Hello Matt

Looking for:
1) Handicap number as close as possible to I20 or equal for close to head-head racing

Try a Tornado or F18HT or Nacra 6.0 with chute! These boats all rate about the same in Portsmouth.

The F18 Tiger or Nacra and the F16HP's will be slower.

2) Designed for spin (needed for this Florida light air)
Any boat that people are suggesting.
The Tornado class has invented lots of snuffer options so that almost any boat can be fitted with a chute.

3) Has class rules that allow for the lowest minumum crew weight
Tornado and F18HT do not specifiy a minimum weight. However.... I don't think that you want to sail these boats below 300 lbs. 340 is probably optimal.

4) Has a strong enough presence that there would be races in the US where it could be raced 1 design

The Tornado's have approx 5 regattas in the US a year with 10 or more boats. The 18HT's are developing a class schedule of one event a month and will have charter's available for newbies.. The I20's do not seem to be that intererested in buoy's racing and generated a decent class at three events Tradewinds, Spring fever and Catfight.

IMHO... The critical factor is how much the chute will load up... If you wife is driving... its not a big deal... BUT... if she is crew... then the muscle factor becomes a major issue. Her opinion is probably the most important factor.

The Tornado is a spectacular boat on the water and a pain in the butt on the beach. The spin is 25 sq meters and is a handful in a breeze. Having said that.... Casey Scace manages the boat with no problems. She also told me that the F18 Tiger chute seemed about the same to her as the Tornado chute.

Take Care
Mark Schneider Tornado and Dart 18