Yes it's a great efficient rig. But how about something like a
screecher or Code Zero? Would it be possible to gain enough speed
through the water to make up for the low pointing?


Nav wrote:
No, I don't think so -an idea demonstrated by IACC racing. Think about
the apparent wind shifting as speed rises.

I don't think so either, but it would be fun to check it out. Expensve,
tho'...

... The key to good upwind
performace is the lift drag ratio.

True enough, but the best combined angles are in constant flux. Plus,
the Etchells has much lower aspect ratio rig & foils than an IACC boat.
It's not a good starting point for generalizing. There *might* be some
cases where big light high camber head sail like a screecher or Code 0
might give faster VMG... it would almost certainly be too specialized a
case to be worth pursuing though.

Some boats carry this type of sail all around the course. A few years
back I watched some Windrider Raves (a small foil riding trimaran)
racing, the ones equipped with screechers carried them up wind, much
faster at a lower angle, and beat the ones without quite handily.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King