Paul;

Thanks for the clacs with boat flat. What about when the boat is healed over? Say upwind at ideal of 12 - 15%? In both modest and extreme crew hiking examples recognizing the no hiking retraint rule.

And this isn't about winning races for me. It's about keeping the boat staffed with crew from a very long list of actual crew, and prospects, many of whom are barred from sailing on the boat because they weigh over 200#. Exponentially the more you weigh, the less chance you have to sail on an e27 other than to own one. And this is where this opportunity for getting more people in the fleet begins. From the great untapped and interested.

I myself would prefer upping the maximum wight limit to 1035 - 65#, having sailed at this weight for years. That would keep everything level. And I know the boats much fast upwind and faster downwind then some of the boats that went to 1200# + in this time period; 1986 - 1988.

Honest, just over 1000# is faster than 880#s. And more fun too. For a wider range of people weights ultimately meaning more people.

I mean since the downward weight changes (that I never supported) there is a totally unaddressed crew/owner prospect segment above 200#s. And I no longer weigh 180 . . . more like 235.

I support Larry's mid ground option because a lot of people at the fleet meeting supported this mid ground option. I think others will too. Ideal no. Passable, yes.

mb

:: I did a reasonably careful measurement using this image:
::
:: http://express27.org/photos/2392.jpg
::
:: Assuming the boat is flat, A helmsman sitting at the
:: traveler has about 3/4 of the righting moment of a crew
:: hiking reasonably hard amidships. This means the
:: difference in total righting moment between an at weight
:: boat with a 300lb driver is less than 5% different than
:: one with 150lb driver.
::

:: -
:: -   ( 300 * 0.75 ) + 580 = 805
:: -   ( 250 * 0.75 ) + 630 = 817.5
:: -   ( 200 * 0.75 ) + 680 = 830
:: -   ( 150 * 0.75 ) + 730 = 842.5
:: -

::
:: With most drivers in the 150-250 range, I don't think
:: it's worth complicating the rules for a 2-3% difference.
:: I'll also submit this as evidence, that when it comes to
:: winning races there are more important things to worry
:: about:
::
:: http://express27.org/photos/640.jpg