🚀 go-pugleaf

> 
> 
> >ANOTHER SUBJECT:  Does anyone have any experience with
> >one of the new non-spinnaker down wind sails.  They're
> >called "Spankers," "Gennikers," "Bloopers," etc.  I've
> >heard good and bad.
> 
> >jaws::couture
> 
> 	I don't think you meant to include the term "Blooper" here.
> 	A Blooper is a sail used together with a spinnaker (on the
> 	side opposite as your spinnaker pole). The greatest advantage of
> 	using a blooper is that it tends to cancel the wild oscilations
> 	that can lead to major knock downs in heavy following seas. Some
> 	people believe that they offer a speed advantage, but, I've
> 	never been convinced of this. I am convinced that they will not
> 	give enough of a speed advantage to offset the 3second per mile
> 	rating change (PHRF).
> 
> Bob Schneider
> {ihnp4|hplabs}!hpfcla!hpfclo!rjs

 *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR RACING TIPS *** 

      Bob, I hasten to differ with your opinion here. I have raced
      on many boats [both here in San Diego and up in the SF bay]
      and have found bloopers to be very fast on certain occasions,
      notably during heavy weather as you mentioned. Considering
      that a knockdown may take a minute or two to recover from
      [from knockdown to refill to course correction to retrim]
      and in many conditions several knockdowns may  lurk in the
      shadows,[especially in the ocean] a blooper may be a very
      effective way to gain stability. Fewer knockdowns also means
      less wear and tear on your kites in the long haul, which
      keeps them in a more competitive state [read:faster].   

      On the 1983 Cabo San Lucas race we saw 18 kt. over the deck,
      and were popping off 16's and 18's on the speedo. Our main
      sail combination was a running 1.5 oz. and a 1.5 blooper.
      Without the blooper we would've needed to sail 10-12 degrees
      higher to maintain stability, and I'm sure would've cost us
      several places in the standings. My point is that the blooper
      allowed us to INCREASE VMG, which is the relevant
      factor on any point of sail, and retain control while sailing
      lower and faster.

      Andrew T. Vare