Many designs could be considered out dated and I really do not look at the H16 as outdated. As a surf cat there is not better design as it works perfectly in the surf, as a racing cat against its own kind it is an exciting design to sail and still is the largest class. And as for speed is it rates as the fastest asymmetrical boardless cat design in the 16 foot range. And on certain points of sail as the sailors in Miami and Caracou regatta found out it is also very fast on these points of sail. Once again Mike & Carl Strahle with their Trapseat spinnaker have no problem beating 20 foot so called modern designs. I also think modifying the hulls and mast etc. is going to far as then you do not end up with a the H16 but something else or some overly buoyant design. The thing that is exciting about the H16 is the current design and its uniqueness among cat designs.
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<br>Yes now that you mention it a restriction on sail size would be a good idea, and we could keep the other criteria’s I mentioned. As I mentioned before having a Turbo class or MX (what does MX stand for) H16 division of the H16 class would not be intended to mess with a good thing. I think Turbo is an appropriate name because even though we are not going from uni to a jib we are adding more sail area to the main due to the square top main and really the word Turbo has no set definition in the area of sailboat designs, etc. And yes the Turbo H16 could very easily get its own PN # as I have already talk to U.S. Sailing PN committee about it and they just need some numbers for people sailing the H16 with this set up. As for the Trapseat spinnaker one would just use the current spinnaker rating system.
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<br>If anything the main change to the H16 would be the square top main and this type of main if anything simply would add more speed on other points of sail that the H16 is slower at particularly in the area of going up wind and actually would add more speed in all points of sail. The lighter rudders just seems to lighten up the stern a little, the more aggressive downhaul is a must for the square top main along with foam battens, a tri-radial jib is not really essential, and a spinnaker just makes sense in this division of the H16 class. I am actually thinking we should be considered a division of the H16 class and not a class, we would be considered an add on, a Turbo kit! I really do not think we need to mess with the H16 class but having a Turbo kit with accompanying new PN number and added speed I think would be a plus for those who want it.
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<br>Thanks for your comments and lets keep it going.<br><br>