Dependent on what your predominant racing conditions are and who you are racing against, you have to take care in deciding what to do about your spinnaker. If your competitors are PHRF maximized, you may have to maximize your sails to be competitive and/or appeal to your local PHRF committee. I've done both, and have had relative success in both.

For sail maximization, you have to know your numbers (PHRF formulas) exactly for full optimization. For PHRF committees, don't expect much, because racing in local regions may be politically driven, as Handicappers may be people you race your boat against. These individuals typically do not like to lose, so you may get something, but not a whole lot. You have to do your homework to back up your appeal, but the outcome is based solely on where they want you, not where you should be.

I took it slow on my optimization as I wanted to see how the boat performed before commiting to change. My main and genoa were fine at Code 5, but I went to a Code 8 (or -9) for my masthead spinnaker and shortened pole. If I left my Class pole at 9.83 with a masthead, I would have taken a -15 or -18 PHRF penalty.

I currently have a 32.0 LLS with a 9.58 pole which is workable with a -9 hit. I'm now experimenting with a 34.0 LLS with a 9.0 pole also with a -9 hit. This feels like more power in any wind over 5 kts and probably what I'll go to here.

Even if you do nothing and use a Class set-up you'll probably win a race here and there, as I did, it's just being optimized, you win more races. I've taken this route because other owners with Laser 28s and Tartan 10s told me when I first started sailing a few years ago that my Express would never be able to beat them.

They don't say that any more. PHRF is PHRF and not OD. It's really unfortunate that I have the only e27 here. The flip side is that my boat with inexperienced crew and old sails still wins.

I'm sure you'll love your boat. Cheers!