You're right Macca. The F18's and Spitfires have taken off big time here in the UK attracting new blood from existing Cat fleets and also a fair few mono hull sailors. The A's are having a pretty good time too.
Why?
Better speed and more excitement for your £'s. However, these two particular Classes have been lucky due to the marketing resources available.
F16's were first produced at roughly the same time as the Spitfire and to date approx 200 have been sold but only really in the UK and France. Although, without their infrastructure F16's aren't that far behind at a guess world wide sales not including Taipans etc would be around the 140 number.
Marketing strategies were discussed at the AGM so we are aware of the problem of promoting the Class. I also feel this could be helped a lot more next year as I think we might see a couple of Vipers reaching UK shores. Once UK cat sailors are aware that the Viper is related to the Capricorn peoples current thinking about F16's will probably change and I bet a few sailors will jump at the chance of competing against the current F16 fleet in an attempt to win our bigger events/prizes.
We all know there is a good market for F16's it is just that to date we haven't had the big company names of Hobie, Nacra and AHPC to help spread the word. But we have a good crowd of like minded enthusiasts who to date have done a pretty good job.