[cairns]

They wrote the rules in a way that didn't (they thought) allow for such drastic changes in pitch and they outlawed trim tabs and moveable winglets.

The daggerboards are allowed to be moved in almost any direction. The can be being dropped or raised and they can be canted, the pitch can be altered, etc. But the rule states the windward board is not allowed to contribute to righting moment and the boards cannot protrude outboard of the hull.

The rudder is far more limited- it can only rotate about a single axis up to 10° off vertical and and trim tabs or moveable winglets aren't allowed.

Allowing the movement in the daggerboards allowed the boats to foil- which was never expected. The lack of trim tabs (esp on the rudder) makes them that much harder to control- most of the fore-aft pitch is controlled by the daggerboards (but also by the sails- releasing the jib for example would allow the bow to pitch up). Being in the center of the boat the changes are more extreme- a small change in daggerboard pitch could move the boats center of gravity foreward or aft in a big way.

Consequently the monsters are that much harder to control. Ironically, those who wrote the rule (I think that would be some very rich guy in San Francisco who owns most of the free world) now want to change it at the last minute to allow such changes and put moveable trim tabs on the rudder (which would make controlling pitch changes much easier).

It reminds one of Dennis Conner just before Australia II owned him. But...but...they cheated better than me- that's not fair!

Anyway I don't think Larry knew how far he was taking it. Fascinating but much more dangerous than ever before.

As on old beachcat sailor (Prindle 18 was my favorite but I owned Hobies and Nacras too) I find this pretty cool beans.