They are building the F18 sails to 0.03 sq. mtr. of the maximally allowed area. Building a sail to 16.6, or 0.4 sq. mtr. smaller then allowed, is non-sense.

0.4 sq. mtr. is a square having sides 2 feet long. And that is "kindda" alot of cloth to be throwing out.

In case somebody thinks the F16 sailors are slacking on the F18's. At the F16 Global Challenge two crews were forced to recut their sails to suit the class rules or be dissallowed from competition. This sort of thing happens in all classes, including the F16's.

Wouter