On Wed, 01 Feb 2006 08:47:23 -0500, Wayne.B wrote:

On Tue, 31 Jan 2006 23:48:46 -0500, Matt O'Toole
wrote:

J24s have been raced for over 25 years now, even offshore. But the
sinkings seem to be a recent phenomenon. I wonder if people are just
pushing them harder, as if they're dinghies or sportboats, where
capsizing is a normal part of sailing.

That's certainly one possibility but there is also a chance that the deck
cores are absorbing more moisture which would decrease stability to a
certain extent. Are the capsizing boats competetive or not? If yes, I'd
guess that it is just more agressive technique.

There's no question about the stability problems, soaked deck cores or
not. The J24 is not a particularly stable boat. But I do think
people are driving these boats harder than ever before. The 5 sinkings
I've heard of in the last couple of years were all during major regattas.

Matt O.