>>I would like to add that since I am sitting here checking email and
>watching BMW Oracle get their butts whipped yet again…I am reminded
>about how all the 12 meter boats switched from fin keels to wing
>keels after the America’s Cup last held in Newport (1976?). If wings
>didn’t offer high marks in pointing and down wind work they would
>have never been on an 12 meter.<<
I think this has more to do with the contraints of the IMS rule and
generation 5 of the AC measurement protocols than it does
about what is "generally" faster.
You have to keep in mind that the downstream effect of IMS
is a lot of design features that have little or nothing to
do with most OD, PHRF or IRC designs.
If you think wing keels are faster than fin keels ON MOST
PRODUCTION SAILBOATS, then I strongly urge you to talk to
anyone who has ever owned a Schock 35 or a J105...ask then
how their boats did against the fin keel crowd. Locally,
just about half of Fleet Three, the local J105 fleet, traded
in their wingie-thingies before last season for fin keels, at
considerable expense to the owners.
Having said that, and after having spent 3 days racing J105's
last weekend, I can say with a certain amount of confidence
that it looks like the J105 owners could afford the keel-swap
without having to miss many meals....
tf
