Sails

PS - check out the Blaze FB group if you haven't already - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlazeSailing

Welcome to the class Dave!

So, regarding sails. The class recently launched the new Hartley Boats sail, which has been slightly tweaked to suit the modern rig and sailing style.

As a SMOD class, the only equipment which is class legal is that supplied by the manufacturer. So, to race at a class event you need to use a Hartley Boat, North or very old Sobstad. All of which have been supplied by the licensed builder at some point. The North and Sobstad are now no longer available from new, but can still be purchased second hand and used.

The Hyde is a replica (I'm sure others are also available) and as it has never been supplied by the manufacturer (currently Hartley Boats) it is not class legal so cannot be used at a class event. Technically, this means you also cant use it in club racing. However, if your club allows it then thats up to them!

As for the Halo sail, I believe the very first design needed a taller mast. But the current version uses the normal Blaze mast. (Probably worth talking to HB about this though)

One of the great ways the Blaze is still a good class is the one design nature of the sail. This has meant even the carbon mast had to be made for that sail, meaning that older boats are not out classed. So the original sail was by Sobstat, then North and now Hartley. The differences are marginal and they all work on any of the masts. There are cheaper "training" sails but they aren't approved for Blaze events. So as always a new sail is better than an old one but if you have a good condition North you are probably as fast as you are ever likely to be and from all reports there is no significant advantage to buying a Hartley.