AI-2: Your Top Speed?

Using a SpeedPuck to measure - in MPH.

Once the wind gets into the mid-to-high teens, I can get 8.something beating to windward if I don't pinch too much.

On reaches, I see a lot of high-nines and some low-to-mid tens.

Every so often I will briefly see 11.something, but my highest 20-second average to date has been 11.0.

How does this match up with the experience of others?

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2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

Your experience is probably in line with what most AI sailors are seeing. The TI is a little faster by perhaps a knot or two. Under absolutely ideal conditions and a bit of luck you might see a bit more, but this would be rare. The low teens is about the limit in most cases.

13 mph and I wasn't even pushing it.

I hit about 11mph about half of my outings in my AI2. Could be for a few seconds, often more. My log and tracks are available at: http://www.kayakingbob.com/sailing-log

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

For the first time I saw 12.something several times yesterday.

OTOH, I managed to shear two (2) aka shear bolts that day.

Each time it seemed like a combination of speed plus hitting some chop at the wrong angle.

_________________
2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

When you broke those 2 aka shear bolts, did you have problems with the aka/ama collapsing?

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

On the first one, yes - was turned over and in the water before I knew what was happening.

The second one was on the side of my single net trampoline and the tramp prevented total collapse and the boat stayed upright.

Just finished implementing your mod of bungee + line to mitigate aka folding, yet allow the shear bolt to do it's job.

In my implementation, I combined a righting line on each side with the aka folding mitigation so, when/if I wind up in the water I can pinch two easily-reachable-from-the-water plastic snap connectors and have the aka-folding line become a fully-functional righting line on either side.

My strategy and experience are based exclusively on the boat coming to rest on it's side with the non-collapsed akas pointing upwards (and the mast stuck in the mud).

Dunno yet how it all plays out with a full-turtle scenario. ..... Maybe next time I'm out there on a high tide I can find deep enough water to test....

_________________
2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

Tested it yesterday in high-teens wind and it seems to work a-ok, even with a little submarining of the ama.

My implementation used Home Depot 5/8" flat bungee with the hooks cut off sewn into a loop about a foot long when held flat: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP ... JaRW5TYzBR

The line from bungee to ama is Home Depot's el-cheapo 1/2" line.... . TB replaced by real line once I have proof-of-concept and have verified the length (15') is what I want.

Still have to test capsize recovery.... and that might call for a couple more feet of line if I decide to add some figure-8 knots for ease of grip.

It took surprisingly little force to keep the ama extended in high-teens/moderate chop. That might change in 20+, but right now it looks like a winner to me.

_________________
2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

Well done!

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon