SHAKES SWAN THINGS UP
It’s easy to be seduced by modern high performance, especially downwind.
As the wake flattens out astern and the foils start to sing, the helm takes on a more direct and responsive feel. The speed climbs, the boat’s motion stiffens and the sail trim comes on as the crew respond to the apparent wind speed and direction that has now worked its way forwards.
As the bow waves slide further aft the speed continues to build and by now it’s an intoxicating ride. Who on earth wouldn’t like this? And so long as you hold your nerve and keep your foot to the floor, even the gybes are fun nowadays when compared to the stress of a metronome motion during the end-for-end pole gybes of old.
But while double figure speeds downhill have transformed our sport, they have also frequently come at a price. The quest for high speeds and cool looks hasn’t always worked out.
Getting the boat back uphill can often be a disproportionate struggle aboard a boat that lacks righting moment and requires crew to fold themselves over guardrails as forgiving as cheese wire as they reach for and stare at their toes. No one likes hiking – surely?
High performance boats are pretty wet too. And while you’d expect that on deck, it’s not great to see the inside of your downhill master blaster ankle deep in water at the bottom of the sleigh ride to the leeward mark.
