Yesterday I was able to meet and make friends with a 2015 AI owner. We took both of our boat out on the water and compared speeds. I have been considering buying a newer model AI since mine is a 2012. I wanted to take his stock boat on with my AI using my jib, barber hauler and hobie spinnaker to try and keep up with him.
What I found surprised me a bit. He was slightly faster on all points of sail except downwind when I would use the spinnaker and then, only if I caught the the wind perfectly. No big surprise there. What I didn't expect was that the differences in the all points of sail was not significant enough that we could not stay together. Sometimes I would pass him, sometimes he would pass me, even upwind.
Another suprise was that even with my jib out, I felt like his new AI sail pointed just as height as my boat did. I definitly needed the jib to keep up with him I just thought I would have more of a pointing advantage.
Although I'll keep my boat another year or two, the new AI is a very nice boat. I'll have to give in at some point.
_________________ Greg 2016 AI - Spinn & Jib “Out of sight of land the sailor feels safe. It is the beach that worries him.” – Charles G. Davis
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