Gabriel Browne and RS6 ( and F161) winning with really old shapes

[Qkito]

Why is Gabriel Browne winning with a 2006 sail?

Is there really any difference in performance with newer sails???

and also same goes with the boards, as still most of the top starboard racers seems to prefer the formula 161 shape instead of newer ones ( formula 162 is non existent in races)

Can one spec a similar blunder with the new 167 shapes??

Lets hope not...

[raffig]

Originally Posted by Qkito

Why is Gabriel Browne winning with a 2006 sail?

Because he is a bloody damn good exceptional sailor. The arrow counts, but the indian is way more important.

[Brett Morris]

I seems the the newer Pryde sails are closely related to the RS-6. The reality is that most RS-6's have passed their used by dates and have naturally fallen apart. Obviously there are a few still being raced on though for the lucky few who still have them!

Re: Boards. I believe this spot in Brazil is the regular racing venue for BRA-50 etc and they know it like the back of their hands. Clearly they have a good set up with the 160/161 and don't feel the need to change.
This is any enormous positive for the sport huh.....

None of the 2012-13 boards are eligible for this event so difficult to judge the new equipment yet.

Looked like a great event in Brazil though. Really high standard!

[Ken]

I think we have reached the point with Formula gear that discovering new things that really improve performance will not occur very often. Sometimes, manufacturers take a step backward with "new" designs simply because they feel compelled to produce something new every year and really don't have anything innovative enough to improve performance.

The good news is that there are plenty of old boards and sails out there that are really competitive. Good for the sailors, but not so good for the manufacturers.

[Qkito]

So if starboard put a batch of " new" 161's with all the fancy carbon finish again for sale along with the new 167's

What would you buy??

Isn't it what gaastra is doing year after year with their board? Which is supposedly a 161 shape BTW...

[raffig]

Originally Posted by Qkito

So if starboard put a batch of " new" 161's with all the fancy carbon finish again for sale along with the new 167's
What would you buy??

I think that the 167/167 wide needs some time in races to see its real performance. It has just been released and it still cannot be 'officially' used in regattas until next year.

The current HWR is basically a 161 with more rocker, and it is a great board, possibly the best Starboard Formula board until the arrival of the new ones.

[SeanAUS120]

Need to remember that that spot in Fortaleza is really like nowhere else on the tour. It's a very difficult place to get your gear tuned up for as the chop and swell work in really strange ways there. No doubt the 161 is still a competitive board, but I think what you see happening with Gabriele (as well as other guys like Wilhelm etc) is that they are choosing boards for specific events because they own every size starboard board. I know Briel has +10 boards in his garage in Forta!! There's a big difference in what gear top riders would register if you had to use ONE board all season compared to bringing 2-3 models to an event and finding the best shape for the conditions. But great to see you can literally buy any board from the last few years and still be competitive.

Also on the sails ... Briel's in a great position in that he doesn't have a sail sponsor; which means he can just go and buy the best sails for him and get them SUPER dialled in over many seasons. The sponsored guys have to take the new sails each year. Those 6's he's using have no original battens in them and I'll bet he spent a long time finding the right mast. The 6's were a pretty amazing sail though... lot's of guys still hunt around for them in stores if there are any left. Wojtek rocked up in Puerto Rico with 3 of them for the Worlds... brand new ones even... !!