The French are talking about creating a F104 formula class, refering to the 104 handicap rating under SCHRS (ISAF measurement handicap system).

http://class104.over-blog.org/

Basically it refers to all boats having a handicap of 104 and slower racing together in a single class. It seems some races have even been held this way. This rating encloses the Spitfire, Cirrus Evolution, Mattia Esse and the Hobie FX-one.

It however a bit funny when one poster on the blogs got enthousiastic about a F104 being launched in Australia, the AHPC Viper. Took the F16 class about 4 years to get AHPC to build a purpose build F16 and then some F104 class claims it ! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Basically the F104 is the same as the F16 class was at its start-up 6.5 years ago. Grouping of similar performant boats. F16 grew into a class of its own right very quickly with the adoption of the F16 class rules only 5 months later.

There is also the mentioning of 10 Spitfire crews upgrading their boat with custom build sails (pentex) and thus leaving the One-Design-ness of the Spitfire class. Things seem to be moving or at least that is what the posters on the blogs are suggesting.

All very interesting stuff

Wouter