Basically you can expect the F16, when singlehanded, to be about as fast around the course as an A-cat. In very light winds the A will be marginally faster, in medium to strong conditions the F16 will be slightly faster and in strong conditions it is the sailor who can survive best who wins. A doublehanded F16 will keep performance up well into strong wind conditions and also be slightly faster then the A's there. F16's and A's do require different skills I'm told, which is really not that amazing when recognizing the differences in concept. Spinnaker sailing is significantly different from sailing downwind under a mainsail alone.

Under Texel the boat you name are rated as :

A-cat = 101
F16 1-up = 101
F16 2-up = 102

Taipan 5.7 2-up (no spi) = about 99
Taipan 5.7 2-up (with spi) = about 95

For comparison :

F18 = 101


That Taipan 5.7 is a fast boat. Not too surprising either as it has more sailarea then a F18 and weights only 136 kg where the F18 weights 180 kg. Small wonder that it is rated a couple of points faster. As a 2-up boat the Taipan 5.7 is about as good as it gets, it will even give the M20 a good run for its money.

Still the 17.22 sq. mtr mainsail on the Taipan 5.7 is quite some sailarea to sheet while singlehanding.

Also are you sure that you want to know about the Taipan 5.7 and not the Taipan 4.9 ?

Wouter