tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273883632460433399.post7048691277234398557..comments2024-03-10T13:16:10.020-07:00Comments on Earwigoagin: The Origin of the Star Class: A Gardner Design?Tweezermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06559514473959503645noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273883632460433399.post-2323726451183962282013-10-29T14:14:17.813-07:002013-10-29T14:14:17.813-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Patrick Hayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05090255988359454330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273883632460433399.post-41110761323075279962013-10-29T11:10:21.657-07:002013-10-29T11:10:21.657-07:00Patrick, you've obviously never sailed a Star!...Patrick, you've obviously never sailed a Star! The rigs, as they have evolved are magnificent. They go to windward in 20 knots or more with the main sheeted hard in the center, cleated! The sail twists off in a lovely twist and draft power and twist are easily controlled by playing an upper and lower backstay, close at hand. No traveller or constant ragging of a sail. The main goes quietly to sleep, working or twisting in the flowline reducing drag. You can concentrate on steering and tactics. <br /> It's true that the backstays that make this possible, become a challenge on gybes but you can't have everything! Downwind, the rig is let forward over the bow to keep the boom out in lighter air and to keep the drive force ahead of the drag force, keeping the boat in a straight line without steering. In line shrouds and running backstays make that possible. They go downwind better than most boats with spinnakers. The Star planes readily in stronger winds and surfs easily and steadily. On a reach (which they seldom include in races), the quarter wave trough is located exactly where the long boom end is to keep it from dragging in the water.<br /> The hull is an attractive chine hull with a long snubbed nose. The flat or even slightly reverse sheer keeps it modern looking while the rolled hull deck joint looks sleek, is comfortable to hike on and sheds dameage from other boats and docks. The wide side decks let the occasional knockdown happen while keeping a dry cockpit. The old fashioned rudder and skeg are inefficient, it's true but they force you to steer well and minimally (as you should in any boat), while always maintaining flow to the rudder. A Star almost never broaches (but the helm gets mighty hard when sailed poorly!). <br /> For daysailing, yes, the rig is a handful, with it's low boom and backstays. In race mode, it's a wonder - unlike any other boat in it's efficiency. <br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273883632460433399.post-60395480688647068692013-10-28T15:51:53.760-07:002013-10-28T15:51:53.760-07:00I've always considered the Star to be the ugli...I've always considered the Star to be the ugliest conceivable hull under the stupidest possible rig. If I had designed it I would have kept quiet about it.Patrick Hayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05090255988359454330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273883632460433399.post-7913410257425774342013-10-28T15:24:44.328-07:002013-10-28T15:24:44.328-07:00Wonder what MacCausland would think of a gaff rig ...Wonder what MacCausland would think of a gaff rig on his Star boat? Would he flake the sail or roll it?Baydoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00751866865203182109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273883632460433399.post-74309190859996856662013-10-28T09:22:18.788-07:002013-10-28T09:22:18.788-07:00How cool is that? How cool is that? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00955274079033563670noreply@blogger.com