[quote
You absolutely, positively don't have to have a brand new boat to win in Hobie 16s (arguably the toughest/deepest fleet in the country). [/quote]

Ummm well the A-Class sailors might disagree with you for bragging rights on that one! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

We are trying to get a club one design sailing program going again at my yacht club. We have a mix of Lasers, 420's, Flying Scots, Sunfish, an I-14, and my A-Class. If we can get 8-10 boats sailing on the weekend, that is a big first step and we believe racing Portsmouth with a mixed fleet is the first direction we will go. The hope is interest in specific one designs will develop from there. My hope is getting lapped by an A-Class will open the eyes of some dinghy folks who think catamaran peformance has not progressed beyond the original Hobies and Prindles of the 70's and 80's.

I do agree that the odds are typically stacked against a well sailed non-spinnaker boat racing a well sailed spinnaker boat in Portsmouth. I don't believe the Portsmouth numbers of many spinnaker boats actually reflect how fast they actually are but I am sure they will evolve.