The mystery of "New Rule Foil"
The Optimist class has a goal that boats built by different manufacturers to be identical. The tolerances for the boat when first designed were very loose. Since 1995 the class has been tighten the rules to achieve their goal. Effective March 1 of 2004 all foils are to be manufacturer to the new standard. This standard specifies the shape within 3 mm, that the core will be PVC foam, they shall be clear, and be built from specific fiberglass and epoxy. Old style foils are grand fathered as specified below. The only places it is mandatory to use the new foils is at the World Championships beginning in 2006 and the Continental Championships in 2007. The old style foils will be legal for racing at every Regatta in the United States forever.
Old Style Foils
All foils built to the previous specifications are grand fathered as long as they were measured prior to March 1, 2005. The United States Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA) has been tolerant of this cut off date allowing foils built to the old standard to be measure at major regattas and at certain locations. McLaughlin is one of those locations. As of this writing (March 2006) you can still get your old style foils measured. Are Foils All The Same?
Yes, all new rule foils are basically the same. The major difference we see is in the surface finish and the leading and trailing edges. There is some room to modify the parabolic shape of the edges. Whether this has any significance as to speed is still to be determined.
Old Style Shape Still Offered
McLaughlin still offers the old style shape because it is a better shape for teaching sailing. The shape gives more weather helm or feel for steering and allows sculling which in turn helps the student keep the boat from stalling out. These foils are offered in both Fiberglass and wood. We have a stock of these that are measured.
What should I be looking for when I buy blades?
There are three properties, which define a good set of blades, straightness , fairness , and stiffness. With the controls placed on the manufactures by the New Rule specifications these difference are very subtle compared to what they were in the past. Here is a brief description of each, and what you should expect to see in different price brackets.
Straightness is most important in the daggerboard and can be tested by sighting down each of the long edges. Because it is so technically difficult and labor intensive, only the most expensive daggerboards will be perfectly straight, most will have minor waves or a slight hook to one side, on the order of 2-3 mm.
Fairness refers to how smooth the surface of the foil is. The more expensive the blade, the more perfect you may expect the surface to be.
Stiffness is most important in the dagger board. Generally, stiffer is better, and stiffer is more expensive. Beware that lightweight sailors, sailors under 65 or 75 lbs, often have trouble depowering the boat in heavy winds, an ultra stiff dagger board will exaggerate this problem. In such cases, you may be better off with a foil built to the old specifications. If this is a problem for you, read the article under FAQ's "Optimist control in high Winds."
Other Information on Foils
You're better off with bad blades in great condition than great blades in bad condition. Taking care of your equipment makes you tons faster on the water and it will save you lots and lots of money. Blade bags, bottom covers and dollies all pay for themselves in one or two seasons. |
