Let's be fair here Don. While you do have your Hobie only events, there are also 10 open events in the Pacific Northwest that will have NAF-18 participation. (These are also the events that you have identified for growing the fleet)

Last season, our first with F-18 starts there were more Nacras entered overall compared to Tigers, though there still weren't fantastic numbers. The one event where everyone travelled, there were the same number of Nacras as Tigers. It will be difficult for some Nacras to travel to some regattas as 4 of the Vancouver boats are owned by clubs, exposing many new sailors to the class.

In answer to the original point of the thread, a 2005 Nacra F-18 will be very competitive with current boats. Last year, I was horizoned by older Nacras and Tigers while I also thumped older Nacras and Tigers on my Infusion. There are so many things to learn in this, and other classes, that having the very best of boats is not the most important factor.