When the class was first formed there was neither a weight limit nor a crew limit. Then the original weight limit was 1080, with any crew combination. So you could sail with 5 215 lb crew total, or 10 107 lb crew (all junior sailors). The boat could have a family of four (both spouses, and their 2 young children) plus 3 regular crew, thus touching potential future generations of Express owners.

Then, for some weird reason, it was decided that it would be better to change the weight limit to what the J-24 weight was limited to. Not sure where that Math came from. We can all see where the J-24 class has ended up, just looking at the # of boats that showed up at Nationals this year.

I would propose an increase in the weight limit back to at least 980, and then each boat figure out how many that adds up to. If someone wants to go with 10 98 lb kids, or 6 160 lb crew, or 5 195 lb crew or 4 245 lb crew, fine.

At least with 980 lbs, the race courses might include tight beam reaches again, which is virtually impossible to achieve with an 880 lb weight limit.

At 980 you wouldn't have to do some finagle with the skipper's weight either.

Regardless, hope to see you out there. Sergey Lubarsky and I have gone in as partners on Bob Hyde's "Sonita".

-Marcia Schnapp

:: Dan:
::
:: 34 prospects listed on crew rooster at 170# average?
:: That's a good indicator of some form of limiter
:: restraining crew weight under the 176# mean average. I
:: have a whole list of crew choices that weigh more and
:: I'd like to get them on the boat.
::
:: : Mike,
:: ::
:: :: FYI, there are currently 34 people listed on the e27
:: :: crew list page and the average weight of these people is
:: :: 170.1 pounds.
:: ::
:: :: Dan
:: ::
:: :: :: Thanks for figuring this out Larry. I like your formula
:: :: :: because its based on math and not in speculation.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Anything we can do as a fleet to build participation
:: :: :: makes sense.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Raising the weight limit using this mid ground method
:: :: :: which no one said no to through informal polling at the
:: :: :: fleet meeting, meets the aim of opening up the fleet to
:: :: :: current owners and a whole slew of crew the 880 maximum
:: :: :: prohibits. Those are crew choices above the 176 # mean
:: :: :: average. Growing infinitely more dificult to place as
:: :: :: crew on e27s when known prospects start to weight ove
:: :: :: 200#s.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Mike
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Hey Guys,
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Sorry to have issed the meeting and the whole sailing
:: :: :: :: season. I have been facing some physical challenges. Now
:: :: :: :: that the end is near, I see that my next big hurdle is
:: :: :: :: the weight liimit. I will have a stainless steel hip
:: :: :: :: implant to add to my weight making it iven harder for me
:: :: :: :: to make weight for Strega.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: I proposed a reasonable plan some time ago and I want to
:: :: :: :: write it down again. This is sophomore physics at its
:: :: :: :: best!
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: I beleive that the helmsman does not contribute to the
:: :: :: :: righting moment of the boat in any significant way. We
:: :: :: :: sit facing inboard and may not hike past the sheerline
:: :: :: :: of the boat.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: If you calculate the torque generated by an object at
:: :: :: :: the center of mass of the helsman facing inboard at the
:: :: :: :: narrowest part of the boat and compare it to the torque
:: :: :: :: generated by an object located at the center of mass of
:: :: :: :: a crew member facing ourward at the widest part of the
:: :: :: :: boat, the helmsman is half as efficient at righting the
:: :: :: :: boat (counteracting the heal) than the crew. Therefore
:: :: :: :: he/she should only count as half in computing the total
:: :: :: :: weight limit for the boat.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: crew+crew+crew+crew+skipper/2 :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: That is my best estimate of what is fair. And no Jason,
:: :: :: :: I will never weigh 190 no matter how much I diet.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Larry