Spring Series Sails Talk
Race 3 - March 26th 2000
Sunday March 25th and another day of mainly light breezes on the Solent, with the occasional gust of up to 12 knots.
IRM and IRC 1 started off the deep water line but were delayed by over an hour as the wind shifted continually. With more boats appearing as the series progresses the fleets enjoyed some good racing after a tricky first beat against the tide to Prince Consort. IRM was won by John Shepherd and his crew aboard the Mumm 36 Fair Do's, proving that the 36 can compete in IRM without modification.
With the exception of Scorpion in Class 5 the remaining IRC classes had a different winner to last week showing that competition in the Series is as fierce as ever.
Quokka. Photo Thorneycroft.
Call (01983) 290220 or check out www.yacht-photos.co.uk for pictures of your boat.
At Banks Sails we are pleased to have been selected by Robbie Boulter to produce a suit of Checkmate Kevlar fore and aft sails and Series 2000 Asymmetric spinnakers for his new Mills 37 Cruiser/Racer.
Mark Mills describes the design as an exciting departure for Mills Design with its swept back spreader carbon rig, retractable bowsprit and light displacement cruising emphasis. This combination should offer outstanding performance without the need for a full racing crew.
Hamble-based 2HO are currently building the boat from a combination of cedar strip and foam. The boat's core design elements are the long waterline length, high stability keel allowing a narrow waterline beam and a healthy sail area. Thunder 2's initial sail inventory will consist of a Kevlar Main, 108% Medium Headsail together with an AP Asymmetric. After initial sail trials we expect to add Light and Heavy headsails together with more spinnakers. We are also investigating the possibility of increasing the boat's light air reaching potential by including a "Code Zero" type sail.
With Cuban Fiber (CF) now being stocked in the UK there is another sailcloth option for the serious racer who wants that little bit extra. Like PBO, Kevlar, Spectra etc., CF does not attract a penalty in IR2000 racing. It does, however, have a penalty in terms of price. Cuban sails cost around 25% more than their Kevlar counterparts. The CF laminates use unidirectional prepreg tapes of in-line Spectra 2000 on monofilament level films. CF is much thinner than other laminates and retains more of its strength during flexing.
As an example of its strength the importers recommend that a CF style weighing 3.4oz can be used in place of a 5.5oz Kevlar laminate.
If you are thinking of upgrading your racing wardrobe whether it be with Cuban Fiber, PBO, Kevlar, Pentex or any other laminate call Banks Sails today to discuss the options.
Fandango - PBO Plus Main, Pentex No.1. Photo Thorneycroft.
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