Caught some 50 MPH gusts on soft ice (36 degree day) up by the Minnesota border this week. Thought I'd try the 12 m2 sail. Handling was a bit of a chore, and the front runner pivot (11/16") bent over in less than an hour. Kudos to Wally"s design that the front rail didn't split. I think some side slippage would have produced a smoother ride, particularly with the top heavy sail.
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You're right...when the ice gets soft, you need to dull your runners somewhat. I carry a stone with me which does the job. Although, I don't think dulling the runners would have saved your front chock. The combination of soft ice and big sail must have put too much stress on it.
Roger Livingston
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I had a similar experience last week with a 7.2m sail and high winds gusting over 50 mph.Comeing out of a jib going into a broad reach the runners stuck and launched the boat over faster than I had ever seen.The boat came down very hard but fortunately no damage.Just want to warn you all,when the ice is so soft that the runners won't slide laterally,the handleing can be unpredictable in high winds.(I packed it up for the day after my second crash.)
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