I guess a sail area limit would be a power limit like an engine capacity class in motor racing. The issue I see with limited sail is it would lead to ever longer & skinner hulls.
I had considered an Elementarry might make a good test bed, and trailability would be a must have.
Do you think a competition based around the Elementary lee hull would work?
There would then be a length restriction, with the sails/foils/windward hull & over all beam being the areas of development. Part of a competition could be to carry a set load around the course to simulate cruising conditions and push development in both speed and cruising capability.
True about the recessed leeboard tracks, they would be in a stressed area and the leeboards themselves will add a lot more stresses. All too easy to start adding weight isn't it?
Rob Rassy
--- In harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au, Rob Denney <harryproa@...> wrote:
>
> On Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 10:23 PM, rob_rassy techsmart@...wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> >
> > "Have a go, see how they work."
> >
> > Rob - I'll be needing a boat to do that!
> >
> > And then it would be good to have a second one to compare it with - I've
> > often thought a proa competition with not to many rules; would be the
> > way to get the evolution of proas happening. Only limit overall length
> > and hull materials but anything else goes
> >
>
> Sounds good, although I would prefer a sail area limit and anything else
> goes. But even then, there are ways to make a faster boat under the rule
> that would not make sense without it.
>
> >
> > What do you reckon would be a practical experimental size that would
> > have scale relativity to the larger 15 & 20 meter boats?
> >
>
> Very good question. I have used Elementarry (7.5m/25') as a test bed and
> for most things it seems to work pretty well. It is also big enough for a
> couple of people to take camping and can be easily traillered. Harriette
> (5m/16') was too small (for an adult).
>
> >
> > I'd recess the Leeboard tracks into the hull, the boards themselves
> > above the waterline would probably create the most drag
> >
>
> Shape them right and this would not be too bad. Recessing into the hull at
> the highest loaded area of the hull will make it heavier than necessary.
>
> rob
>
> >
> > Rob Rassy
> >
>