each board to be symmetrical and the daggerboard boxes to be vertical. It doesn't say what kind of symmetry though. Rules were added after a boat had boards raked inwards to produce lift. This is essentially what curved boards do.