I propose the question may be not does this work for most people, but is it within the parameters of the Formula 12 and are those parameters fully defined or agreed upon? If not, this design may end up a one design.
Currently the limits for the F12 are as I defined them a while ago. I had my reasons to settle on these specs but I'm not sure that this means that they are fixed and agreed upon.
I decided on the following specs.
Overall length 3.750 mtr
Overall width 2.000 mtr
Max mast length 6.000 mtr.
Max luff length 5.300 mtr
Max sail area 7.000 sq. mtr.
Min weight 60 kg
Optimal crew weight range 40-65 kg
For long while now I was steering toward an OD class setup much like the Tornado is now. Where the hulls are narrowly defined to a single shape. The same for some important elements like forcing the unstayed rig and the collapsable mast. Other things like sail design, rudders, stocks, trampoline design and the way the unstayed rig is supported were intended to be left open.
This is the only way I can see this design remaining easy to build and inexpensive to build while allowing enough freedom of design. I strongly believe that when the hulls are allowed to differ, as well as items like the mast, that then the class will only need a very short time to become prohibitively expensive. Or scare away the parents as they will believe, not without reason, that a rounded keel hull with daggerboards is more competitive then a hardchined boardless design.
Of course the more important design goals explicitely advice against such a situation :
-1- (home) buildable for 3000 Euro or less
-2- (home) buildable for 100 hours or less
-3- (de)riggable in 5 min or less
-4- fully (diss)assemable in 10 min or less
These design goals may appear arbitrary, but they were derived from the wish list as provided by the interested parties and the start-up planning for the F12 class.
I haven't seen any convincing arguments yet to let go of these limits/design goals. The argument giving mostly is increased performance or that an adult wants to sail/race this boat. I feel that other designs like the Hobie 16, F16, F18, A-cat and Tornado are the right classes for sailors with such considerations, not the F12 for youths and as a simple recreational craft for light adults. Otherwise the F14 sounds a lot more promising for these guys.
Wouter
