There are too many choices out there!! I have recently decided to get back into sailing and racing after a long absence. Previous experience was phrf monohull keel boats but would like something more exciting such as mutihull racing. I need advice as to what cats I should consider as I want plenty of racing opportunities. Also, I prefer singlehanded sailing, am in shape and weigh about 220 lbs.
I guess I am thinking Hobie 16s because the one design class is strong but how about Nacra and Prindles? What's all this Formula stuff? How does Open racing work? Handicaps? I am lost. Please help. Thanks in advance.

Pete, thanks for the warning. I looked up the link for F16 you posted. Are there more F16s in US than reflected on web site or does it mean you would race mainly open class? Thanks.

Hey Pete, thanks again. Yeah I think it was the Frappr I looked at. In southeast it looked like a couple in Atlanta and 6 or seven in Florida.

Bill,

If you want to race singlehanded often then your only options are pretty much A-cat, F16, Hobie 17, hobie 14 and nacra 17.

Other boats like the FX-one are too rare the achieve fleet racing and will therefor always put you in the open class fleet.

It also is strongly dependent on where your sail. Each type is strong in anoher part of the USA.

If you want PLENTY of racing opportunities that are also enjoyable then you should really look at a modern singlehander. H14 and H17 are not able to keep up with modern mixed racing fleets. The others will be derigged and at the bar drinking beer when you cross the finish line. Only the A-cat, F16's and Nacra 17's are capable to stay with the mixed fleets in the way of performance. All these are pretty much formula based. Nacra 17 only in name but none of these designs will remain exactly the same over any long period of time. That is what formula means.

Formula denotes a make-up of class rules that don't intend to make all boats identical but only to make all possible designs equal in performance. So in a formula fleet you can encounter different boats made by different builders that are all the same in overall performance. They still race first-in-wins. Formula classes are totally replacing the old one-design classes of the past. The biggest fleets with the best sailors are currently all formula fleets. This does include the olympic Tornado class as well.

I hope this clearifies things for now.

Wouter

Yeah Pete, F16 looks like a hell of a machine. Maybe I should think more about using a crew!

Wouter,

Thanks man. That was really what I was looking for. Just to make sure, you are saying that F16 or Nacra17 would compete in the same fleets under a formula rule? Or would the Nacra 17 be put with Hobie 17s. How about crew weight/number regulations? Even though it might not be prudent,competitive or logisically possible to race a f16 singlehanded would it be allowed? Thanks.