International 14 Mailing List
Re: Being in SanFran, and being beaten by 505's

14

From: Ted Rogers (twrogers@earthlink.net)
Date: Thu 30 Mar 2000 - 06:21:07 BST

Warren -

I think there are 2 things behind Howie's statement. First, as Pete notes,
the old rules 14's are noticeably slower than the new boats, and closer to
505 speed. Second, 14s are considerably more demanding to sail than 505's,
and as the California fleet spans a wide range of experience and ability,
heavy duty conditions in SF tend to produce big gaps in our fleet. From the
perspective of a 505 world champion cruising around the course, it's
probably more comforting to say "I just sailed around the course just as
fast as that 14 over there", rather than to say "I just sailed around the
course only 2/3 as fast as that 14, but they spend 1/3 of the race
swimming, and I didn't."

I will also second Pete's comment about 505s being mostly speed bumps,
especially downwind. I was watching a race at StFYC from shore last year,
in about 12 knots of breeze, and I saw a 14 round the weather mark with a
parade of 505s already halfway down the leg. The 14 was first to the
leeward mark.

Ted Rogers
US 1104

<p>At 08:02 PM 3/29/00 +0800, Warren Sare wrote:
>The recent publication 'Annual Reference Yearbook 1999/2000' for the
>'Yachting Association of Western Australia (Inc).' had a disturbing piece of
>information that needs clarification.
>
>In the book there is a blub for each class. The International 505 had a
>section which is quoted as (and extracted from an article by Howie Hamlin):
>"Incidently, the 505's in San Francisco frequently race against the
>International 14s, and even with the 14's dual trapeze and huge asymmetrical
>kites, the 505 consistently beats the 14."
>
>What is happening over there in sunny Cal? Could the I14er's in San Fran
>please verify or deny this extract so I can a) be quite embarrassed, or b)
>give the 505 association a serve and request a retraction for such untruths.
>
>Yours stirringly
>
>Warren Sare
>Performing Labrats
>AUS475
>callisto@primus.com.au
>www.14footskiff.com.au
>
>

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