I wegh 68 Kg and am 5 ft 5 in. I'm also 70+ yeras young.
I've sailed Aeros from 2014, so 10 years.
With my 1st boat I sailed a 7 rig the majority of the time. But found it difficult in much above Bft 3.
My 2nd boat I bought in 2022, and with it a 6 rig, and I still have the 7.
The Aero's light hull weight means the drive and heeling forces are balanced pricipally by the crew's weight, and good positioningn and response to gusts & shifts is vital in racing.
Further the heeling force rises proportional to the square of the wind speed across the sail, I believe. With no trapeze and only hiking to balance the boat crew weigth matching to the wind speed and sail size are essential for a comfortable sail.
I have found the 6 much more comfortable to sail in wind > Bft 3, i.e. 4 and above. The sail trimming can be less urgent and much easier to get precise. I sail on a large, 3 miles X 1.5miles, inland lake where gusts 2 X the mean windspeed are the norm; along with 30+ degree shifts.
The Aero rigs are easily depowered, within limits, & I have managed the 7 in similar winds, but prefer the 6.
In racing for me the 6 is probably faster in these conditions.
Bft 3 and lower i find the 6 underpowered relative to the 7, so use the 7 on light wind days.
Indeed it out sails a lot of other boats in zephyrs.
The larger the Aero rig the greater the tuning range on outhaul, and particularly the downhaul Cunningham & Kicker / Vang.
I have found the 2 sails are also close in terms of response to tuning, and the feel in the boat.
Bft 3 in the 7 I find pure joy.
Having 2 sails in the Aero seems to be the norm across much of the fleet.
By contrast I also have 9 & 5 rigs.
The 9 I have sailed on very light wind days. But above Bft 2 am over powered, and struggle to balance and adjust to gusts. It's also a handful to tack & gybe compared to the 7. Though I enjoy racing a Phantom isailed by a much heavier and taller sailor in light condidtions
The 5 I've sailed in strong winds, Bft 4+ gusting 6 - 7. I found it a real change when stepping down from the 7; so much so that I didn't enjoy sailing it. I haven't sailed it at all in the 2 years I've had the 6 rig.
