2015 ASBA Titles: comparing Viper, VX, J70, Melges 24

[Charlie Visser]

A nice set of data comparing sportboat speeds.

Man, would this start a shitstorm if posted on the SA forums!

2015 Australian Sportboat Championships
Elapsed time of fastest boat in class:
Day 1: wind 12-20 kt
Race 1 (W/L) Viper 39:27 VX 41:36 J70 45:33 M24 38:30
Race 2 (W/L) Viper 45:09 VX 47:32 J70 50:22 M24 45:03
Race 3 (W/L) Viper 45:22 VX 45:56 J70 50:05 M24 42:55
Day 2: wind built to 25  kt, gusting to 31 kt (passage race)
Race 4 (PR) Viper 1:56:00 VX 1:58:06 J70 2:02:57 M24 1:49:32
Day 3: wind?
Race 5 (W/L) Viper 52:40 VX 56:27 J70 56:26 M24 50:17
Race 6 (W/L) Viper 41:22 VX* 43:52 J70 47:35 M24 40:57
Race 7 (W/L) Viper 43:38 VX* 46:21 J70 47:39 M24 42:31
Day 4: wind?
Race 8 (W/L) Viper 41:30 VX* 43:30 J70 45:11 M24 39:30
Race 9 (W/L) Viper 53:13 VX 57:02 J70 56:47 M24 51:51
Race 10 (W/L) Viper 51:40 VX* 53:46 J70 55:29 M24 51:21
Total time      Viper 531:01 VX 554:02 J70 577:44 M24 476:27
Total time              531.02       554.03       577.7           476.5
Indexed to Viper     1.00          1.04           1.09              0.90     

SMS ratings
Viper 0.778
VX 0.771
VX* 0.781
J70 0.726
M24 0.800

Final results (SMS handicap)
1. Thompson 8
2. Shaw 650
3. Viper 640
4. Melges 24
8. Viper 640
10. Viper 640
12. Viper 640
14. VX One

*VX with sugar scoop stern extension

[Peter Beardsley]

The numbers are always interesting to see but this is in line with what most of us have seen in our racing.  Vipers are much faster than J70s and M20s, and are almost always faster than VXs.  Depending on the conditions the speed differences are sometimes substantial, generally in less than 10 knots in particular.  M24s are generally a little bit faster but not by a ton, though in almost all regions they rate 3-9 seconds/mile faster in PHRF, with the rare exception of WLIS, where Vipers GIVE M24s 3 seconds per mile, either due to exceptional Viper performance, miserable M24 performance, or an overall lack of data since neither is raced handicap much in the area.

[Tim Carter]

Post it!!  I will get out the popcorn..  ;)

A nice set of data comparing sportboat speeds.

Man, would this start a shitstorm if posted on the SA forums!

2015 Australian Sportboat Championships
Elapsed time of fastest boat in class:
Day 1: wind 12-20 kt
Race 1 (W/L) Viper 39:27 VX 41:36 J70 45:33 M24 38:30
Race 2 (W/L) Viper 45:09 VX 47:32 J70 50:22 M24 45:03
Race 3 (W/L) Viper 45:22 VX 45:56 J70 50:05 M24 42:55
Day 2: wind built to 25  kt, gusting to 31 kt (passage race)
Race 4 (PR) Viper 1:56:00 VX 1:58:06 J70 2:02:57 M24 1:49:32
Day 3: wind?
Race 5 (W/L) Viper 52:40 VX 56:27 J70 56:26 M24 50:17
Race 6 (W/L) Viper 41:22 VX* 43:52 J70 47:35 M24 40:57
Race 7 (W/L) Viper 43:38 VX* 46:21 J70 47:39 M24 42:31
Day 4: wind?
Race 8 (W/L) Viper 41:30 VX* 43:30 J70 45:11 M24 39:30
Race 9 (W/L) Viper 53:13 VX 57:02 J70 56:47 M24 51:51
Race 10 (W/L) Viper 51:40 VX* 53:46 J70 55:29 M24 51:21
Total time      Viper 531:01 VX 554:02 J70 577:44 M24 476:27
Total time              531.02       554.03       577.7           476.5
Indexed to Viper     1.00          1.04           1.09              0.90     

SMS ratings
Viper 0.778
VX 0.771
VX* 0.781
J70 0.726
M24 0.800

Final results (SMS handicap)
1. Thompson 8
2. Shaw 650
3. Viper 640
4. Melges 24
8. Viper 640
10. Viper 640
12. Viper 640
14. VX One

*VX with sugar scoop stern extension

[Dave Taylor]

One VX had a masthead kite against too!

[Justin Scott]

Brian Bennett has been circulating an "objective" comparison between the Viper and the VX by "the designer"

One moment he is lashing out at the Viper calling it "Fundamentally an 18 year old design that has been superseded by better technology" meaning the VX.

The next moment he is critical of our innovations claiming that the VX is a "strict one design template that does not require change".

Uhhhh,,,, Brian since your last design was fundamentally outdated in 18 years and you will not allow changes in your latest baby....doesn't this mean that in fourteen years the VX will be "fundamentally an 18 year old design that has been superseded by better technology and advanced construction process and features"

Ironically, Brian's first VX web site oozed praise for the state of the art manufacturing "resin infusion" process that was used to build the VX.   The latest spiffle has dropped resin infusion and is now praising the vacuum bagged lay up process.  Back to the tried and true process that were used to build the first Vipers. Ahh but who wants to nitpick?