I think that the others have already given all the answers !
Apart from the Stealth, there was no similar cat on the UK or French scene. In Ireland, we had been sailing Dart Hawks and Dart 18s. The Spitfire fitted in right between them. It is one design - at that time every Stealth built was diferent and some carbon masts were breaking. Some of the top UK F18 sailors were racing Spitfires a few years ago - so the standard is very high.
Also the Spitfire is nearly always sailed 2 up. Sometimes in Club racing, if we don't have a crew available, we leave off the jib and race singlehanded. We have 7 now in Blessington. As far as I know, there are no F16s in Ireland, apart from a Stealth in Northern Ireland, which is not being sailed, and is probably going back to the UK - the owner now has a Spitfire.