I hear more often that bouy race courses in the US are so short.

Why is that ?

"3 laps and finishing in 20 minutes" is a course that is MUCH too small for a spinnaker boat and it will favour non-spi boats like the H16's and A's enormously. This is hardly fair when racing on handicap.

By comparison. We race on average 45 minute races with 2 or 3 laps. Distance from start to A-mark is at least a nautical mile. On this course you can really stretch your legs under the spinnaker and do some tactical sailing. But even then the downwind leg lasts only about 5 to 6 minutes.

Wouter