My comments on the Rules:
I think I can agree with all the changes, with one exception:
Sail area:
It appears that the with these changes the rated sail area (jib) of a taipan is too big to fit in the rules!
That means that almost every taipan has to buy a new (smaller) jib when they want to sail under F16hp rules, and I think that can't be the intention of these rules.
Wouter, maybe you'll check this, in case I made a miscalculation. (but I don't think so)
I have calculated the max. rated jib area of a taipan at 3.91 m^2, according taipan class rules, and most of them are not too much smaller.
At least the 2 measured taipans at texel fall beyond the new rules.
However, this can be solved without loosing the original thought, having the same rating as a formule 18.
Two things have to be changed than:
1) increase the max. rated sail area from 16.5 to 16.9 m^2
2) Set the min. weight of the boat to 102 kg *excluding* spinnaker setup.
This is also the way boats are measured for a Texel Rating (without spi).
The Texel rating remains 102.
In fact I am happy with most of the new rules, but if this means that the taipan jibs are not allowed, then i need to vote for the old rules
In the old situation the taipan sailors could sail as a grandfathered boat.
Regards,
Geert