Hi Joanna -

I'll go by my boat later today and get the measurements for you.

I'm not sure what the committee will do about crew weight - obviously there are F18 rules that will have to be modified and we went through some of that when the Infusion was going to be the Alter Cup boat a couple of years ago. The scuttlebutt is that you and Lynn are close to the class lower live-weight limit. Because the small sail plan is not an option in rotating boats, we discussed requiring teams below 308 to carry 1:1 corrector weight up to 308, then the normal 0.5:1 to make up the 330 total. This may put you over the maximum-allowed corrector weight for the class - but they may change that rule, too. I'm recused from those discussions since it looks like I will be competing after all.

While there are going to be safety boats on the course, you might consider carrying a righting bag, too. Tina and I raced the F18 as light as anyone I've ever heard of at about 270 lbs. We had one flip at Spring Fever and were able to right the boat unassisted in something around 15 knots, but we used a couple of tricks. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The F18 is a well-thought-out platform that performs really nicely under the small sail plan, but we're getting big sails for Alter Cup. You can be sure, too, that the rigs will be tuned to average weight teams in medium conditions. That means the rigs will probably be moderately powered-up (or conversely, IMO, slightly de-powered). I tune my rig, like anyone does, to my weight - I carry a bit more mast rake, a bit more spreader rake, a bit more diamond-wire tension than the average team. I also double-block the 'chute. You can bet that the boats the fleet gets next April will be set up differently, so if the wind is up... hold on to your knickers. Of course, every time I said that to Tina, she had a very quippy reply. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />