A-Class Worlds 2011 Wrap-up Part I: Landy on speed & the Scheurer

I asked Landy about some gps speed differences and passes I saw at the Worlds at Aarhus and also for some feedback on the Scheurer, as I’m gathering info for a future possible launch of the A local class. Arno will be sending some feedback from Stevie on his title on the dna, and I’ve sent a full interview to Nils Bunkenburg over his 2001 designed weapon, the Nikita.

——

Andrew Landenberger: “I expect you would have seen some funny things happening on the tracker.

The wind was very gusty with large directional changes, which were basically impossible to depend when they came.

In fact defending in this regatta often lead to disaster so you basically needed to be aggressive and attack all the time. At this moment I believe there are three top level boats on the market. The DNA, the Nikita and the Scheurer. While the Nikita takes some time to get the DNA guys are doing a great job to put sailors on boats and build the fleet. The Scheurer factory has basically had a season off due to building a new modern factory, but they will be back in force next season as well.

I was very happy with the Scheurer. I think it was fair to say that I along with Brad Collett we were clearly the fastest downwind. I chose to sail the Scheurer because I knew how fast this boat is downhill. I can stand in trapeze and push it much harder than the other boats. I basically sailed most of the regatta trapezing down wind. even in very moderate wind I am now always on the trapeze.

You would have seen on the tracker some dramatic speed differences and that was simply because I was on the wire while the others were still sitting on the trampoline.

The G6 is not actually a low volume boat. It sits basically right in the middle between the Nikita and the DNA. Over the past year Andy Scheurer has built me several proto types for testing.

It has been an interesting period of experimentation. After all the testing we have arrived at a point where Andy Scheurer is ready to build the G7.

There will only be small but significant changes. The existing boat is already very fast but the G7 will incorporate a change in beam position and centerboard position as well some modifications to the volume distribution in the hull and the rocker line.

The G7 will also feature rails to maximize righting moment from the trapeze.

The boat is also now built from Nomex and is an extremely stiff platform. In all it is a very high quality product which will equal any boat on the market. If you want to sail in waves and steep chop this boat just loves it. Brad sails from Humpybong in Queensland which is one of the roughest pieces of sailing water we have on the east coast.

He has tried other boats but maintains the Scheurer is the only one he can really drive when the water turn unfriendly”

—-

Photo: Kristoffer West – Sailing Aarhus