On Whalsay island there is a big concrete pad and wide slip by the water and about 20 racing dayboats. It is class unique to these islands. There is no centre board just a long keel and most of them are between 18 and 20 feet long. They have a fixed sail area but they are all very high tec rigs with lots of control lines. Two of them have high aspect gunter rigs
All the races are held in the sound between Whalsay and Linga – it gets lots of wind but is fairly flat. It has crazy and capricious tides.
They plane at the drop of a hat. They only do persuit races with the shorter boats starting first
The boats have all been built on the island, They are all painted - virtually no varnish. There are five trollies for the 20 boats so they all help each other.
They are made n the island using ply and epoxy.
I wish I could go back and film them racing.
Interesting
The class rule must made some interesting reading the variation in hulls is quite significant … But which is faster ? We will have to wait for your return trip……
Here is the only you tube I could find
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEhqRM6NJ8U
Really cool looking!
Love the braking system!
Warren
Duck punt on really strong steroids!
All kinds if high tech stuff… Skinny masts, forward benign rigs…. Would like to see them going up wind
Warren