Did small boats do better in the RTIR

[rwoofer]

After finishing the race this year, we noticed that smaller boats seemed to be doing very well relative to bigger boats compared to other years.

Considering the breeze should allow the greater waterline length to really work, I was completely lost for an answer. We debated this for some time with other boats and no-one could come up with something conclusive either.

Any ideas, anyone?

RB

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[Twister_Ken]

Starting later = less foul tide around back of Wight?

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[boatless]

I had a look throgh all of the IRC classes (finding out how we did in comparison) and there is only a marginal slant towards the smaller boats - probably a tidal influence, bit less foul on the Bembridge onwards section I think.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[rwoofer]

If you look at the ISC classes there appears to be a much bigger difference eg.

ISC Class B, 7th position out of 64 finishers got you in the top 100 overall

ISC Class M, 16th position out of 29 finishers got you in the top 100 overall

It seems you have to do a hell of a lot better in the bigger classes to get a similar overall result.



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[boatless]

See what you mean. Could there be another explanation? Greater use of spinnakers on the smaller boats? As we did the last leg I was v. surprised at how many of the 40ft ish size range were not carrying them.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[rwoofer]

Maybe it is to do with the spinnaker.

We found the Cowes to Yarmouth leg too tight for our crusing chute and also found the No Mans Land to Cowes leg very tight as well. Since we were rated with a spinnaker that would certainly have knocked us back a bit.

Are smaller boats better able to hold spinnakers at higher angles (due to less apparent wind effect)?



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[boatless]

Don't think it's actually easier to sail high on a small boat, just that experience tells me that smaller boat sailors are more likely to have a go, whereas the bigger boats I saw appeared to have given up?

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[rwoofer]

Just found this in the Telegraph report of the race:

"Small yachts with low handicaps have cleaned up in recent years and again conditions favoured them with the best of increasing wind and optimum tidal flow at the key corners during the 55-mile circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight."





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[bedouin]

But looking at things in a different way - if you look at the top 10 places then 6 of them go to the First group, and 2 each to the 2nd and 3rd.

Or yet another way - 3rd in Class B gives you 21st Overall, 3rd in Class D gives you 14th Overall, but 3rd in Class C gives you 118th. That I think is due to the large number of Sunsail boats in Class C.



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[qsiv]

Also, breeze filled in later only a few of IRC 0 did better tha 200th overall - not really what one might have expected. Part of the fun (!) is the fact that not only are you racing against other boats, but the tide and wind make it into a complete lottery on occasions!

For the past two years (three including this) smaller slower boats have done well - wasnt it last year (or the one before) that a Contessa 26 won? Admittedly Jeremy Rodgers knows a thing or two about sailing C26's.

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[Talbot]

It is probable that the smaller boats have a flatter spinnaker, and are thus able to hold them at a much higher angle than the big spinakers. Mine is a cruising chute, and quite flat, which means I can use it up to 60 deg apparent. certainly made a big difference on those two legs. On the otherhand, it is a handicap on the direct downwind bits, where it does not give as much assistance.

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[DavidofMersea]

We have a RTI race here at Mersea every year. To add to the fun, you can go either way round and you can also choose your start time, BUT your enty must be in one week before, with the start time and direction. You must guess how hard the wind is going to blow, and in which direction.

How about something like this for the IOW RTI

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[flaming]

We were sailing a 40.7 in class 2 (pink start) and we held the kite from just past St Cats to the finish, as did almost all the similar sized boats around us. We also managed to hold it almost all the way to Yarmouth from the start. So not sure if that is the reason! Probably the tide and the fact that it's easier to assemble a regular crew on a smaller boat, so the crew work will probably be slightly slicker.

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[Neraida]

See you did well! Enjoyable race?




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[bedouin]

Conditions were almost ideal for the Centurions so we had a cracking sail - it was really one of those days when it didn't take much effort to keep the boat moving at top speed. We were sustaining over 8kts through the water for long periods of time, that may not seem fast to you but for a 6 tonnes of boat on a 24.5 ft waterline takes a lot of doing. That is probably the fastest reaching we've done in anything less than a near Gale.

It was very satisfying to knock so much off our previous best time (90 mins).

It also added more data to the great headsail debate (i.e. what is the optimal headsail configuration in rating terms)



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