Is this the shape of the future?

Here is a picture of Chris Rosenberg sailing his IC24 with an experimental assymetric kite and short bowsprit. The new set up is being put out there as 'the way to go', no more problems finding skilled bow crew. The St.Thomas Yacht Club has invited any interested BVI and P.Rican IC24 sailors to come and give it a go later this month.

So, what are the pros and cons?    Well the big one is not having to find a circus acrobat for the bow. The J24/IC24 bow has never been an easy place to work, I've certainly done my fair share. Top crews with skilled foredeck crew do better at regattas, having an inexperienced crew flailing around up there is not fast. This has spread the fleet out and some of the 'entry level' IC24 teams cannot compete. For my money, when spinnakers were voted in there was always going to be premium on good crew work and that has been the case...but I don't neccessarily agree that the bow person has to be a hot shot racer. It is more a case of practice makes perfect, just look at the 'B.Mobile' crew in the BVI, they are frontrunners because they work hard and practice. When the wind is over 18kts and we are back to poled out jibs, the crew work poling out that damn jib is argubly harder than handling a kite in a windy jibe!

The assymetric will keep crew off the foredeck until the 'no kites' flag goes up. Downwind sailing angles will change, I wonder how the 'non planing' J24 displacement-type hull shape will handle powered-up broad reaches. Will the 'barn door' of a rudder keep it all under control? Will the set up demand a roller furling jib? If not will the jib hanks tear the sail in a gybe? Will it set properly with the jib left up? I guess some of these questions will be answered later this month.

This development has come just as the IC24 class rules have finally been agreed upon and written. There will be an argument for the IC24 class to concentrate on putting the current rules into practice rather than looking for more changes!   But there will also be an argument to move on, try something new and boost the interest in the class. More to follow....

Comments

[Art Ahrens]

Having just purchased a second J-24 that is a great candidate for conversion, the following changes are recommended:
1. Increase the roach on the main, using a Melges 24 style boom kicker to keep the backstay off of the main. This will balance the boat, and also eliminate the reduced performance from no Genoa.
2. Investigate a masthead assym chute. The J is UNDERPOWERED. Remember, the dimensions of the boat were based upon Rod's garage dimensions, NOT good high performance boat design. Note how all of the tuning for the one design J-24 class are to power up. Perhaps one fractional assym for heavy air, and a masthead for light air??