At 15 feet (4.55 m) and a lightweight 176 lb (80 kg) all up, the Musto Performance Skiff can reach speeds of over 20 knots, making it one of the fastest single-handed sailing dinghies in the world. Features include an asymmetric spinnaker, wings and racks. As with all skiffs, the deck layout is extremely simple, allowing the skipper to concentrate on boat speed. Double-ended control lines are led to the racks so the sail can be adjusted on the fly.
The Musto Skiff was designed by Joachim Harpprecht for the 2000 Olympic Class Trials in Quiberon, France and won every race in the singlehanded dinghy competition. In 2006, this sensational monohull was granted ISAF Recognized Status by the ISAF Council. Today, up to seven nations compete in events held throughout Europe and the UK.
Harken part numbers link to Harken on-line store.
Downhaul/cunningham
The 8:1 cascaded downhaul is used to bend the mast and flatten the main when sailing upwind in heavy air. In medium wind, the downhaul is eased to power up the sail. In lighter winds, it's applied to open the leach.
mainsheet
The 4:1 mainsheet system runs on a rope bridle traveler. A 57 mm Carbo Ratchamatic® on a swivel base allows the sheet to follow the trimmer as he moves from side-to-side. On windy days, the Ratchamatic allows the sheet to run out instantly while tacking, ensuring the boat will not round up.
Vang
The vang is used upwind in a breeze to flatten the sail and maintain leach tension. As the breeze builds, the increase in vang tension allows the skipper to play the main. The vang lever is trimmed with a 2:1 block and tackle system led out to the skiff's wings.
Links:
Musto Skiff
: http://www.mustokiff.com/
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