Ok Scott. you know that I got a new main and the way we had it cut it does not come in any bigger but I'm just as fast as a 6. Tony has a 6 and we sail next to him all the time. I feel the same about the 163% as well. We run a 153% 3DL and we sail beside the guys with the big sails. so we get 6 seconds and we don't have to hold the boat down. we normally run 5 crew and do well. New sails trimmed well will always win over big sails that are worn out. We change our main and head sails every 4 years. I do it on a rotation so I only change one sail a year.
next is my new Asymmetrical spin.
Did you ever talk to Rodney at Evolution? he made my new main this year for $3500 out of full Kevlar and two reefs for my night racing and the draft stripes glow for night racing.
as well the new batten technology is amazing. it forces the draft forward in the way they are radically tapered in the first foot.
So yes go for the big roach but keep it a 5.
