Hi all,

In in the team building phase and I am having a really hard time getting close to the weight limit. Right now with 5, we are over by 49 lbs. On my boat is one guy who I think would be more fit if he were 20 lbs lighter and a pencil who only weighs in at 155 lbs. The rest of us are "right" in my opinion for our height and weight (the guys are either on the tall side, or muscular, or both).

I think my options are to 1) cut one crew member which if it's the 155 pounder that would put us at 774 lbs and I'll never have to worry about weighing in again but we'll be sailing 106 lbs shy of the limit. 2) cut the lightest guy and and try and find a 100 lb female to sail with us.

Having no other E-27s down in Santa Cruz right now to sail against I don't have a way of gauging how much of a handicap we'll have in one design racing if we're 100 lbs "light".

I read the long thread about being light in the rail during tacks which would be one issue but I suppose it really comes down to how long you can carry the Genoa as the breeze builds which is probably far more important than the advantage gained sailing a bit light on the downwind legs.

So... for the bay fleet in particular. What's your crew weight and at what wind strength do you typically have to shift gears to the jib?

I do intend to bring the boat up to the bay when the crew is ready for one design racing which is why I'd like to get this figured out now.

thanks

Bryan