I am not sure why you don't believe the figures when it come to Spitfire numbers.
Builders in the UK have almost always numbered their boats in sequence. Unlike Hobie, they do not supply a new sail number with every mainsail sold, making it look like there are a lot more boats than the actual figure. I can only speak from my experience with the Dart and Spitfire builders. The Dart 18 started at 1 and is now just below 8000. Although I believe that the Dart 16 may have started at 1600.
In March 2001 we bought Spitfire 011, in 2002 we bought 044, in 2003 we bought 080, in 2006 we bought 167.
At Eurocat in April this year 190 and 191 sailed.
I am quite confident that the number is now over 200. I could phone Henry White, who has taken over running the UK side of Loday White from Reg, and ask him the latest number, but I don't need to know at present. In fact anyone could phone and ask what sail number they would get if they were buying a Spitfire.

It is good to see the Blades and other F16s building in numbers, because I believe that not everyone who wants a performance cat needs to buy the heavier F18.

BUT ! Dont go back to the old way of knocking everything else on the market <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />